Tag Archives: Jay-Z

Kanye West & Jay-Z go on tour, give fans a backstage pass

Kanye West & Jay-Z’s Watch the Throne tour kicked off last week on Friday in Atlanta, and so did their all-access pass website called VOYR. The Throne teamed with ad agency GlobalHue to create a video-based portal that gives fans inside access to behind the scenes during the length of the 26-city tour. The cost of entry is $4.99/month, and according to Complex that gives you “a 720-degree look of the stage, rehearsals, personal exercise routines, an exclusive Kanye documentary, and an animated series based on Kanye’s Runaway film.” Five episodes of behind the scenes footage will be uploaded to VOYR each week. Visit VOYR to watch a couple previews and you’ll find a link to sign up and subscribe there, too. Paying anything to view BTS footage from a music tour might be steep for most people, but if you consider yourself to be a big fan of Kanye and Jay-Z’s collaborative effort and missed out on purchasing tickets for the tour, this kind of exclusive content should do you some good.

[Via Complex]

The Throne reveals single artwork for “N****s in Paris” & “Why I Love You”

Following the recent success of previous Watch The Throne single “Otis,” Kanye West and Jay-Z (collectively known as The Throne) have released the Ricardo Tisci-designed single artwork for the next two singles (see above and after the break). The art direction follows in the tradition started by “Otis”; American colors red, white, and blue dominate the scene and the rappers’ names, track and album title are inscribed in tiny white capitalized letters across it. Though you must admit that the patriotic theme comes out of focus when you realize that the vertical stripes match those found on the French flag. “N****s in Paris” and the Mr Hudson-assisted “Why I Love You” drop as official singles simultaneously next week on September 13, but that hasn’t stopped radio stations from playing the masterful beats. “Paris” has already debuted at #75 on Billboard’s Hot 100. “Why I Love You” premiered on the French and Swiss Music Charts and UK Singles Chart. Oh and one more thing: according to “Paris” producer Hit-Boy, a music video is in the works for the track that’s got everyone bumping “that sh*t cray.”

[Via Complex 1, 2; Rap-Up] Continue reading The Throne reveals single artwork for “N****s in Paris” & “Why I Love You”

Symbolyc One talks about his “Excellence” behind ‘Watch The Throne’ beat

Kanye West called upon producer Symbolyc One (aka S1) to produce the beat behind the second half of Watch The Throne track “Murder To Excellence.” (‘Murder’ was produced by Swizz Beatz.) S1 had previously worked with ‘Ye on the masterful single “Power” off My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and most recently he co-produced Beyonce’s hit “Best Thing I Never Had.” S1 traveled to London and Australia with Kanye and Throne collaborator Jay-Z, and it was Done Under where the “dirty” beat for “Excellence” was conceived. He picked the Indiggo sample because he liked the “African, tribal feel to it.” Watch the video to see S1 in the studio and learn more about the inspiration behind the track.

[Via RapUp; MrBusby]

‘Watch The Throne’ debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200, 436,000 copies sold in first week

Jay-Z and Kanye West, arguably the two greatest rappers alive, hung out and created an album together. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that first weeks sales for the collaborative effort Watch The Throne are nothing short of impressive. According to Nielsen SoundScan, 436,000 copies of the album were sold as it debuted at the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart. This marks the second-largest sales week of the year for an album; Watch The Throne simply couldn’t come close to Lady Gaga’s Born This Way which sold 1.1 million copies when it released in May. Throne accumulated 321,000 legal downloads, marking the second-largest digital week ever; again it trails behind Born This Way (662,000 downloads). In addition, according to various sources Throne managed to break the iTunes first-week sales record by surpassing Coldplay’s 2008 release Viva La Vida (282,000) with a staggering 290,000 downloads.

