My room is filled with posters that rep my love for things like Entourage or The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. After taking a glance at my limited edition White Stripes turntable, something hit me: I have no idea what I’m talking about when it comes to hip-hop.
I’ve dabbled in the genre with this blog before, but I admit, I’m fairly uncertain when it comes to what I’m supposed to look for in a hip-hop record. I’m only writing about this now because I’ve stumbled upon the first hip-hop record that I don’t really like. For those who are completely oblivious to the world around them, and are most likely living under a rock, Watch The Throne is a collaborative record made by Jay-Z and Kanye West, two of hip-hop’s—as well as music’s in general—biggest names. That deadly combination might be part of the problem with this record, though. I’ll be blunt; both of these guys are filthy rich. If for some reason you didn’t know that, The Throne will burn that fact into your brain.
There’s a track called Niggas in Paris. They rhyme about clubs, prenups and Maybachs. Oh, but don’t worry, it’s all good, because they rap about the problems that come with being rich, too. Sorry, this just doesn’t appeal to someone like me. Maybe they should have just distributed this record to their secret billionaire rapper society, (you know, the one that runs the world. Kind of like the Elders of Zion, except it actually exists).
Oh, and if we’re on the topic of Judaism, I’ve got to tell you something Kanye. Whatever it is that you’re referring to in Who Gon Stop Me (awesome grammar in that title, by the way) isn’t “something like the Holocaust.” I promise.
Anyway, maybe this is good hip-hop. If you look past the obnoxious rhymes, the beats are pretty solid. My point is, I really don’t know what I should be looking for here. What it’s going to come down to, though, is that if there’s a problem as glaring as bad lyrics, I don’t think there’s any way that I can enjoy the record that they’re a part of.
Swole Ear 
I think bitching might just be Kanye’s general style. MBDTF mostly seemed to be him complaining about himself, or that’s what I got from it at least. I did realize on a few more listens of this album that there was a lot of filler that I wasn’t all that interested in though.
That being said, I don’t know what to look for in a hip-hop record either, so my opinion is just that, haha.
Mr. Ear is getting a little politicized. I think I like it. A “limited edition White Stripes turntable” — does that get you into the Hipster Hall of Fame?
What to look for in a hip hop album? Is that any different than what you should look for in any other album? How it makes you feel. How it makes you think.
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is a scam???!!! Quick, alert the Jewish-controlled world media! And hide my Christian baby on matzah.
Everybody say, “Hotel, motel, Holiday Inn.” These young men haven’t moved the rap needle an inch with this cut.
You don’t need to be revolutionary to be good though.
True, but this is neither revolutionary nor good.