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	In 2010, Kanye West announced plans for a collaborative EP with Jay-Z titled Watch the Throne. However, the project evolved into a full-length studio album during recording sessions held in New York City and Paris. The duo officially adopted the name “The Throne” to reflect their shared status as hip-hop royalty.		In 2010, Kanye West announced plans for a collaborative EP with Jay-Z titled Watch the Throne. However, the project evolved into a full-length studio album during recording sessions held in New York City and Paris. The duo officially adopted the name “The Throne” to reflect their shared status as hip-hop royalty.

	===~~Watch~~ ~~the~~ ~~Throne~~===		===Formation and debut===

	Released on August 8, 2011, ] featured guest appearances from ], ], ] and ]. It also features vocal contributions from ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Seven singles were released for the album, including "]", "]", "]", "]", and the ] top five hit "]" Watch the Throne debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 436,000 copies in its first week. It also broke ] records for digital sales at the time. Critics praised the album for its ambitious production and lyrical themes, which explored topics ranging from luxury and fame to racial identity and social inequality.
			Jay-Z and Kanye West first collaborated on the track “This Can’t Be Life” from Jay-Z’s 2000 album The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, which West produced. Their partnership continued on Jay-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint, where West’s distinctive hip-hop production style stood out and helped elevate his reputation in the music industry. Initially recognized primarily as a producer, Kanye gained credibility as both a rapper and producer with the success of his debut album, The College Dropout, and its hit singles. West went on to produce tracks for Jay-Z’s subsequent albums, including The Black Album and Kingdom Come. Meanwhile, Jay-Z appeared on Kanye’s first two albums, solidifying their frequent collaboration.

			The duo worked together on notable tracks such as “Swagga Like Us” (with T.I.), “Run This Town” (from Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3), and “Monster” and “So Appalled” (from West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy). During the promotion of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, a remix of Kanye’s “Power” featuring Jay-Z emerged. Shortly afterward, Kanye announced on Twitter that he and Jay-Z would release a five-track EP titled Watch the Throne. Although the song “Monster” was initially planned for the EP, it ended up on Kanye’s solo album instead. In October 2010, Kanye revealed in an MTV interview that the EP had grown into a full-length album, and they planned to record in the south of France.

			Watch the Throne was released on August 8, 2011, through Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc Nation, and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances by Frank Ocean, The-Dream, Beyoncé, and Mr. Hudson, with additional vocal contributions from Kid Cudi, Seal, Justin Vernon, Elly Jackson, Connie Mitchell, Charlie Wilson, and Pete Rock.

			The album was made available for pre-order on July 4, 2011, via Jay-Z’s lifestyle webzine Life + Times, which redirected to Island Def Jam’s website offering various versions, including a deluxe CD edition and digital formats. Pre-orders were also opened on the iTunes Store on July 22, 2011. The album’s digital release occurred on August 8, 2011, exclusively through iTunes, followed by a physical release on August 12. Best Buy held exclusive rights to sell the deluxe CD edition until August 23, after which it became available at other retailers. The exclusivity agreements drew criticism from other retailers, who accused the labels of preferential treatment. Despite these controversies, Watch the Throne was one of the few major-label releases in the digital age to avoid an unauthorized leak prior to its official debut.

			The album was supported by seven singles, including “H•A•M,” “Otis,” “Lift Off,” “No Church in the Wild,” and the Billboard Hot 100 top-five single “Niggas in Paris.” Upon release, Watch the Throne debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 436,000 copies in its first week, and broke iTunes records for digital sales.

			The album received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its production and lyrical exploration of themes such as luxury, fame, racial identity, and social inequality. It is widely regarded as one of the most significant releases of 2011.

	===Watch the Throne Tour===		===Watch the Throne Tour===

Revision as of 02:08, 17 January 2025

American hip hop duo

The Throne
Years active	2010–2011 2016
Labels	Roc-A-Fella Records Roc Nation Def Jam Recordings

Members	Kanye West Jay-Z

The Throne were an American hip hop superduo composed of rappers Kanye West and Jay-Z. Formed in 2010, the duo released their debut album, Watch the Throne, in August 2011 through Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc Nation, and Def Jam Recordings. The album was a critical and commercial success, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 and earning Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Known for their cultural impact and innovative production, The Throne has been celebrated as one of hip-hop’s most iconic collaborations.

History

Background and beginnings

Kanye West and Jay-Z had a long-standing professional relationship before forming The Throne. West began his career as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, contributing to Jay-Z’s critically acclaimed album The Blueprint (2001). Over the years, they collaborated on numerous projects, including tracks like “Run This Town” from Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3 (2009) and “Monster” from West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). In 2010, Kanye West announced plans for a collaborative EP with Jay-Z titled Watch the Throne. However, the project evolved into a full-length studio album during recording sessions held in New York City and Paris. The duo officially adopted the name “The Throne” to reflect their shared status as hip-hop royalty.

Formation and debut

Jay-Z and Kanye West first collaborated on the track “This Can’t Be Life” from Jay-Z’s 2000 album The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, which West produced. Their partnership continued on Jay-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint, where West’s distinctive hip-hop production style stood out and helped elevate his reputation in the music industry. Initially recognized primarily as a producer, Kanye gained credibility as both a rapper and producer with the success of his debut album, The College Dropout, and its hit singles. West went on to produce tracks for Jay-Z’s subsequent albums, including The Black Album and Kingdom Come. Meanwhile, Jay-Z appeared on Kanye’s first two albums, solidifying their frequent collaboration.