Now you might be looking at that 436,000 number and think it’s rather low for such an anticipated album release. It all ties back to the way in which Jay & ‘Ye trickled the album to the masses. Throne was made exclusively available through iTunes from Monday August 8 to the 11th, and then it released wide to all digital and physical retailers. If the duo had dropped the album traditionally (by allowing all retailers to sell it on the 8/8 release day) analysts are certain that they would have moved over 500,000 copies. I will keep track of second-week sales and we’ll see if the numbers prove that theory. For an album that wasn’t promoted all that much by the artists and their record labels, Watch The Throne and all its “luxury rap” proved to be a hot commodity this summer.

And if that wasn’t enough, Throne becomes the latest major achievement for the rappers that put it together. The album is Jay-Z’s 12th No. 1 and Kanye’s 5th. Jay-Z maintains the record for the most No. 1 albums in history as a solo act.

[Via Billboard]

Inside the NYC ‘Watch the Throne’ pop up store (+ album unwrapping)

This weekend I visited the Watch the Throne Retail Experience in the trendy section of Manhattan known as SoHo. To celebrate the release of their collaborative album, Jay-Z and Kanye West decorated Openhouse Gallery (201 Mulberry Street) with all sorts of Throne memorabilia. The outside of the store is dressed in the Riccardo Tisci-designed gold album art; it really pops. Friendly security holds the door open for you and keeps count of the number of people inside the store. When you walk inside the store is organized in two sections: the Maybach and the album listening experience. Jay and ‘Ye thought it’d be neat to show off the über-expensive Maybach they stripped, chopped up, and drove in the laid back “Otis” music video. The luxury car, which will be auctioned with the proceeds going to the East African drought disaster, looks really awesome up close. The doors are torn off, the trunk is home to the grill that’s normally installed on the front of the car, suicide doors stick out in the back and give the car wings, the seats have monitors inside of them, the engine looks mean, and there’s sticker on the bumper that reads “What Would Hova Do.” When I was there the security man allowed salivating attendees to snap as many pictures they could within a six second time frame. What I was able to capture sits in the gallery below.

Beyond the Maybach section of the store and down a very short flight of stairs the “Otis” music video plays on a giant wall in silence; a sound system loops the album throughout the store at a comfortable level. The listening experience section is very big; just a handful of people and I stood in the center of the large space and watched “Otis” on a loop. All around the space hefty projectors beam images from the album on the surrounding walls; the album art, the “Otis” American flag artwork, and other imagery that’s stuffed inside the deluxe version of the album are displayed. To the right an attractive woman sells the deluxe copies at $15 a pop. The small retail section consists of a table with the Riccardo Tisci artwork folded open to reveal the aforementioned album imagery. There is also a listing of the album’s tracks and production credits for attendees to glance at. On my way out I noticed DJ equipment set up in the left corner. This must have been used opening night when the pop up store was packed with celebrities like Swizz Beatz, Memphis Bleek, Beyonce, and Jay-Z himself. The store is scheduled to close its doors today at 6PM. I highly recommend you check it out before the limited run is over. On a more general note, I have to say that I love the idea of a pop up store. Openhouse Gallery is a great space in a prime location; hopefully more artists and companies choose to use it when they plan to release anticipated products.

Underneath the pop up store gallery you’ll find a collection of pictures I took while unwrapping the Watch the Throne deluxe album. The duo did a great job putting it together, and it’s no secret that Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy had a big hand in the creative direction. The packaging folds open in a cross-like shape; four of the five panels feature the same embossed pattern and the center one is unique. On the reverse side there are five unique images on each panel: the American flag image of the “Otis” single artwork, dark images of Jay and Kanye with giant fangs, an image of a winged angel with a star pasted on her face, and in the center (the sleeve that holds the CD) is a shiny visual that evokes a slab of wood. The CD is a special edition black colored disc and its face matches the wooden pattern that it’s stored within. Under the angelic imagery lives an 18-panel poster; on one side is colorful artwork that takes design cues from the H.A.M single artwork, and the reverse side spells out the production credits and lyrics for every track. What’s neat is that the lyrics specify when Jay-Z and Kanye rap in each song with the markings JZ and KW. Overall, the packaging manages to elicit what Jay and ‘Ye were originally going for with Watch the Throne: grandiose rap. Tisci successfully channel his aesthetic touch that consists of symmetry, lightness, darkness, sharpness, and 3D. If you’re going to buy a physical copy of the album (and you should!) it’s definitely worth the extra pennies to go deluxe.


