The tracklist features 16 songs that document the height of "luxury rap". Released on August 8, 2011, the album was a collaborative effort by Jay-Z and Kanye West , who performed under the name "The Throne". Watch the Throne (Deluxe) Tracklist No Church in the Wild (ft. Frank Ocean & The-Dream) Lift Off (ft. Beyoncé) Ni as in Paris** Otis (ft. Otis Redding) Gotta Have It New Day That’s My Bitch Welcome to the Jungle Who Gon Stop Me Murder to Excellence Made in America (ft. Frank Ocean) Why I Love You (ft. Mr Hudson) Illest Motherf ker Alive** (Bonus Track) H•A•M (Bonus Track) Primetime (Bonus Track) The Joy (ft. Curtis Mayfield) (Bonus Track) The Story of "The Throne"
On this track, the duo engages in a verbal pissing contest. Jay-Z name-drops Basquiats and Rothkos, while Kanye compares himself to Steve Jobs. The title is not a boast; it is a mission statement.
Technically, "H•A•M" (an acronym for "Hard As a Motherfucker") was released as the album’s lead single in January 2011—months before the album dropped. However, it was conspicuously absent from the standard tracklist. To find it, fans had to buy the deluxe edition.
Without hesitation: yes. The standard Watch the Throne is a 4/5 album. It is great, but it feels slightly short and overly focused on bangers.
When and Kanye West joined forces in 2011 as "The Throne," they didn't just release an album—they defined an era of "luxury rap." While the standard edition of Watch the Throne remains a landmark in hip-hop history, the deluxe version is often considered the definitive listening experience, offering a deeper dive into the duo's high-art aesthetic and experimental production.
The standard edition of the album is a rollercoaster of ego, vulnerability, and opulence. The sequencing is meticulous, moving from the operatic grandeur of the opener to the soulful introspection of the closer.
The album was leaked early, which was a significant feat for a major hip-hop release in the early 2010s. The strategy to preserve the music was intense, involving high-security measures for listening sessions. When the album finally dropped, fans were quick to analyze the to see what hidden gems were included beyond the standard release.
The tracklist features 16 songs that document the height of "luxury rap". Released on August 8, 2011, the album was a collaborative effort by Jay-Z and Kanye West , who performed under the name "The Throne". Watch the Throne (Deluxe) Tracklist No Church in the Wild (ft. Frank Ocean & The-Dream) Lift Off (ft. Beyoncé) Ni as in Paris** Otis (ft. Otis Redding) Gotta Have It New Day That’s My Bitch Welcome to the Jungle Who Gon Stop Me Murder to Excellence Made in America (ft. Frank Ocean) Why I Love You (ft. Mr Hudson) Illest Motherf ker Alive** (Bonus Track) H•A•M (Bonus Track) Primetime (Bonus Track) The Joy (ft. Curtis Mayfield) (Bonus Track) The Story of "The Throne"
On this track, the duo engages in a verbal pissing contest. Jay-Z name-drops Basquiats and Rothkos, while Kanye compares himself to Steve Jobs. The title is not a boast; it is a mission statement.
Technically, "H•A•M" (an acronym for "Hard As a Motherfucker") was released as the album’s lead single in January 2011—months before the album dropped. However, it was conspicuously absent from the standard tracklist. To find it, fans had to buy the deluxe edition.
Without hesitation: yes. The standard Watch the Throne is a 4/5 album. It is great, but it feels slightly short and overly focused on bangers.
When and Kanye West joined forces in 2011 as "The Throne," they didn't just release an album—they defined an era of "luxury rap." While the standard edition of Watch the Throne remains a landmark in hip-hop history, the deluxe version is often considered the definitive listening experience, offering a deeper dive into the duo's high-art aesthetic and experimental production.
The standard edition of the album is a rollercoaster of ego, vulnerability, and opulence. The sequencing is meticulous, moving from the operatic grandeur of the opener to the soulful introspection of the closer.
The album was leaked early, which was a significant feat for a major hip-hop release in the early 2010s. The strategy to preserve the music was intense, involving high-security measures for listening sessions. When the album finally dropped, fans were quick to analyze the to see what hidden gems were included beyond the standard release.
