Watching the Throne: A Lyrical Analysis of Kanye West

AEW wrestler Ricky Starks joins Chris today to talk about his love of Ye's music. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 2 of this episode concludes our line-by-line analysis of Power by Ye. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you know Chris and Travis, then you know there's no way they're getting through a masterpiece like Power in just one episode. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ain't no question if we want it—the world needs this lyrical breakdown of Gorgeous. And being a song the entire Ye community adores, Chris and Travis have decided to bring their A game. Together they unpack this mammoth examination of American culture and how Ye fits into it. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time to get higher—much, much higher. High into the clouds where we dissect the music of Ye. And in this particular cloud, we pick apart every single line, sample, and interpolation on the epic opening track Dark Fantasy. There are more lyrical tidbits here than food at Thanksgiving dinner. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Pally has been a fan of Ye since the beginning. But...well. Ye's recent behavior has changed everything. In this episode, he sits down with Chris and Travis to work through some feelings (and let out some anger). If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a moment where Ye is in the middle of about 15 different controversies...we just wanna focus on the music. So that's what we're going to do with Season 8 of Watching the Throne, which will be entirely dedicated to Kanye's masterpiece My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. In this first episode, we overview the album and what we expect to learn on this journey. Also, we rank every song on the album. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next week we begin our new season on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. But before we start, we need to have a discussion about Kanye's recent behavior. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Annnnnnd WE'RE BACK!!! And we're ready to discuss two new songs—one belongs to Kanye, and the other features Kanye. The first is True Love, which features XXXTentacion and is/was slated to be part of Donda 2. And the other is Daylight, a song from Vory that features a mumbly verse from Ye that sent everyone into a tizzy. We give our impressions of each song and catch up on this ep. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shout out to YellowKing for putting together this huge list of every movie reference Ye has ever made in his music. There are a lot of them. And we read every single one because there's nothing else happening right now. So sit back and enjoy Step Brothers, Star Wars, Scarface, Elm Street, and other references. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Grammys cancelled a performance by Kanye West at the 2022 award show. And it's not sitting well with everyone. J Prince wrote a long Twitter thread about it. Dame Dash expressed his frustrations. It's just the latest in a long history of suspect behavior by the Recording Academy when it comes to their treatment of Black artists. We dive into what the legendary executives had to say on the matter as well as spend nearly an hour hearing what artists like Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, Kanye, Halsey, Pink, and many more had to say about their experience with the Academy. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do you hate this Kanye song, again? In this video, Travis goes through a list of ten over-hated Kanye songs and repeatedly asks that question until he's blue in the face. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pete Davidson had Dave Sirus post to instagram a text message conversation between Pete and Kanye. And it is outrageous. Pete goes from standing up for himself to lecturing Kanye to offering mental health help to calling out Ye as a man. It's a smorgasbord of energy, all of which probably just complicates matters. Maybe things have to get messy before they get better? But I don't think any of this really accomplishes anything. If you'd like to support the show and hear this episode ad-free, then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People may not know that Chris is primarily a film critic. So here he flexes some of his film critic muscles in an analysis of the EAZY music video and a discussion of everything with Ye and Pete Davidson. If you'd like to support the show and hear this episode ad-free, then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Better late than never! Today we discuss the incredible, deeply layered collaboration between Fivio, Kanye West, and Alicia Keys: City of Gods. We cover Fivio and Kanye's verses and how they balance each other, the deeper sonic intentions of the song, and the optimistic yearning of Alicia Keys's anthemic chorus. If you'd like to support the show and hear this episode ad-free, then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 1 of Jeen-Yuhs was securing the record deal. Part 2 was actually getting the record done. And Part 3 was...well. Everything else. And we mean EVERYTHING! Part 3 of Coodie and Chike's documentary about Kanye West is wildly ambitious and enthralling. But what is it truly about? What can we take away from the 4.5 hour experience? In this episode, we work through our thoughts (and have a few existential crises along the way). If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A hitmaker across four decades, as a solo artist, featured artist, writer, and advisor, Consequence has had a legendary career. On this episode of Watching the Throne, he details his journey from A Tribe Called Quest to his own work to his work with Kanye West. Specifically, we hear stories about the making of the beat for Slow Jamz, as well as some thoughts on Jeen-Yuhs, and conversation about working on ye in Wyoming and what it meant to return to A Tribe Called Quest for 2016's "We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service."  His new album drops soon, with the lead single, "Bloodstain," produced by Kanye.  If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OK. So we all heard/saw the Donda 2 show in Miami. But now...we've got finished tracks!!! Sixteen tracks, in fact, were uploaded to the Stem Player website. So what do we think? In this episode, we run through every single song and give our first impressions. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 1 of Jeen-Yuhs detailed Kanye West's drive to get his own record deal. Turns out: that was just half the battle. In Part 2, Ye goes through the hell of actually recording the album. In this episode, we review all of the beautiful moments in Part 2 and how it perfectly sets up the final third of the Kanye documentary trilogy. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We just heard Donda 2!!!! Sort of? Kind of? So...now what? It's a waiting game with Kanye. But until then, we're going to talk about our reactions to the Miami show by taking your questions. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I don't know if you heard, but...Kanye invited us to Miami (kind of). And we showed up. So now what? We're not sure. But we're going to live it up and see the Donda 2 show while we're here. Oh, and we're going to answer your questions about our potential interview in this AMA! If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a glorious day! The first part of the epic 4.5-hour documentary about Kanye West is finally here. And yes, it's just as incredible as we expected. In this episode, we talk about our favorite moments of "jeen-yuhs - act i: VISION." If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you hear the news? One half of the Watching the Throne team has now met Kanye!!! So what exactly happened? How did this fortuitous, wonderful event bless Chris Lambert? Travis learns all about it in this very special episode. Plus, we discuss Kanye's Instagram storm this past weekend. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In one week, the long-awaited documentary about Kanye West hits Netflix. And guess what?! The two directors of Jeen-Yuhs, Coodie & Chike, sat down with Chris for a short conversation about the filming experience and what they hope people take away from the film. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the most wonderful time of the year! No, not Christmas...the Best Kanye West Song Tournament Death Match Extreme!!! In this 2022 version of the tournament, Chris and Travis sit down with their favorite recurring guest Jordan Johnson and vote on which Kanye song is the best. Will blood be shed? Yes. Is this episode way too long? Of course. Will you be infuriated? Undoubtedly. But will you be entertained? We think so. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just when you thought it was over... That's right. After a long, grueling journey of missed release dates, song changes, and Drake beef, Kanye West finally gave us Donda in 2021. And just a few months later...we're going through it all over again. So is Donda 2 really coming on Feb. 22? What do we know about the album so far? In this episode, we break it all down—and get our hopes up that Donda 2 might actually exist later this month. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JEEN-YUHS has had its Sundance premier. And I got to see it! So here are my initial thoughts about part 1 and some broader thoughts on the trilogy as a whole. We'll get into Coodie, Chike, J Ivy, Ye, what years the documentary covers, when it comes out, other reactions, if fans will like it, and more. #Kanye #JeenYuhs #Genius #Reaction #React NOTE: This episode was originally recorded for our YouTube channel. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Ye ramps up for Donda 2, he's giving us some great music in the meantime! This week it comes in the form of Eazy, a collaboration with The Game that features production from Mike Dean, Hit-Boy, and DJ Premier. We discuss this classic verse from Kanye, which features a number of great lines and could point towards the direction of his music moving forward. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donda released just over three months ago. And 27 episodes later...we're exhausted! In a good way :) That's right! It's the season finale of our Donda coverage. For this episode, we look back at our favorite moments and revelations from Kanye's latest masterpiece. And then we rank every single song on the album—which, as you can guess, took a while. Enjoy! If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 22 long, grueling, enlightening song discussions...we've finally reached the end! Today we're breaking down the final song on Donda's main narrative: No Child Left Behind. We discuss how Kanye and Vory put a cap on the album's thematic threads with this spare, direct, uplifting experience. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the course of our season-long dissection of Donda, we've penciled in our thoughts. Well, now it's time to write 'em down in pen for our Come to Life episode—and for that, we'll need a little help. For this extra-sized episode, Cole Cuchna from the Dissect podcast joins us to break down what may be the most important song of Kanye's career. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The truth is only what you get away with, huh? Well, we've got a truth for you: Pure Souls is an awesome song. And not just because the track is a bop—it's because Pure Souls pays off on so many narrative and thematic threads on Donda. In this episode, we break down why Kanye, Roddy Ricch, and Shenseea's pure soul status is such a climactic moment on this album. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, Kanye sought stability in his life—and Kim brought that. But now, as they move on from each other, we see Kanye putting those years together into perspective. What happened? And what's next? Lord I Need You is a crucial song on an album where Kanye is at a spiritual crossroads. And we're going to break down every line of this tragic song. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ah, everybody's favorite song on Donda!! Just kidding—people seem to *hate* Tell the Vision. But we're here to prove why it's an essential track on an album where Kanye is discovering and fueling his spiritual purpose here on earth as Pop Smoke looks on from beyond the grave. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Kanye lyricize...we'll analyze! That's right, today we're dissecting New Again—the track that leads us into the final movement of Donda where Kanye, indeed, seeks to be made new again after a trying time in his life. We also discuss the mysterious woman in the lyrics, The Weeknd's possible influence on the song, and a host of other topics that are most definitely (not at all) related to Kanye. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One episode? Not enough for this masterpiece. Based on the hours of discussion we've already had about Donda this season, Jesus Lord has proven to be the most important song on the album. Kanye's verse (which we discussed in Part 1) brought all of the album's major themes to the forefront, and now Jay Electronica will build on those ideas with his lyrical homily and Larry Hoover Jr. will close things out with his plea for social justice. