Watch the Throne

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Watch the Throne is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Kanye West and Jay-Z.[1] It was released on August 8, 2011. The album has 7 singles. All 7 of those singles have music videos. They originally planned to make a five-single EP.[2][3] But soon after that, that project evolved to a seven-single studio album.[4] The album features guest appearances from Frank Ocean, The-Dream, Beyoncé, and Mr Hudson.[5] It also features samples of vocals by soul musicians Otis Redding and Curtis Mayfield.[6]

Many critics and publicators named "Watch the Throne" to their year-end best-of lists. A few notable examples are The Rolling Stone"[7] and The Washington Post.[8] The album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200. This is because the album sold 436,000 copies in the first week.[9] It also broke the iTunes first week sales record at the same time. Because of this, it was the fourth top selling album on iTunes in 2011.[10] It also reached the top 10 in a few countries. Examples are Canada[11] and the United Kingdom.[12][13] It was also certified quintuple platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in November 2020.[14]

Track listing[change | change source]

  1. "No Church in the Wild" (featuring Frank Ocean and The-Dream) (4:32)
  2. "Lift Off" (featuring Beyoncé) (4:26)
  3. "Niggas in Paris" (3:39)
  4. "Otis" (featuring Otis Redding) (2:58)
  5. "Gotta Have It" (2:20)
  6. "New Day" (4:32)
  7. "That's My Bitch" (3:22)
  8. "Welcome to the Jungle" (2:54)
  9. "Who Gon Stop Me" (4:16)
  10. "Murder to Excellence" (5:00)
  11. "Made in America" (featuring Frank Ocean) (4:52)
  12. "Why I Love You" (featuring Mr Hudson) (3:21)

Total length:46:12

Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)[change | change source]

13. "Illest Motherfucker Alive" (8:23)

14. "H.A.M. (4:35)

15. "Primetime" (3:19)

16. "The Joy" (featuring Curtis Mayfield) (5:17)

Total length:64:37

References[change | change source]

  1. McIntyre, Hugh. "Kanye West Has Announced A New Supergroup -- Here's A Look At His Past Duos And Groups". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  2. "Kanye West & Jay-Z Said to Release Five-Song EP, "Watch the Throne"". 28 August 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-08-23.
  3. "Kanye West & Jay-Z Said to Release Five-Song EP, "Watch the Throne"". 28 August 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-08-23.
  4. Nast, Condé (2010-10-25). "Kanye West and Jay-Z Planning Joint Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  5. "Kanye & Jay-Z Confirm 'Watch the Throne' Release Date | Kanye West | News | MTV UK". Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  6. Stone, Rolling; Stone, Rolling (2011-12-07). "50 Best Albums of 2011". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  7. Rosen, Jody (August 11, 2011). "Watch the Throne". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  8. Richards, Chris (December 7, 2011). "Chris Richards's best pop albums of 2011". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 15, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  9. Caulfield, Keith (August 17, 2011). "Jay-Z & Kanye West's 'Throne' Sells 436,000, Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Archived from the original on April 17, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  10. Shirley Halperin (December 8, 2011). "Adele Is iTunes' Top Seller in 2011, Foo Fighters' 'Wasting Light' Named Album of the Year by Apple Staff". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  11. Dowling, Marianne (August 18, 2011). "Kanye, Jay-Z Take Over the Throne". Jam!. CANOE, QMI Agency. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  12. "Official Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  13. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  14. "RIAA – Recording Industry Association of America". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2011.