I usually save this blog for topics on Digital and Social Media and how it relates to music, events, etc. And in a way I could analyze the release of ‘Watch the Throne’ for how it will effect the future of digital releases, which it will. This would have been the topic of conversation had the release date not been so (un)fortunate. (Okay player posted a stream of the album for those who haven’t heard it yet.)

The irony of releasing an album titled ‘Watch the Throne’ on the day the markets came tumbling down can not be lost on anyone. The album of course is well done and really an excellent piece of work. Personally, it is not as groundbreaking as I would have liked. Some of the reviews even pointed out that ‘Ye is much riskier on his solo albums then on this. Musically and thematically this stays in the safe zone.
The stripped down and raw emotion coming from Drake (and several other young artists) or the youthful energy and disregard for well-anything from Tyler is what will shape hip-hop over the next few years. Lil’ Wayne has done more to bring new artists into the game then Roc-nation ever will. And lets be really honest, Eminem is still the best rapper/storyteller out there.

So what will be memorable about this album? They say timing is everything and the release couldn’t be more so.  The Chicago Herald review was fairly critical saying that such decadence was out of touch.  That article says that other rappers also noticed, with Chuck D speaking out in ‘Notice This.’ With so many people out of work, I am tempted to say the same thing. Other reviews (from Time Magazine) dug a little deeper saying that this album is really “two men grappling with what it means to be successful and black in a nation that still thinks of them as second class.” (hmm try being a woman..oh but I regress..)

I spend a lot of my time out of America and this means I spend a lot of time explaining myself, my people, and my country to other people. It is the country of the cowboy, the self-made man, the American Dream. Jay-z is fully aware of this. He sees himself as a modern-day Gatsby. The embodiment of the man who has risen from nothing. From now on I will refer people to ‘Hov if they want to learn about Americans.

More then ‘Ye’s story it is telling the story ‘Hova continues to live. For whatever it is worth Kanye is too much of the artist/provocateur to ever really be the figure Jay compares himself, too.  That real-life figure who had a Gatsby-sque rise out of the projects to become the King of New York. How riches have been earned and sooth the pain.  But Jay did you read the end of Gatsby? When it all falls apart will anyone care? They are rioting in London, America is losing any sense of economic stability. There is no doubt we will ‘Watch the Throne.’ Yet, what we need is so much greater.