The duo worked together on notable tracks such as “Swagga Like Us” (with T.I.), “Run This Town” (from Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3), and “Monster” and “So Appalled” (from West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy). During the promotion of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, a remix of Kanye’s “Power” featuring Jay-Z emerged. Shortly afterward, Kanye announced on Twitter that he and Jay-Z would release a five-track EP titled Watch the Throne. Although the song “Monster” was initially planned for the EP, it ended up on Kanye’s solo album instead. In October 2010, Kanye revealed in an MTV interview that the EP had grown into a full-length album, and they planned to record in the south of France.

Watch the Throne was released on August 8, 2011, through Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc Nation, and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances by Frank Ocean, The-Dream, Beyoncé, and Mr. Hudson, with additional vocal contributions from Kid Cudi, Seal, Justin Vernon, Elly Jackson, Connie Mitchell, Charlie Wilson, and Pete Rock.

The album was made available for pre-order on July 4, 2011, via Jay-Z’s lifestyle webzine Life + Times, which redirected to Island Def Jam’s website offering various versions, including a deluxe CD edition and digital formats. Pre-orders were also opened on the iTunes Store on July 22, 2011. The album’s digital release occurred on August 8, 2011, exclusively through iTunes, followed by a physical release on August 12. Best Buy held exclusive rights to sell the deluxe CD edition until August 23, after which it became available at other retailers. The exclusivity agreements drew criticism from other retailers, who accused the labels of preferential treatment. Despite these controversies, Watch the Throne was one of the few major-label releases in the digital age to avoid an unauthorized leak prior to its official debut.

The album was supported by seven singles, including “H•A•M,” “Otis,” “Lift Off,” “No Church in the Wild,” and the Billboard Hot 100 top-five single “Niggas in Paris.” Upon release, Watch the Throne debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 436,000 copies in its first week, and broke iTunes records for digital sales.

The album received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its production and lyrical exploration of themes such as luxury, fame, racial identity, and social inequality. It is widely regarded as one of the most significant releases of 2011.

Watch the Throne Tour

To promote their debut album, The Throne embarked on the Watch the Throne Tour, which ran from October 2011 to June 2012. The tour included 57 shows across North America and Europe and grossed over $75 million. It was lauded for its elaborate stage design and electrifying performances. One of the tour’s most memorable moments was their repeated performances of “Niggas in Paris,” which they played up to 12 times during a single show in Los Angeles.

Later Collaborations

In 2016, The Throne made a rare appearance on Drake’s track “Pop Style”, from his album Views. While Kanye West delivered a full verse, Jay-Z’s contribution was limited to two lines. The collaboration generated excitement but also speculation about tensions between the two artists. Ultimately, Drake replaced this version with a solo rendition on his album.

In 2021, Kanye West and Jay-Z reunited on “Jail,” a track from Kanye’s tenth studio album, Donda. This marked their first collaboration in five years. Jay-Z’s verse included lines hinting at a potential return of The Throne: “This might be the return of The Throne.” Fans celebrated this reunion as a symbolic reconciliation after years of rumored discord between the two artists.

Legacy

The Throne’s influence extends beyond music into broader cultural discussions about race, wealth, and power dynamics. Their debut album is often cited as one of hip-hop’s most significant collaborative projects. Tracks like “Made in America” celebrated Black excellence, while songs like “No Church in the Wild” delved into existential themes. Despite occasional collaborations since Watch the Throne, no official follow-up album has been announced. However, both Kanye West and Jay-Z have hinted at future projects together, leaving fans hopeful for another chapter in The Throne’s legacy.

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with release date, label, selected chart positions, sales, and certifications shown
Title	Album details	Peak chart positions							Sales	Certifications
Title	Album details	US	AUS	CAN	NOR	NZ	SWE	UK	Sales	Certifications
Watch the Throne	Released: August 8, 2011 Label: Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	US: 436,000	RIAA: -

Charted songs

List of non-single chart appearances, with year released and album name shown
Title	Year	Peak chart positions								Certifications	Album
Title	Year	US	US R&B/HH	AUS	CAN	IRE	NZ Heat.	SWE Heat.	UK	Certifications	Album

Appearances together

References

"Kanye West and JAY-Z Form New Group! They Are Now Called 'THE THRONE' and Confirm the Most Anticipated Album & Tour of the Year: WATCH THE THRONE". prnewswire.com. July 25, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
"Jay-Z & Kanye West's 'Throne' Sells 436,000, Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200: Listen | Billboard". billboard.com. August 17, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
Cite error: The named reference US200 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
"ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
"Canadian Albums Chart: June 23, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
"VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 24, 2018". VG-lista. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
"NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
"Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 15, 2018. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
^ "Kids See Ghosts | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
"Music: Top 100 Songs – June 23, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
"Top Hip-Hop Songs / R&B Songs Chart – June 23, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
"ARIA Chart Watch #477". auspOp. June 16, 2018. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
"Canadian Music: Top 100 Songs – June 23, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
"IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
"NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
Peaks on the Swedish Heatseeker chart:
- "Feel the Love" and "4th Dimension": "Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 24, 15 juni 2018". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
- "Reborn": "Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 25, 21 juni 2018". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 22, 2018.

Title	Year	Artist(s)	Album

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