When it comes to dream hip-hop collaborations, this is pretty much as good as it gets. With Jay-Z having already teamed up with everyone from Linkin Park to R Kelly it was really only a matter of time before he found himself opposite Kanye West, the only other truly global hip-hop superstar. When massive reputations, or egos, like those present on Watch The Throne collide it can sometimes lead to the record getting lost under the weight of its own expectation. But whether it be out of mutual respect or sense of obligation, Jay-Z and West give each other enough room to manoeuvre to showcase their undoubted strengths. Sometimes, though, this leads to an unintended contrast between the pair as they fight for supremacy on each track. Are Jay-Z's vocals better than Kayne West's? Who writes the better verses? Sort of like Batman teaming up with Superman, you're never quite sure who the real hero is here.
The music production on Watch The Throne aligns itself more with Kanye West's previous work than it does Jay-Z's, which is probably a good thing considering West's My Dark and Twisted Fantasy was one of the best regarded albums of 2010. The album is filled with the same sort of unconventional orchestration and imaginative, punchy synth which has characterised West's work up until this point.
It's hardly surprising either that a host of famous names also guest appear on the album. Jay-Z's main squeeze Beyonce sings lead vocals on Lift Off and it's instantly better than any track on her recently released 4, showing just what Ms Knowles is able to do with her voice given the right direction and, more importantly, a musical track which forces her to sing with tempo.
As if the album wasn't star-studded enough, Otis Redding even gets a significant nod in Otis, which boldly samples Redding's 'Try a Little Tenderness'. Harkening back to West's breakout hit Gold Digger, it's one of the most satisfying songs on Watch The Throne. The album isn't immune to the controversial aspects of West's character, either. In New Day he can't resist a dig at the GOP when he sings about his unborn son "I might even make him a republican, so that everywhere we go they know he loves white people".
Welcome To The Jungle and Who Gon Stop Me bring an unfortunate lull to the midpoint of Watch The Throne before Murder To Excellence, the best song on the album, shakes you back to life with bang. About the killing by police of a twenty-year old black student Danroy Henry, this is Dylan signing about Hurricane Carter for this generation. Murder To Excellence is one of the instances on the album when both West and Jay-Z are at their best and, when they're both in full flow, there are few more engaging performers in popular music today.
When Watch The Throne works, it is spectacular. There are some moments on it that do justice to the genius that both of these men posses. But because neither West nor Jay are really given sufficient time to lay their roots into the album it rarely hits the heights of either of their best solo material. A sample from Will Ferrell's character in Blades of Glory in the middle of the album says it best: "No one knows what it means, but it's provocative".
