Watching the Throne: A Lyrical Analysis of Kanye West

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People may not know that Chris is primarily a film critic. So today he's going to flex some of his film critic muscles in an analysis of the EAZY music video and discuss everything with Ye and Pete Davidson. Check out our film writing here: www.filmcolossus.com 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

Why the heck not? Today, Travis is going to list five indie bands Kanye West should work with. Ye worked with Beach House and Bon Iver, so why stop there? NOTE: If you have suggestions for other lists I can cover, hit me up on Twitter @tl_bean 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 entire Jeen-Yuhs docuseries is finally out! And, of course, it's awesome. And, of course...the movie critics largely missed the point. So what did they get wrong? And what can we truly take away from the entire film? Travis digs into how he watched the movie. 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 for 40 years, 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. 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

Today, 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 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

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. Get 20% Off and Free Shipping for Manscaped using the code WATCHING20 at Manscaped.com. Unlock your confidence and always use the right tools for the job with MANSCAPED™. #ad 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. Get 20% Off and Free Shipping for Manscaped using the code WATCHING20 at Manscaped.com. Unlock your confidence and always use the right tools for the job with MANSCAPED™. #ad 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. Get 20% Off and Free Shipping for Manscaped using the code WATCHING20 at Manscaped.com. Unlock your confidence and always use the right tools for the job with MANSCAPED™. #ad 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. Get 20% Off and Free Shipping for Manscaped using the code WATCHING20 at Manscaped.com. Unlock your confidence and always use the right tools for the job with MANSCAPED™. #ad 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. Get 20% Off and Free Shipping for Manscaped using the code WATCHING20 at Manscaped.com. Unlock your confidence and always use the right tools for the job with MANSCAPED™. #ad 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. Get 20% Off and Free Shipping for Manscaped using the code WATCHING20 at Manscaped.com. Unlock your confidence and always use the right tools for the job with MANSCAPED™. #ad 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. Get 20% Off and Free Shipping for Manscaped using the code WATCHING20 at Manscaped.com. Unlock your confidence and always use the right tools for the job with MANSCAPED™. #ad 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

Decades ago, Gwendolyn Brooks wrote a poem that would become part of a legendary speech from Donda West in 2007—and would later become a guiding light for Kanye West when making music in 2021. Praise God wouldn't exist without Brooks, a famous Black poet from Chicago whose words spoke to Kanye at an incredibly difficult time in his life. And by dissecting the lines in this song and her poem, we can gain crucial insight into the Donda narrative. 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

Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm! We have been waiting for this episode since the very beginning. Hurricane—which very well could be the best song on Donda—is jam-packed with beautiful production, intense imagery, and narrative-building lyricism. In addition to all of that, we discuss the conception of the song and how it's changed over the years, Peter walking on water in the Bible, and a possible reference to R.E.M. 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

Could it possibly get than Fivio's gargantuan guest verse? Why yes. Yes it can. Because Kanye West has a few things to say. On this episode, we unpack Ye's legendary closer on Off the Grid and theorize about how it previews several themes we'll continue to see play out 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

If you know Watching the Throne, then you know that we LOVE long episodes. So when we decide to split an episode into two parts...we do it for a reason. There was simply too much to unpack in Off the Grid, so for Part 1 we're strictly going to focus on Playboi Carti and Fivio's verses. Notoriety, materialism, power struggles, projection, pressure—there's a host of topics to get into before we pick apart Kanye's legendary verse. So let's do this. 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 you think God Breathed is a long, pointless, and boring song? Well, do we have a treat for you! In this extra-long episode, we shed light on what is actually a deeply layered and sonically complex song that's incredibly important in setting up the Donda narrative. Kanye West would be proud of this 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

Guess who's explaining Jail tonight? We are! Moving on from Donda Chant into the first official song on Donda, we find Kanye and JAY-Z trapped in a symbolic jail they must work their way out of. In this episode, we discuss what that jail means for both Kanye and Jay, who have both suffered from rocky marriages, and how that lays the foundation for the album narrative 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

Welcoming to Watching the Throne. Throoone. Throoooone. Throne. Where we analyze Kanye West. And this season, we're dissecting his newest album, Donda. And what better place to start than with Donda Chant! If you can believe it, we spend over an hour talking about this very meaningful and very important and very meditative opener. #Kanye #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

Pop the champagne, because we just got a new Kanye album...which also means it's time for another season of Watching the Throne! Season 7 will be entirely dedicated to what many consider to be Kanye's magnum opus: Donda. Throughout the season, Chris and Travis are going to run through every single line on every single song and piece together the themes and narratives at hand. In this initial episode, they hypothesize what they think the album is doing—all before then rank every single 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

