Watching the Throne, Looking for More

Wednesday 10 August, 2011 at 3:15 pm bomani Blog 24

As we speak, I’m listening to Watch the Throne for the fifth time. The first three times were on the surround system at the house, and these last two have been on headphones. And after five listens, I still have no idea what the hell this is supposed to be.

That’s the issue with Watch the Throne that’s dogged me from the first listen. It did nothing to demand my attention on first listen, proved to have some interesting moments and subtle brilliance at other points upon further spins, but ultimately seems to be about…well, nothing at all.

I mean, of course there’s braggadocio. It’s rap, after all, and it’s these two guys. But never, when either has been at their best, has that been the essence of the music they made. College Dropout is about the struggle, Late Registration is dealing with it, 808s and Heartbreak is about emotional vacancy, and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is hedonistic self-medication on wax. Jay’s Reasonable Doubt is the hustler’s diary — and if you don’t believe how real it is, talk to a dope dealer on the East Coast about it — The Blueprint was the first extended and compelling glimpse past Jay’s money and hustle, American Gangster as almost RD‘s prequel. The money and fame, in all of these, were bit players.

So tell me what the theme is here. If it’s about being on top of the game, Jay already did that with The Black Album, and he was far more compelling (going so far as admitting to selling out). There are flashes of outright pro-black ideologies, but some come on a song titled “That’s My Bitch.” There’s a sonic consistency with Kanye’s recent production, largely a product of his new dream team (RZA, Swizz Beatz, Mike Dean, but without No I.D. this time), but without the bass lines that gave MBDTF the oomph necessary to give resonance to all the glitz.

Perhaps that what I’m listening for that I can’t find: a feeling. Where’s the excitement that snatches you and won’t let go? Where are the confessions that you can’t believe you’re hearing? What is this, other than really sophisticated background noise?

And hey, there’s nothing wrong with that. “No Church in the Wild” is dope, and a great way to start an album. The are perfect, the crescendos perfect for getting the party started. If we didn’t know “Try a Little Tenderness” so well, “Otis” would blow us away with its passionate simplicity (though a little more bottom wouldn’t hurt anything). “Gotta Have It” is a great back-and-forth between these two, but doesn’t quite go hard enough to only be 2:21 long. “New Day” is Can-It-Be-So-Simple-type RZA (with Dean and Ye) for the new millennium, with Jay and Kanye on that very theme…but so far gone into fame that the lessons can only be useful for their unborn sons. “Murder to Excellence” is the Jay we didn’t know existed until dead prez’s “Hell Yeah (Remix)” juxtaposed with a celebration of blackness, making it the intersection of faith and the dark past that taught it.

It’s all really good. There isn’t a single track that one could consider whack. But after all these listens, there isn’t one track I feel like I have to turn up. There is no “Runaway” to serve as climax, or “PSA” to crank you up out of nowhere. It’s 12 tracks…and that’s just about it. It’s Kanye’s sound with the lack of focus that marked the most boring time in Jigga’s career, from Vol. 2 and Dynasty.

Welp, that leads to the fun part: it’s Vol. 2 that made Jigga a superstar, and those next albums are the ones that sustained it until his next artistic tour de force, Blueprint. Think about it like that, and it’s not a huge surprise so many people are all over this album. There isn’t a single track you could extract for a playlist that you couldn’t find a place for, and it’s unlikely you’d ever be disappointed to hear it.

That would be great for most artists. That’s just not what I want from Kanye West.

Forget about Jigga. Sure, he’s the contender for the title of best ever, but it’s Kanye that’s the genius. It’s his vision that excited me about this album, his unparalleled ability to take a place in life, uncoil its DNA, and break down everything that makes it. No one has been better at putting good, bad and ugly into rap music and making it all seem so human. He pulled it off talking about working at the gap just as easily as he did when talking about sleeping with pr0n stars. He’s so concerned with what we think of him, but never enough to change what he does, and still unable to live with the fact nobody gives a damn about his story. He’s telling it no matter what, and he’ll be damned if we don’t feel it.

