Kanye West & Jay-Z

Watch the Throne (Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam)

Like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, Kanye West and Jay-Z understand the advantages of titans teaming together. The difference here is that hip-hop knows no salary cap, leaving rap’s most successful artist and foremost pop icon free to stack Watch the Throne any way they see fit. Enter hooks from Beyoncé (“Lift Off”) and Frank Ocean. Enter beats by RZA (“New Day”) and the Neptunes (“Gotta Have It”). Enter samples of the Incredible Bongo Band’s “Apache,” Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good,” James Brown (several different cuts on “Gotta Have It”), and Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.” That Jay and ‘Ye have the courtesy to stop rapping about their money and start attacking real issues – black-on-black crime in “Murder to Excellence,” raising children on “New Day” – is icing on a very expensive cake. “Who Gon Stop Me,” the two ask. Nobody. They already share a booth with the competition. (Kanye West: 8:30pm, Bud Light stage)

***

This article appears in September 16 • 2011.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US