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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, "H•A•M", "Otis", "Lift Off", "No Church in the Wild", and the Billboard Hot 100 top five hit "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

Collaborative albums

Charted songs

Appearances together

See also

• List of songs recorded by Kanye West
• List of songs recorded by Jay-Z

References

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• Musical groups established in 2010
• American hip-hop duos
• African-American musical duos
• Hip-hop supergroups
• Kanye West
• American male musical duos