It's finally here! Kanye's latest album, Donda, dropped in the early hours of Sunday morning. And for the past day-and-a-half, Chris and Travis have been listening and trying to process their feelings about what could be Kanye's magnum opus. On this episode, they talk through their first impressions of Donda and preview the podcast's upcoming season. 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 got back from the Kanye's DONDA listening party in Chicago and...we've got some mixed emotions. And we're ready to talk about it. Join us! #Kanye #KanyeWest #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

Third time's the charm! We're going to get yet another listening party for DONDA in Chicago—and yes, Chris and Travis will be there!!! In this episode, we review everything that's been going on with Kanye over the past few weeks and what we can expect from the Chicago listening party this Thursday. 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

On his most critically appraised album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, we see Kanye West escape into a fantasy world. But before he enters that hellish realm, the character first needs to be introduced—which is where Dark Fantasy comes in. In this episode, we pick apart Kanye's epic opening track to show how he uses a collage of samples and references to provide foundation for the album's narrative. 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, the magnum opus. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is, by and large, considered to be Kanye West's greatest work of art. And, yeah...its greatness is pretty hard to deny. But is there more to this album than meets the eye? On this season of Watching the Throne, we set out to find even more meaning and nuance to this story as Kanye plunges further into the lonely hellscape of celebrity.  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

July 23...came and went. And then August 6...came and went. And now...now......well. We wait. We have no idea when we're going to hear Kanye West's tenth album, DONDA. But there has been lots of speculation and clues since last week's listening party in Atlanta. In this episode, we run through everything you need to know. 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 TOLD YOU IT WOULD BE WORTH THE WAIT. It appears as though Kanye's latest album DONDA is jussssst about finished and we will hopefully be getting the album today! But until then, we recount our experience of watching Kanye's second livestream of the album—WHICH SOUNDED FREAKIN AMAZING. We talk about the differences from the first Atlanta experience and highlight our favorite moments from the show. 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

Another day, another dollar...another album! Our line-by-line analysis of 808s & Heartbreak really broke the album wide open and revealed lots of nuance we had yet to discover. And now it's time to reflect on that experience. In this episode, we talk about our favorite discoveries and rank every single song from Kanye's classic 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

Pinocchio Story may just seem like a live freestyle that doesn't fit into the narrative of 808s & Heartbreak. But it's actually a perfect ending for the album's themes and commentary—and an indicator of what Kanye West would do with his music moving forward. In this episode, we unpack what may in fact 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

Not a single song on 808s & Heartbreak appears to be about Kanye's mother. So...why does Coldest Winter feel so heavily focused on her? The key to answering this question is to unlock the album narrative of 808s & Heartbreak. In this episode, we cycle back through the album and go line by line through its final track to make sense of Kanye's art-pop achievement. 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 been a week since the DONDA listening party in Atlanta...and we still don't have an album. But we might have one soon? Wait...what's the status of this thing again? In this episode, we review everything we know about DONDA and when we can expect Kanye's new 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

Brrrr. It's getting cold in here! And dark. And...scary. And that's probably because we're ready to discuss one of the songs that many Kanye fans seem to hate: See You In My Nightmares. Well, Chris and Travis hope that will change after today. In this lyrical breakdown, we show how the nightmarish landscape of the production, how Lil Wayne's sinister verse, how the evolving narrative of 808s & Heartbreak all make See You In My Nightmares one of the most realized songs 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

Bad News. That's a song where a woman cheats on Kanye. Right? Or...wait. No. That can't be right. BECAUSE KANYE HIMSELF said the song was from a female's perspective. So how do we read and understand this song??? Luckily, Chris and Travis are here to help. We break down the track line by line and do some research on the sample in order to break this one wide open. 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

We were in Atlanta for the DONDA listening party!!! And it was...interesting? Transcendent? Confusing? Profound? Basically, it was a whirlwind of an evening. We got to meet lots of great Kanye fans and heard some awesome Kanye music—and we're ready to talk about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, it's been a whirlwind of a week. But DONDA is FINALLY coming on Friday, and there's a listening party on Thursday—and you can bet your bottom dollar that Chris and Travis will be there. We get hyped for the new album in this episode as we review what has been possibly the most exciting week to ever be a Kanye West fan. 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

We spend a lot of time on this show talking about Kanye songs that are years old. But every once in a blue moon, we get that precious, fresh Kanye verse...even if it is only 22 words long? Which, yes, is disappointing. But the song is awesome, and there's still plenty of material for two rabid Kanye fans to discuss. That's exactly what Chris and Travis do in this episode as they give their first impressions of the song and Kanye's (very short) verse. 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

