The Throne - Watch the Throne

Hip-hop has its heroes, none bigger than Jay-Z and Kanye West. They are among the biggest stars in pop music, with critically acclaimed, Grammy-winning albums that consistently top the charts. Jay-Z’s been around longer, having made his debut in 1996 with Reasonable Doubt, an album that dealt frankly with his childhood life on the streets of New York dealing drugs. By contrast Kanye, a onetime Chicago State University student who earned recognition producing Jay-Z’s albums, didn’t release his own debut, The College Dropout, until 2004.

Both rappers have signature styles: Jay-Z boasts stunning lyrical dexterity, while Kanye draws inspiration from eclectic sources. Jay-Z’s marriage to r&b queen Beyoncé bolsters his status as rap royalty; Kanye’s controversial outbursts have sometimes threatened to make him a court jester. Now the two kingpins have joined forces as The Throne and released their first full-length collaboration, Watch the Throne.

While there’s no shortage of braggadocio from the two wealthy egotists, Watch the Throne rises above bravado with sobering social commentary and thrilling tag-team creativity. Kanye bemoans black-on-black violence in “Who Gon Stop Me,” while he and his partner-in-rhyme trade ruminations on the American dream in “Made in America,” featuring gifted singer Frank Ocean, of alternative hip-hop collective the Odd Future. Beyoncé elevates “Lift Off” with her supercharged vocals and “Otis” and “New Day,” featuring samples from Otis Redding and Nina Simone, are inspired interpretations of classic tracks. Ultimately, Watch the Throne showcases the kingly talents of Jay-Z and Kanye, who prove they’ve earned their crowns.