Deemed an instant classic before release and by others as an over hyped product by two rap greats. My opinion is it isn’t an obvious classic but one listen isn’t really enough to determine that. However with so many rappers releasing average albums this has a little hint of the old school Jay Z and new school Kanye West and for me makes it one of the best hip hop releases in the last couple of years.

The album starts off dark and twisted and no wonder since the track was produced by Kanye West who shines on the albums first track ‘No Church in the Wild (ft Frank Ocean)’ with his usual sly lines describing someone as “striped like a zebra/ I call that jungle fever.”

The second track featuring Jay’s wife Beyonce seems a little disappointing given the cast on the track and a little lazy but ‘Lift Off (ft Beyoncé)’ synths sample The Final Countdown by Europe.

The album kicks into gear on the third track ‘Niggas in Paris’ with some slick sub bass on the backing track. Both rappers are in hot form on this track and is a perfect example of a Jay Z / Kanye West track from the last two years, heavy bass and slick rapping make this a stand out track. A highlight line from the album can be found on this track as Kanye makes reference to our own Prince William. “Prince Williams ain’t do it right if you ask me / If I was him I would have married Kate and Ashley.”

‘Otis’ featuring the great man Otis Reading is my favourite track on the album as it takes me back to the Blueprint, one of Jay Z classic albums which was produced by Kanye and launched West career.

Neptunes produced ‘Gotta Have It’ is a pleasant track however the track ‘New Day’ is an interesting track which is written for Jay and Kanye’s unborn children. That’s My B*tch is a pretty cool frenetic record that borrows a lil’ Public Enemy. Its quite possible that this song could unwittingly get play in the club.

Within 8 bars you already know that ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ is a Swizz Beat produced track which didn’t almost make the album.  ‘Who Gon Stop Me’ can be simply described as Big, Stomping, Bass.

‘Murder to Excellence’ is an epic track with an epic backing track with Kanye rapping ‘I’m from the murder capital where they murder for capital.’ ‘Made in America (Ft Frank Ocean)’ is a real soft track looking back at the past for both rappers. The album finishs with ‘Why I Love You’ featuring a high pitched Mr Hudson which is a fitting end to the album.

Our Rating 7/10

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Out now on iTunes.

Watch the Throne Tracklisting (Deluxe Version)
1. No Church in the Wild (Feat. Frank Ocean)
2. Lift Off (Feat. Beyoncé)
3. Ni—s 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. Love You So (Feat. Mr Hudson)

Bonus

13. Illest Mother—-er Alive
14. H*A*M
15. That’s My Bi—
16. The Joy (Feat. Curtis Mayfield)