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just when you thought you had everything figured out...Kanye throws a wrench into EVERYTHING!!! Yesterday we got the "Deluxe" version of Donda, which includes some new songs, changes to old songs, and a complete reworking of the track order. So what do we make of all this? We go through all those changes in this episode and discuss how we feel about the project as a whole. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris takes your questions about Ye's second appearance on Drink Champs and everything that happened during and after that interview. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You really thought we could do this in one episode? Nah. Jesus Lord is an epic track. It's the Runaway of Donda—the Sun around which all of the other planets revolve. Jesus Lord gathers all of the album's themes and motifs in a grand setting where Kanye, Jay Electronica, and Larry Hoover Jr. can speak on grief, on spirituality, on achieving social justice in an unfair world. In this episode, we break down Ye's legendary verse. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keep My Spirit Alive is a song that's absolutely chock-full of underlying meaning and introspection. The self-awareness of Westside Gunn's verse, Conway the Machine's determination to move on from a near-death experience, Kanye and his mother's ode to KRS-One—it's all there, and it's all beautiful. And in this episode, we break it all down. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A classic Kanye interview—it's what we hope and pray for each day. And today...we have one! That's right, Ye went on Drink Champs and talked about a number of topics, from his beef with Drake (and other people he apparently has beef with) to his relationship with Kim to a host of other social and political topics. And yes, he answered every question in the most Ye way possible. On this episode, we take questions from listeners and run through the best parts of the interview. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In October 2007, Donda West gave an incredible speech where she discussed social justice in the context of both hip hop and her family. And, obviously, that meant talking about her son: Kanye West. Fourteen years later, Ye sampled that speech for the song Donda in the most epic way possible. On this episode, we break down this climactic track and how it kickstarts the final act of the album. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The song Heaven and Hell Is on Earth by 20th Century Steel Band has been sampled dozens of times by the biggest artists in hip hop and R&B—and we can now add Ye to that list. And in classic Kanye fashion, this reference is crucial to understanding both the song Heaven and Hell and the album narrative on Donda. We break it all down in this supersized episode. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can I get through? It's a question many of us face when confronted with grief, with longing, with a desire to move forward—which is why so many people relate to the song Moon. As one of the standout tracks on Donda, Moon represents an important, heavy shift for the album's narrative, as Kanye tries to push beyond dark thoughts and move towards something more positive. Kid Cudi and Don Toliver jump in on this track to help move along that journey with their astoundingly beautiful vocals. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glib...no. Globgobob...no. Globglo...gabgalab? Yes! That's it. That's the bulbous creature we hear at the end of Remote Control. So who exactly is the Globglogabgalab? And why the heck did he replace Kid Cudi on what is perhaps the most divisive track on Donda? Remote Control features some great lyrical wordplay from both Kanye and Young Thug, and continues an important turning point in the album's narrative—and we're going to break it all down on today's episode. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So far on Donda, there's been an overwhelming sense of fear, of antagonism, of disorientation. But 24 is our very first moment of respite—and what a beautiful relief it is. This spare gospel track represents a turning point for Kanye on his latest album, as it signals the spiritual ascension that will soon follow. We go line by line through the song to show how it relates to Kobe Bryant and Kanye's ability to keep moving forward. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sunny melodies. Pop culture references. Lauryn Hill samples. Is this...Old Kanye we hear??? Believe What I Say certainly feels that way after so many dark, grim tracks on Donda. But there are plenty of New Kanye tricks on this song that elevate it to higher levels. On this episode, we get into Kanye's refreshing take on the Kimye divorce and how he felt as his marriage with Kim came to an end. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah has a Drake diss. Ok Ok has a Drake diss. And now Junya...has a Drake diss. Hmm. We're starting to see a pattern. So why is Kanye so obsessed with Drake on this section of the Donda? On this episode, we theorize why the album makes such an antagonistic shift by picking apart the lyrics of what might be Kanye's most perplexing song to date. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Kanye vs. Drake." That standoff has been brewing for quite some time, and it finally reached a head these past few months with the release of Donda and Certified Lover Boy. Of course Drake has thrown his lyrical shots during that period—but Kanye has as well. And Ok Ok is the most direct Kanye has ever been about the feud. On this episode, we discuss the poetry of Kanye's diss, as well as Lil Yachty's dark, disturbing verse and Rooga's passionate cry to move on from such negativity. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who's here when you need a podcast to lean on? We are! And today, we're dissecting one of the heaviest songs of Kanye's career. Jonah navigates a minefield of depression, pain, anger, and suffering—with a possible Drake diss thrown in as well? From the ambient-heavy production to the piercing lyrics, we unpack what might be the most underrated track on Donda. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community. You can also watch this podcast in video form over on our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices