Kanye West and Jay Z: Watch the Throne

Label: Roc-a-Fella

Hey, the long-awaited collab between hip-hop's (and really, pop music's) two biggest alpha dogs is finally here. What do you wanna know about it? At this point it's possible you might have seen a review (or 50) in publications with a bit more heft than your faithful Sound Fix newsletter, but yes, we are on the job too, and after spending the better part of an afternoon with Watch the Throne we can tell you: This baby is maximal in just about every way. Yes, Jay Z and Kanye are, shall we say, immodest about their ability to make anything happen with money. You could say that this is the one of those hip-hop records where the boasts aren't really boasting, y'know? Also, these guys truly are incredible on the mic -- Jay about the most casually authoritative MC going, Kanye still sounding -- always sounding -- like he's got something to prove, slipping and sliding around the beat. If you aren't put off by rich successful guys going off about being rich and successful, then the record's just plain dope! Beyond the early single "Otis" and a high-profile appearance by Beyonce on the massive "Lift Off," the impolitely named "That's My Bitch" rolls hard on a classic beat and sample that Kanye surfs like a pro. Who's gonna stop them? Who possibly could?