Music video: Jay-Z & Kanye West – “Otis” (‘Watch the Throne’ out now!)

Today Jay-Z and Kanye West (aka The Throne) dropped the music video for Watch the Throne‘s first official single “Otis.” In the Spike Jonze-directed clip the dynamic duo strip down a gorgeous Maybach and ride around in it like they haven’t got a care in the world. And that’s what make this video so great: the guys are having so much fun and the pyro-infused atmosphere is infectious. You can’t help by smile and bang your head to the Otis Redding-sampled beat all the way through. Add some hot models, fireworks, a giant American flag, and ‘Ye’s buddy comedian Aziz Ansari to the mix and you’ve got yourself a care-free joyride that’s truly a blast to watch.

In related Throne news, the highly anticipated album is out! On Monday, August 8 Watch the Throne released digitally exclusively on iTunes. Today the physical version dropped in stores; the standard version can be found in most retail stores that sell CDs, but the deluxe version is exclusively sold at Best Buy through August 22. In a press release the deluxe packaing is detailed:

The DELUXE packaging for “WATCH THE THRONE” is high-end art created by acclaimed designer Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy. The softpack, when opened up, turns into a cross-like shape printed on gold mylar with Tisci’s patterns embossed throughout. The package also includes an 18-panel poster that features Tisci’s artwork as well as lyrics to the entire album. The CD is a special edition black colored disc which is not standard with normal packaging.  In tune with his codes for Givenchy, Riccardo Tisci created an artwork that channels most of his aesthetics: symmetry, lightness, darkness, sharpness and 3D.

MTV reports that Jay and ‘Ye have opened a pop-up store in Manhattan to sell copies of the album today (August 12) through Sunday. The storefront is wrapped in the Riccardo Tisci-designed gold album art and inside you’ll find the Maybach used in the “Otis” music video; you’ll also hear the video since it’s played on a loop. The location is SoHo at 201 Mulberry Street and Jay-Z is expected to make an appearance there tonight. So there’s that.

Want to sample the album before you buy? Spotify’s got it streaming.

Kanye West & Jay-Z release “Otis” single, announce ‘Watch the Throne’ release and tour dates

It’s all coming together now.

Last Thursday Kanye West and Jay-Z released the second Watch the Throne single “Otis” onto the ‘Net. Preview it at Kanye’s website and download it at iTunes. The soulful single (featuring a classic Otis Redding sample) follows the previously released regal symphonic piece “H*A*M.” Check out the cover design by Ricardo Tisci of Givenchy after the break.

And now we know exactly when the collaborative album is set to release. Watch the Throne–both the standard set and the deluxe version containing 4 additional tracks–will release digitally on August 8. You can preorder the digital copy at iTunes today. The album will release in physical form four days later on August 12. But read the fine print: the physical standard set releases everywhere on the 12th, and the physical deluxe version will release exclusively in Best Buy stores on that same day. The deluxe version will will be sold everywhere else starting later in the month on August 22. Got it? Good.

To add more excitement to the mix, the rap king and his mighty apprentice are readying a Watch the Throne tour to promote the upcoming album. Together ‘Ye and Z will be known as “The Throne” and the tour is set to kick off September 22 in Auburn Hills, MI. Though a tour schedule has been released, due to overwhelming demand the duo has decided to add additional shows to the tour; once the updated schedule is released on Monday, August 1 check back here to see if they’ll be visiting your city. The presale date is August 2 at 10AM location time (the password is WWT) and public sales begin the following Monday, August 8. Tickets will be made available through TicketMaster and LiveNation.

