I'm not sure if "Watch the Throne" was supposed to be a passing of the torch, but maybe it was. We'll see. The comparisons between Kayne's and Jay-Z's new albums are inevitable given their history, their position at the top of the Hip Hop Music scene and the release of albums so close (reminds me of when Blur and Oasis released albums at the same time in the 1990s to the same type of comparisons although those groups were "enemies" it seemed).
My thoughts boil down to this. I really liked Kayne's album even though I didn't want to and I was completely underwhelmed by Jay-Z's. A friend pointed out that Jay seems to be trying to be like Kayne versus being the guy that he's been forever. Same friend pointed out that singing about all the expensive art you have doesn't have the same resonance as "99 Problems". Obviously artists evolve, but sometimes the change isn't for the better.
Speaking of the differences between these two guys I was struck by Jay-Z's ode to a fashion designer (to some extent) "Tom Ford" contrasted with Kayne's "New Slaves". I've read on-line that as a white person I can't understand what Kayne's talking about in this song and maybe I can't but it seems to me that's a rant against the consumerism that turns people in to New Slaves. So, while Jay is reveling in that very thing. Don't get me wrong, Kayne lives in the very world he seems to be deriding (Kardasians anyone?).
Musically, I found Jay-Z's album somewhat boring. Kayne's is anything but. The angry industrial beats make you take notice, make you listen. You're drawn to it even when those beats are some "repulsive" (at least it's not Dub Step). I have a feeling that in 12 months an awful lot of Hip Hop is going to sound like this with beats by Marilyn Manson and Ministry. By then Kayne will probably on to the next thing.
I only hope that Jay-Z's next album he isn't playing catch up to Yeezus.
