Watch the Throne makes a wonderful first impression. No Church in the Wild drops an immediate attention-grabbing sample that is followed by the vocals of Frank Ocean (a new artist I recommend everyone give a listen to). Jay (of course Jay-z had to go first) lays his vocals first and does justice to the beat from start to finish. He finishes with a witty play on words, “I’m out here ballin, I know you heard my sneaks/ Jesus was a carpenter, yeezy laid beats/ Hova flowed the holy ghost, get the hell up out ya seats/…preach” Classic Jay-z. Unfortunately, Jay has the only lyrical highlight on this song. Kanye finishes off as normal Kanye. Now his lyrics are not horrible per say, they just lack shock value. He makes his presence known through riding the beat and stellar production though. After that valiant introduction, we come to a free fall. A pit stop. A buzz killer. A smack in the face. Life Off can be described in so many ways with so many words. The best I can think of is ear poison. Usually, I listen to a song while I describe it in my columns, but I’ve had too much exposure to this horrible excuse for a song. Jay and Kanye are an obvious good mixture; and you would think that Beyonce would only add to the glory. I was sadly mistaken. The beat begins as promising, but becomes a collage of loud noises and is then topped of by Beyonce’s already loud vocals (side note: normally, I really enjoy Kenye’s drum patterns. Either he didn’t lay them or he is slacking in a major way on this song). At this point Kanye is losing major points for lyrics and production. And …he insists on continuously using auto-tune. An immediate facepalm. And Jay doesn’t make it any better either. The sad part is the only good thing about this song is the last 45 seconds; where the song completely changes. The last 45 seconds of the song get a 3.6/5. I’ll leave this track alone though, I’m beginning to be sick just talking about it (if they put this song out as a single, I’m going to shoot through my wrists).
Niggas in Paris is actually a release of the grip Lift Off had on your throat. You can breathe, put on your gaudy chain, fix your outfit and bounce your head in every direction as you listen. This hard hitting song makes you feel yourself and makes you want to move on the dance floor. Kanye finally makes a lyrical appearance. One highlight that I love is the fact that they managed incorporate the vocals of legendary anchorman Ron Burgundy. Two thumbs up! I won’t lie to you people, Otis was not a great song to me at first listen. After hearing it a few times, I became a fan. A big fan. I thought they were doing an injustice to my man Otis Redding. But I ended up loving it. The video was a work of art even. While Otis’ screaming, pleading vocals provide the drama in this song, Kanye and Jay literally smack this song around. Otis might be Kanye’s magnum opus on this album (look at my rhyme). I don’t blame them a bit for putting this out as a single. I would have made the song longer and changed how they ended it. But overall, very well delivered. Gotta Have It is worth listening to, but also worth hitting the skip button. I believe this was an attempt at being innovative and relevant. I will say that Jay and Kanye going back and forth reminds me of how Jadakiss and Styles P. used go back and forth on a verse. If they would have chose a different beat for this song, I would put it up there with the better songs. We get some time to think on WTT with the RZA produced New Day. Until this point in the album, I didn’t expect a song like this one. Kanye and Jay deliver cautionary, heartfelt advice to their future, unborn sons, and do it with justice. Kanye not only delivers lyrically, but shows a modest, regretful side of himself. I will say that this song provided the opportune moment for Kanye to vent some of his bitterness about his situation with Amber Rose. Though he did it with taste, it was taking a jab none the less. Amber Rose becomes the brunt of a clever line,“Don’t be like the daddy that I never was/ and I’ll never let em ever hit a strip club/ I learned the hard way, that ain’t the place to get love.” Over all this song is moving(do to a soulful chorus and soothing beat) thought provoking (wonderful perspectives and advice from Kanye and Jay), and well put together.
That’s My Bitch is more annoying that anything. I’m sure there are some of you out there that will enjoy it. I enjoyed the congas and the chorus somewhat. But overall, this is a song that you would hear from an up and coming artist, not two seasoned pioneers with impeccable track records. The only perks about this song really are the lyrics, Charlie Wilsons vocals, and congas. I can go without the content and the beat as a whole. Welcome to the Jungle is an ear sore for me, but I’m sure is a hype, get money song for some of you. I am not a Swizz beat fan…at all! The beat is nothing but a horrible loop with a dramatic moment that isn’t worth waiting for. Honestly, I listened about five times, found nothing worth talking about and hit the skip button. Who Gon Stop Me almost follows in the previous song’s footsteps, but makes up with lyrics. Murder on Excellence makes Jay show his age as he reminisces too far back in the past for this generation to keep up with. This song overall is decent. I can go without them two singing (especially Jay). But it’s a decent song , worth listening to. The album comes to a rough landing (as if it had a great flight) with Made in America and Why I Love You. No, these are not bad songs; I like these two songs. But, I would not end an album with them. Although I think that Made in America should have been a song solely done by Frank Ocean, I can tolerate Jay and Kanye’s lyrics. Why I Love You reminds me of the twisted mind of Eminem for some reason; don’t as me why. They muffled some rock music, put in a hyper snare, and added some hip hop flavor to it. I can say that this beat was the only beat that had diversity. Sadly enough though, they should have did more work to it.
Overall, WTT is a disappointment. Not because I “miss their old music”, but because I know what they’re capable of. Jay can deliver some ugg face lyrics (ugg face: an ugly face caused by dope lyrics). Jay should have carried this whole album lyrically. Kanye (a phenomenal producer) can make some of the best instrumentals and unique arrangements. Unfortunately, he did the exactly opposite. He contributed something that plagues hip hop till this day: repetitive loops, three choruses, lyrics, weak drums and drum lines, and no good music. There was no…..feeling in the music. It wasn’t risky. It didn’t make me feel bad for liking a certain song. It didn’t make me keep the album in my iTunes. I’m honestly upset that they didn’t reach out to The Roots for some live music and heart pounding drums. There are some good songs; I won’t completely bash this album. I’m happy they put Frank Ocean and Otis Redding on the album. From a hip hop standard; I guess you can say that this album is hotter than a lot of the music that is coming out in this genre. I still look up to them as leaders in the hip hop community, but they need to step their game up. They want us to "watch the throne", but that seems like nothing more than a good idea. The stock the enjoyment of hip hop is declining due mainly to lack of creativity and redundancy. So sitting on a throne and ruling over something that is becoming meaningless kind of useless. its like saying I'm the king of Klondike bars. No one care. I will say that Jay has at least two more albums in him, believe it or not. Go ahead and laugh. Lyrically, he is holding it together. Kanye has a lifetime of producing to do. Unfortunately, I won’t hear them. The next reviews that are coming are The Carter IV, Take Care, Slaughterhouse, and Nas’ next album. Until the next review….
1.) No Churh in the Wild (ft. Frank Ocean) – 4.4/5
2.) Lift Off (ft. Beyonce) – 2/5
3.) Niggas in Paris – 3.8/5
4.) Otis (ft. Otis Redding) – 4.5/5
5.) Gotta Have It – 3.4/5
6.) New Day – 4.3/5
7.) That’s My Bitch – 3.4/5
8.) Welcome to the Jungle – 3/5
9.) Who Gon Stop Me – 3.2/5
10.) Murder to Excellence – 3.65/5
11.) Made in America (ft Frank Ocean) – 3.5/5
12.) Why I Love You (ft. Mr Hudson) – 3.6/5
No comments:
Post a Comment