And for the first time since Graduation, it’s just not there. You can hear it all through every other Kanye solo album, and you can even feel it through Blueprint 3. We’ve got the sound from BP3, but so little of the passion. Even if, intellectually, the outright pro-blackness of Watch the Throne is daring, it doesn’t feel defiant or fervent. There’s just something missing.

Maybe there’s not enough room for two narcissists to express themselves over a full album. Maybe Kanye’s unique self-absorption doesn’t leave room for him to bring out the most in Jay (and not everyone can get out the heart of Jigga, as evidenced by his inconsistent catalog).

The original plan was for Watch the Throne to be an EP. If everything i’ve said were about an EP, I’d love it. But that’s not what this is. It’s 12 cool songs masquerading as a statement of dominance.

But it meanders, and I forget that’s what it’s supposed to be. Only the title is a reminder. And that, for me, just isn’t quite what I was looking for. Watch the Throne is good for what it is, but I wanted more.

http://twitter.com/MrUnderpar Ronnie Smith

church.
NokeTown

Bo, thats keeping it 100. its good, but come on, Kanye and Jay supposed to be great
CoupDeLa

My jaw is dropped at how differently we see this. I thought if anyone were gonna understand what i was seeing it was you. We obviously can’t argue about the quality of the music, but i completely disagree about the energy, the statement it makes and what it means. I know it’s just a difference in perspective– you’re wise, jaded, seen-it-all-before and I’m altruistic, naive, overly-enthused.

If you ever get around to reading this, let me know if it adds new insight or if I’m just a delusional stan:

http://coupdela.com/?p=1211
http://twitter.com/tmcydame Vic Damone, Jr.

I gave it 8/10. I think it’s listenable, but all over the place at the same time. I think Kanye’s issue here, the reason why you can’t feel him like you do on his solo projects, is that he’s trying to mold himself in Jay’s rap persona, instead of just being himself. That, and he seems to disappear for chunks of the album.

You didn’t touch it, but my biggest problem with the album is “Made In America”. You hear the hook and it seems like they might just delve into something quite real
http://twitter.com/Dublar Randall Routt

Good article. I also believe something is amiss. I can totally see myself driving up to Chicago on the 19th and running WTT on the way up there. But soon as i get up around Gary, In, and make that westward turn to start approaching the city. Just when i start to get hype about the epic Mike party and what the evening will entail, i will hit the eject button and throw in some KRIT.
CoupDeLa

What voice can they use besides their own? “Made in America” is their star-spangled banner told through their own stories. You can’t relate to Jay cheffing, trying not to wake up his grandma in the other room? You’ve never been bullied like Kanye was? YOU DON”T LIKE BANANA PUDDING?

Lol I’m playing, but seriously. What more could they have said on that song to meet the expectations the hook made for you?
http://twitter.com/damesmith Dame

LOL… You gotta look at how I worded it. I definitely can relate to those things. When I say something we can relate to, I’m speaking about the struggles of those mentioned in the hook. That hook is powerful, and it has nothing to do with Kanye and Jay. Nothing. With that hook I was hoping they’d make the song a real tribute of sorts, a history lesson maybe.

Just think they took the wrong route. Instead of just being good, it coulda been “song of the year” great, and not just yet another personal anthem (they have several of those).
CoupDeLa

I can see that. That hook opened the door for a lot of different directions to take it. I think the ultimate message was one celebrating the American dream, honoring those who truly symbolize it. Hopefully someone with a different voice remixes it and gives another perspective cus it’s really an amazing track.
http://twitter.com/E_MsHoliday_P Lizzy Cakz

This is REALLY good. I’ll have to come back to it again once I give WTT a listen.
http://twitter.com/damesmith damesmith

It is. And I can see the “these people open the doors so we can be who we are” bit, but, yeah, I just expected…more. *shrugs*
Julian Ivey

My favorite track is Primetime but it’s one of the bonus tracks.
J.M.

You focus on the official version of the album but there are a couple of bonus tracks off the deluxe edition which are arguable – I’ll say it – they are better than some of the tracks on the made official. Put Illest Motherfucker Alive, The Joy, or Primetime over Lift Off and Made in America. Then, it’s a real fun album.