Several of Kanye's songs are catchy. Others are aggressive. Many are anthems. But some Kanye songs are just...special. And Street Lights definitely fits into that final category. Kanye's melancholic poem about loneliness is full of philosophical ponderings and haunting imagery, and it's backed by some of his most breathtaking production to date. In this episode, Chris and Travis reflect on how the song has affected them over the years, the role of Buddhism in Kanye's lyrics, and how Street Lights elevates 808s & Heartbreak to a new level. 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

"Dead or alive, you're coming with me." That's the way RoboCop treats criminals. It's also how Kanye thinks he's being treated by his woman on the song RoboCop...but is that true? Or is it the other way around? Of course nuance and complexity abounds on 808s & Heartbreak, and Chris and Travis are here to pick apart every detail. In this episode, they deconstruct Kanye's clever wordplay, dig into the deeply layered production, and excitedly discuss what is probably Kanye's coolest sample on the album yet. 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

New Order, Depeche Mode, Talking Heads...Kanye West? There are lots of great new wave artists out there, and Kanye became the most unlikely of additions back in 2008 with Paranoid. But, as it turns out, one of his most upbeat tracks is filled with tragic irony. In this episode, Chris and Travis break down the song to show how its counterfeit exterior fits into the sad storyline of 808s & Heartbreak. 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

Kanye has several classics on 808s & Heartbreak. But this song—the first single on the album—seemed to be the one he really wanted you to hear. Love Lockdown is a beloved Kanye track that's stuffed to the brim with incredible lyrics and layered production. And Chris and Travis can't wait to talk all about it in their line-by-line deconstruction of this masterpiece. 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