So the countdown to Watch the Throne begins. Eye the tracklist here. Continue reading Kanye West & Jay-Z release “Otis” single, announce ‘Watch the Throne’ release and tour dates

Watch the Throne tracklist & behind-the-scenes photos

The Kanye West/Jay-Z collab album is almost upon us, or so we think. Although an official release date has yet to be announced, the rap protege and his apprentice have leaked out the official deluxe tracklist and super-duper behind-the-scenes photos from the making of the album. The album includes 12 tracks and 4 bonus tracks, two of which are the previously outed single “H*A*M” and G.O.O.D. Friday freebie “The Joy”. ‘Ye and Z brought along Frank Ocean for two tracks, and Beyonce, Otis Redding, and fellow G.O.O.D. Music artist Mr Hudson are also featured on the album. Eye the tracklist below:

1. No Church in The Wild (Feat. Frank Ocean)
2. Lift Off (Feat. Beyoncé)
3. Niggas in Paris
4. Otis (Feat. Otis Redding)
5. Gotta Have It
6. New Day
7. Prime Time
8. Who Gon Stop Me
9. Murder to Excellence
10. Welcome to The Jungle
11. Sweet Baby Jesus (Feat. Frank Ocean)
12. Why I Love You (Feat. Mr Hudson)

Bonus
13. Illest Motherfucker Alive
14. H*A*M
15. That’s My Bitch
16. The Joy (Feat. Curtis Mayfield)

Check out the aforementioned photos in the gallery below. Preorder the album here; the rumored drop date remains August 2.

Update: DDotOmen.com has managed to get their hands on full list of production credits for the album. Click here to sneak a peek.

[Via Life+Times]

Kanye West & Jay-Z’s collab album ‘Watch the Throne’ available for preorder

After months of rumors today we finally get some solid information coming directly from rap overlords Kanye West and Kay-Z concerning their upcoming collab album. If you head over to Kanye and Jay’s blogs you’ll be presented with the album artwork for Watch the Throne; the gold metallic cover is designed by Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci and it’s pasted above. Clicking the album art at either site brings you to www.WatchTheThrone.com, a site designed by label Island Def Jam. There you can preorder the album in a variety of formats: Deluxe CD ($16.99), Standard CD ($13.99), Deluxe MP3 ($14.99), and Standard MP3 ($11.99). After completing your order an email receipt lists an August 2 drop date, but this information has not been confirmed. Sources say that the standard version will pack ten tracks, and the deluxe will add four bonus songs on top of that. West, Jay-Z, Swizz Beatz, No ID, and Lex Luger are all expected to receive production credits. And finally, it’s rumored that Beyonce and Bruno Mars will lend their voices to a track called “Lift Off.” Expect the followup to H.A.M. to drop within the next few weeks. According to fellow G.O.O.D. Music artist Cyhi Da Prynce the album is near completion–the songs are recorded, and ‘Ye is adding his final touches before the final master ships. Happy fourth of July!

Music video: Kanye West – “Monster” (Featuring Rick Ross, Jay-Z & Nicki Minaj)

Monster. Kanye West released the track as part of his G.O.O.D. Friday free-song-of-the-week extravaganza in August 2010. It ended up being part of ‘Ye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. In December a preview for the music video leaked onto the ‘Net, and then a lengthier unfinished product surfaced. Last Sunday, finally, the completed “Monster” music video released to much fanfare.

The controversial, spooky video features Kanye West rapping among beautiful, dead models. The clip is very graphic–dead women hang like chandeliers from the ceiling, West poses the lifeless models in bed with him, and at one point he’s holding a decapitated head by brown strands of hair. This disclaimer lingers at the start of the video, so make no mistake: “The following content is in no way to be interpreted as misogynistic or negative towards any groups of people. It is an art piece and should be taken as such.”

A chainsaw wielding Rick Ross and dapper Jay-Z join West in the gory affair. But just like she did in the track itself, Nicki Minaj steals the show here as she faces off against her pink alter-ego Barbie. Watch it all unfold in the video above.

Single: Kanye West & Jay-Z – “H•A•M”

It’s here.  The first single from the Kanye West/Jay-Z collab album Watch the Throne has arrived.  Kanye delivered on his promise, posting the Lex Lugar produced track on the official Watch the Throne Facebook page at midnight Tuesday morning.  The track can be previewed there, or save a click and listen to it right here:

[audio: Kanye West & Jay-Z – H.A.M.mp3]

Want to know what “H•A•M” stands for?  You’ll have to listen to the phenomenal track to find out.  Watch the Throne is expected to drop in March.

Update: Download link: Kanye West & Jay-Z – “H•A•M” [Via MissInfoTV]

Kanye West: ‘Watch the Throne’ coming this week?; unreleased track “Eyes Closed” leaks; The Muppets sing “Monster”; and more

Ever since Kanye West’s magnificent album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy released on November 22, things have been pretty quiet on the West front.  Besides downloading the holiday-themed G.O.O.D. Friday joint “Christmas In Harlem” and watching a leak of the upcoming “Monster” music video hitting the ‘Net, fans have been sitting idly by rocking out to “Dark Fantasy” in anticipation of another major release dubbed Watch the Throne. It’s a collaborative album between rap gods West and his mentor Jay-Z.  Originally ‘Ye billed it as a 5-track EP but after time he admitted enough tracks would be made to consider it a full-length album.  Sweet music to fans’ ears. So what’s all the hub-bub about it spreading around the Internets today?  Well… at a New Years Eve party in Las Vegas West (drunkenly?) announced, “Watch the Throne, coming in one week!”  So what does that mean?  One of two things, in my humble opinion: (1) The album will come out this week (highly unlikely since Ye’s Def Jam record label has not even confirmed its existence); (2) West was referring to a possible lead single called “Watch the Throne” (highly more likely).  I’ve heard whispers that case #2 is the winner, and the album is looking at a March drop.  Whatever the case, though, something is going down soon so be ready.

Update (1/6): Looks like I was right.  Today ‘Ye posted a Twitpic of the elaborately designed lead single artwork and it’s called “H-A-M.”  The track will drop 1/11/11, that’s next Tuesday.

Side note: The New Years Eve party I mentioned earlier… it took place at Las Vegas’ Marquee Nightclub and so many celebrities made an appearance.  Besides ‘Ye and Jay Z, Rihanna, Diddy, 50 Cent, J. Lo and many others enjoyed the night’s festivities. Click here to browse through a gallery of hi-res photos from the party.  And look after the break to watch some videos from it (one includes ‘Ye screaming the “one week” announcement).

Next up is an unreleased track featuring vocals from West and John Legend.  “Eyes Closed” made its rounds today, spreading like wildfire in an unfortunately tagged now tagless version.  Sources say the track was originally intended to be included on Twisted Fantasy but in the end it didn’t make the cut.  Rumor has it that the West-produced beat will be handed off to Snoop Dogg who will use it (with Legend in tact) for his upcoming record Doggumentary Music, due out March 8.  Preview and download the track below.  If the lyrics sound familiar to you that’s because you’ve heard that before in the BET Cypher video and West’s “Dark Fantasy” track.

Download: Kanye West – “Eyes Closed”

[audio: Kanye West – Eyes Closed.mp3]

This news bit is short but sweet.  Over at Amazon you’ll find a preorder page hyping a “G.O.O.D. Friday [Import]” audio CD.  Is West prepping an album to publicize his free G.O.O.D. Friday tracks?  There better be some bonus tracks or slick artwork and packaging or what’s the point?

Two more things.  Today two video cropped out that are West-related must-sees.  The first features classical vocalist Josh Groban belting out Kanye West tweets, and the other is a Muppets mashup of the Twisted Fantasy track “Monster”.  Yes, Piggie Minaj makes an appearance.  Watch the videos after the break. Continue reading Kanye West: ‘Watch the Throne’ coming this week?; unreleased track “Eyes Closed” leaks; The Muppets sing “Monster”; and more