Watch the Throne
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Watch the Throne Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 42 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 727 Ratings

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  • Summary: Jay-Z and Kanye West join forces to form their own group and release their collaborative new album.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 42
  3. Negative: 0 out of 42
  1. The Telegraph (UK)
    Aug 12, 2011
    100
    Perhaps the most extraordinary achievement of this funny, hard-hitting, thrilling album is that it actually sounds like a coherent and purposeful piece of work, a statement of what hip hop can mean, and where it can go.
  2. Pitchfork
    Aug 11, 2011
    85
    On Watch the Throne, they push each other and have fun doing it, and the result is a stadium-sized event-rap spectacle that still sounds like two insanely talented guys' idiosyncratic vision. That's worth celebrating.
  3. The Observer (UK)
    Aug 15, 2011
    80
    It's better than West's last, impressive album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. With fantastically varied production, Watch the Throne marches hungrily forward, belying its genesis in a series of swanky hotel rooms.
  4. Los Angeles Times
    Aug 9, 2011
    75
    The two kings prove much more nimble and disciplined, displaying a confidence that suggests they're not going anywhere.
  5. Rolling Stone
    Aug 11, 2011
    70
    On a record this ambitious, this sonically bold, it's a shame two of music's greatest storytellers don't extend their gaze beyond their own luxe lives.
  6. Entertainment Weekly
    Aug 9, 2011
    67
    They sound like they're on the same page only during fleeting moments, and when those slip by, listening inevitably is more frustrating than fulfilling.
  7. The Independent (UK)
    Aug 11, 2011
    40
    Watch the Throne is more notable for its general lack of impact. Neither as compulsively neurotic as Eminem, as languidly characterful as Snoop Dogg, nor as furiously articulate as Nas, the raps here represent a pretty mediocre, cardboard kind of throne, truth be told.

See all 42 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 85 out of 111
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 111
  3. Negative: 12 out of 111
  1. Djsisco
    Aug 16, 2011
    10
    This is incredible album jay z & kanye west did a masterpiece. My favorite tracks are no church gotta have it, n in paris,otis, ham,liftThis is incredible album jay z & kanye west did a masterpiece. My favorite tracks are no church gotta have it, n in paris,otis, ham,lift up,who gon stop me,murder to excellence,joy,prime time and ham. Don't waste your time with the reguler version do yourself a favor get the deluxe trust me its worth it. Kanye is differently the producer of year with this and dark fantasy. I go further and say artist of the year. This best duo of songs put together since the great outkast bless us the speakerbox and love below masterpiece. Thanks for no leaks… Expand
  2. MitchReviews
    Jun 4, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This album is one of the best I've heard, there are some some songs I like and don't like, but Kanye West and Jay-Z are a good rap duo. Also, the production of the album was awesome, it was some of the best beats I've heard.… Expand
  4. LordoftheBrown
    Aug 23, 2011
    9
    Definitely not the album that I was expecting, and it proves to be for the better. There is plenty of experimentation going on throughout theDefinitely not the album that I was expecting, and it proves to be for the better. There is plenty of experimentation going on throughout the album, and both Jay-Z and Kanye throw down some pretty impressive rhymes. The production is sick, and the record is loaded with amazing samples and singing parts. "Niggas In Paris" and "Gotta Have It" are shining proof that this album is an instant classic. Now THAT, we knew it would be.… Expand
  5. RonaldOVOXO
    Feb 3, 2012
    8
    This was basically's Kanye's Album because Kanye West had the greatest lyrics and he **** on Jay-Z. Jay-Z got killed on his own song onThis was basically's Kanye's Album because Kanye West had the greatest lyrics and he **** on Jay-Z. Jay-Z got killed on his own song on Renegade, But Jay got killed on his own Album I Give this album a 8 only because of kanye's lyrics… Expand
  6. clem666
    Mar 13, 2021
    8
    Electric record! There are amazing varied samples used (dubstep on 'Who Gon Stop Me', electro/pop on 'Why I love You' and I am not evenElectric record! There are amazing varied samples used (dubstep on 'Who Gon Stop Me', electro/pop on 'Why I love You' and I am not even speaking about Otis' sample and Curtis Mayfield's presence in here). On that point Kanye and Jay-Z definitely managed to demonstrate that they can rap over any beat and rhythm. It is a pleasure not the hear them rhyme on every single beat and measure. The fact that they managed to let the music breath makes it way better. This allows us to enjoy more the amazing samples. Because yes, production is incredible. Kanye West and Mike Dean did an amazing job as leader producers on this. Tracks follow each other almost perfectly. Chill tracks like 'New Day', 'Made In America' , 'Primetime' and 'No Church In The Wild' (at some point) are definitely lovable and do bring some peace and variety in that monster self-centered record.

    The deluxe version surprisingly adds way more than expected to the project even if I found that the three-minute silence on 'The Illest Motherf*cker Alive' was kind of weird and destabilising.

    However it is way too much about Kanye's and Jay-Z's so-called dominance on the rap game. 'Watch The Throne' appears as a huge dual ego-trip.    … Expand
  7. TTW107
    Feb 8, 2012
    7
    While this is not my favorite album of 2011, this has got to be the most important album of 2011. Any album with Jay-z and Kanye will just beWhile this is not my favorite album of 2011, this has got to be the most important album of 2011. Any album with Jay-z and Kanye will just be historic. And we got Otis and Ni**as In Paris out of it! The rest is pretty damn good too.… Expand
  8. smokesouljah420
    Jun 20, 2012
    0
    i can't believe people like this guy. the beats are ok, not hard, acually just soft, and i just can't believe this is cool to listen 2, whati can't believe people like this guy. the beats are ok, not hard, acually just soft, and i just can't believe this is cool to listen 2, what about immortal technique, or anything but this, i really can't believe people would buy a kanye album or listen 2 a song or admit that they like it, id rather say i like hannah montanna then kanye, i mean seriously kanye's rap lyrics are so weeak you would thinkl a second grader wrote them, man whatever the critics are sayin, kanye west is not cool, and neither are drugs,this album is terribel, jayz's old stuff is ok get that instead but don't buy this garbage,and user reviews i can't believe people like this , I REALLY CAN'T -1 out of 10 awful sounding, and awful music, no message, but people still buy this, i can not figure out how anyone can like kanye , i really can't… Expand

See all 111 User Reviews

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