I’m very interested in seeing where Kanye goes from here with his next solo project. He’s at a curious point in his career, where his next solo work will be compare to MBDTF; for better or worse. It’s going to be tougher to satisfy critics on this next one, I believe.
http://www.facebook.com/FreshPrinceofEC Kramer Cook

I understand your opinion here, but i have to disagree. Try and listen to this album when you are working out and you will get its theme. I couldn’t get it at first. The theme is motivation. More specifically it’s motivation for you to get out and fulfill your potential for success. This album wasn’t even about the music (which was, at its whole, nothing short of great), it was the fact that as soon as I get done listening to the album I just want to get on my MPC, get a pad and a pen, fire up the ProTools and create. Maybe the age difference (I’m 21) puts me in a place where music takes me to a different place, but as someone who is just starting to figure things out in life this album hits the spot motivationally. I think the 21 year old Bomani would think the same, too.
http://www.facebook.com/delvin.davis1 Delvin Davis

This is a great review. I’m a little more disappointed in Kayne than Jay in this album. At this point in Jay’s career, I’m not sure what else we can expect him to give us that isn’t going to be a repeat from a previous project. Especially if most of your content is rapping about your own life. I don’t see Kanye as having that issue yet. Still a decent album, just not a classic album.
CoupDeLa

THIS is exactly what I’m saying.
FR3SH

I can relate with Bo’s review. WTT has no clear cut vision. I agree with some of the others that suggested it may be an album of motivation but I really think it was an album for Ye-Z to talk about how great they are. It’s an album of opulence with a few socially conscious/emotionally charged track sprinkled throughout.

I did a track by track review on it while explaining why everyone was so quick to deem it a classic. Check it out and let me know what you think

http://keepitfr3sh.blogspot.com/2011/08/fr3sh-take-watch-throne-track-by-track.html
Jaykanye

THIS ALBUM IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE BEGGINNING.. THE INTRO… A TEASER.. A SET-UP…. JUST WAIT AND WATCH WHATS NEXT FROM THEESE 2……
FR3SH

Thanks man… Took a lot of time putting it together.. A lot of listening and then re-listening… The first night I heard it, I was convinced it was a classic but after I removed myself from the market (cause the noise was deafening), I realized it was just a good, cool album.. Ye definitely didn’t rip it as I was expecting.. Some people will claim Ye had better verses but his style is abrasive, hit you with a punchline while Jay is more cerebral and really requires multiple listens to appreciate
http://freshnproper.com/2011/08/11/why-wtt-was-dope-and-crucial/ Why WTT Was Dope and Crucial… « Fresh-N-Proper

[...] of their disinterest in the album — some emotional vacancy. Bomani Jones put together a great review of WTT, stating that his biggest beef was the theme — or lack [...]
http://www.facebook.com/FreshPrinceofEC Kramer Cook

I read your review too. As soon as I read your review I immediately bookmarked your blog. Feel like we are on the same wavelength.
CoupDeLa

I appreciate it, man. As I talk to more people, it seems like there are generational and philosophical gaps that determine how people view the album. Most of the reviews/feedback I’ve seen relate to the greater tone or meaning or message and only mention the music tangentially. It’s very rare that a piece of popular culture is judged that way and that alone solidifies the fact that this is a special project and moment in our culture in my eyes. This is music that draws a line in the sand and forces people to critically think about which side they are standing on.
Patrick

after a couple weeks with the album, my review can be broken down to five words (well, four plus a contraction): Songs Just Aren’t That Good.
Omar Carr

I gotta agree. I pre-ordered Watch The Throne…the Deluxe Version mind you…with the thought that I was getting what “Best Of Both Worlds” should’ve been. Two great talents and lyrical giants just being bold with it. Just fell short. Felt the same about Carter 4. I mean they’re playing with house money, so they could afford making just a “good” album instead of greatness.
franco

My sentiments exactly. An album of opulence with “attempts” at a few socially conscious/emotionally charged tracks sprinkled about it.
Perhaps it may be an album of motivation to the young teenyboppers but imo it’s a dissapointment. Maybe even a greater one than B.O.B.W.