Kanye says that he's "amazing" like 50 times on the song Amazing. But...does anyone ever once believe him? Chris and Travis sure don't. There's duality to Kanye's bravado on the fourth track of 808s & Heartbreak, and we're going to break it down as we dissect the song line by line. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you heard the coldest story ever told? You probably have. Because Heartless is one of Kanye's biggest hits. But...do you know the actual meaning behind the song? And how the lyrics and production signal the birth of Yeezus?? Yup, we're going there. Chris and Travis have some theories about Heartless and how it fits into the 808s & Heartbreak narrative—so strap in. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where did everything go wrong? Kanye had a pretty tumultuous year leading up to the release of 808s & Heartbreak, and Welcome to Heartbreak is the first track where we see him actively asking that question. In this episode, Chris and Travis break down the genius of the song, from Kanye's secret sample to the beauty of the minimalist production to Kid Cudi's sad-but-catchy hook. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it possible to spend 102 minutes talking about a song that barely has any lyrics? It is when Cole Cuchna shows up. The host of the Dissect podcast joins Chris and Travis to talk about one of Kanye West's most polarizing tracks ever: Say You Will. Kanye shocked the world when he opened 808s & Heartbreak with this spare, minimalist art-pop tune—and we love him for it. In this episode, Chris and Travis deconstruct the hypnotic lyrics of Say You Will while Cole breaks down the song's haunting production. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As always, Chris and Travis are excited to embark upon yet another Kanye album. But there's a heavy sense of dread that hangs over Season 6, because going line by line through 808s & Heartbreak is no easy task. Pain, loss, heartache, loneliness...none of it can be avoided, and it's going to take 14 episodes to get through it all. In this initial episode, we overview the album narrative and what to expect from our season-long breakdown. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Good Morning...to good night. After spending approximately 20 hours going line by line through Kanye West's third album, Graduation, Chris and Travis are wrapping up another season by reflecting on the past 13 episodes. During this discussion, they reflect on their biggest revelations from the season and rank every single Graduation song in order. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kanye might have been an only child...but he had a brother. A big brother. The story between Kanye and JAY-Z is a rollercoaster ride that's had lots of ups and downs over the years, and the song Big Brother marked the first potentially tumultuous time for the two biggest names in hip hop. On this episode, Chris and Travis run through the lyrics of Kanye's apology to his Jay. The song both serves as a conclusion to the Graduation narrative and points in a new direction for Kanye's musical career. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes you can't go back home. And Kanye found that out the hard way at the end of Graduation with his epic penultimate track: Homecoming. Chris and Travis take this classic song apart line by line to show how Kanye had been building to this moment for the entirety of the Graduation narrative. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Secretly, Chris and Travis only have one true goal this season: TO MAKE YOU LOVE THE GLORY. Seriously. This is one of Kanye's best songs. The playful ego, the infectious flow, the meaning behind the production and samples, its place in the Graduation narrative—The Glory is an EPIC. So just sit back and listen to us gush about it for about two hours. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All Common had to do was pass on a beat...and a Kanye classic was born. To this day, Everything I Am remains a lyrical highlight in Kanye West's discography, and a cathartic moment for his growth as a man, as an artist. Chris and Travis unpack this downtrodden track on today's episode and show how it leads into the final act of Graduation's narrative. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Man, isn't being a celebrity awesome? Trips to Florida, weather so breezy, getting flashed by the paparazzi—oh wait a minute. This life can be tough. And Kanye fully expresses how strenuous this lifestyle can be on one of his most beautiful songs: Flashing Lights. Chris and Travis go line-by-line through the track to expose how the heavy irony on display calls back to an earlier section in the album's narrative. If you'd like to support the show (and hear this episode ad-free), then join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We can't agree on everything, but there is one thing we all believe: DRUNK AND HOT GIRLS IS THE WORST KANYE WEST SONG!!! Right?! Right? Right...? Except Chris and Travis don't believe that. In fact, they want to show you the beauty beneath the ugliness of what might be Kanye's most underrated song. From the hypnotic use of a Can sample to Mos Def's poetic musings to Kanye's tragic irony—we unpack it all. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is what you all been waiting for, ain't it? Well here's another episode...Barry Bonds! That's right. Today, Chris and Travis have the honor of discussing one of Kanye West's most hated songs—and, of course, they're here to tell you why it's actually an awesome track. They go through every line to show you just how clever Kanye's wordplay is and how the song fits into the Graduation narrative. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let the champagne splash. Let that man get cash. Let these men get past—because they've got a song to discuss. And today, Chris and Travis have a doozy on their hands: Can't Tell Me Nothing. This legendary Kanye track is absolutely packed with meaning and nuance that the Watching the Throne team will break down in full detail. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the good life! Where everything is wonderful and there's no irony to be had whatsoever!! Today, Chris and Travis tackle the fifth track on Graduation, which feels uplifting when you first hear it...but then takes on a whole new meaning in the context of the album narrative. 50 Cent, Michael Jackson, Dr. Dre, Gylan Kain, and John Legend join us for this epic breakdown of Good Life. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you know what it means to find your dreams come true? Kanye West sure does. But back in 2007, it came at a cost for Ye—and it all started with I Wonder. On this episode, Chris and Travis break down this beautiful-yet-tragic track that serves as a huge turning point on the narrative of Graduation. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? Well, that is unless you're making an album that details the life-draining adventure of stardom—which is exactly what Kanye did with Graduation. Yes, Stronger is a banger. But the song also captures Kanye at a crossroads as he becomes a worldwide celebrity. Chris and Travis cover the track's deeper intentions as they go line by line through the song. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nobody can stop Kanye West when he has his sights set on something. And perhaps no song better exemplifies that fact than the second track from Graduation: Champion. Ye is running at top speed in this fan-favorite, and Chris and Travis are there to break down every second of it. They discuss the song's epic sample, the poetic interpolations being used, and how the song continues to introduce Kanye's character on the album. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The rulers are back! And no, we're not talking about Ye and Jay—we're talking about the dynamic duo, Chris and Travis. Today, they go deep on one of Kanye's most beloved songs: Good Morning. In this episode, they break down every line from Graduation's opening track. From how the song sets up the narrative on Graduation to the soaring Elton John sample to the ghost of Jay Z that looms over it all. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris talks with Kanye's cousin and frequent collaborator The World Famous Tony Williams about Tony's newest song, Everybody Knows. Learn all about Tony's newest re-lease, co-starring Wale, and the music that's going to release in 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people believe The College Dropout and Late Registration to be the greatest one-two-punch start ever to a musical career. But Chris and Travis are here to argue that Kanye's third album, Graduation, has just as much to offer. In this episode, the Watching the Throne duo discusses what they're most excited about for their upcoming season on Graduation. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Chris and Travis complete their second journey through Kanye's sophomore album, Late Registration. In this episode, they reflect on what they've learned and how the album fits into Kanye's grand narrative. Then they rank every single song from the album to close out the season. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Late Registration 2.0 is coming to a close for the Watching the Throne crew. And, fittingly, it all ends with Gone. Chris and Travis take on this mammoth song in this mammoth episode, in which they break down a multitude of samples and interpolations—and reflect on the long, arduous journey Kanye West went on with his second album. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every day is a celebration when you're dissecting Kanye lyrics! At least that's how Chris and Travis feel. Today, they're discussing the penultimate track on Late Registration, which rounds out Kanye's journey into stardom before the epic finale that is Gone. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Season 8 of Dissect, Cole Cuchna is returning to Kanye West with a brand new album: Yeezus. And guess what? Chris and Travis helped write the entire season! In this episode, they talk everything Yeezus with Cole—from early memories of the album to the process of writing Season 8 to what Yeezus represents in the wake of Kimye's divorce. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can Chris and Travis possibly do justice to one of Kanye's most beloved songs? Well, they can certainly try! Today they break down the lyrics of Hey Mama, from the meaning of the beautiful looping sample from Donal Leace to how the lessons Kanye learned from Donda West are infused into the DNA of Late Registration. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices