 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Watch the Throne
- By Jay-Z, Kanye West
- Genre: Rap
Common Sense Media says
Rap kingpins cut excellent but super-mature CD.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Watch the Throne is a very mature album that's not meant for tweens or younger teens. In addition to plenty of substance use, violence, sex, consumerism, and profanity, the album also discusses mature topics in depth, including racism and religious differences.
What's the story?
Two of the biggest names in rap -- Jay-Z and Kanye West -- join forces for the full-length album WATCH THE THRONE. Profanity, substance use, violence, sex, consumerism: You name it, this record has it. In addition, many of the song lyrics explore sensitive subjects like racism and religion.
Is it any good?
Watch the Throne demonstrates why Hova and Yeezy are at the top of the rap game. From the first haunting guitar chords of the album's kick-off tune, "No Church in the Wild," you can tell that this rap record is different. Both artists have commanding yet complementary rhyming styles, and the beats that back them up (especially on "That's My Bitch" and "Murder to Excellence") are exceptional.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the contrast between Jay-Z's professional bravado and his private life as a family man who's married to Beyonce. Are these mixed messages? Why or why not?
Does Jay-Z's continued adherence to the classic rap formula -- lots of swagger and talk of illicit behaviors -- prove that rappers must discuss these topics to be successful? Why or why not?
What would happen if Jay-Z wrote songs about his solid family life? Would fans still buy his music?
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AGE
Very note-worthy collaboration album
After the phenomenal "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" and hearing the lead single "Otis," I was so ready to hear this album. It didn't disappoint at all. It's very explicit, but here are some of the album's best cuts: "Otis," "That's My (Expletive)" & "New Day," where they discuss the future of their sons. It's very well-done and worth many a listen-through. If you come into the album excepting Jay and Kanye not to cuss, you've been living under a rock.
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AGE
This Album Goes H.A.M.
Excellent album, Otis and H.A.M are immediate standout hits that I absolutely love. Pretty intense language in some songs, braggadocio lyrics about having millions of dollars and plenty of curses to improve your kids vocabulary. Don't let the language stray you away, find an edited version for this great collaboration.
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AGE
Ye and Hov tear it up, and by "it", I mean your moral fiber.
The beats on this album are ridiculously fresh and the rhymes are Jay and Ye at their prime. However, Jay and Ye at their prime tend to like expensive things, drugs, the "n" word, and very personal depictions of horrible failures in morality. The example for violence in the official CSM review sites a bar from Murder to Excellence, where the following bar puts this statement in context: "Looking at the news like "d(i)am(o)n(ds)! I was just with him after school; No shop class but half the school got a tool", referring to two painful realities: A) Zero tolerance policies resulting in disallowing shop class for fear of violence with tools, and B) the extreme possibility of a school shooting anywhere from rich suburbia to the povertous ghettos of large cities. This kind of message prevents the constant bragging that dominates this album from being filler: they're just trying to have fun, but in just making some "HEY MAN I'M SUCESSFUL" anthems, there have been some more personal things in here, too. Also, there's a difference between product placement and plugging a preferable brand; I don't think many luxury fashion companies want to be associated with a former crack dealer.
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AGE
no
this was .... just no im 14 and i was like really this is sad lol
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AGE
There Is A Moral Underneath The Madness
There is actually a somewhat necessary message in this album, And the negative reviews exemplify why it needs to be heard. "Watch The Throne" is the story of two wildly successful black men (Jay-Z and Beyonce are the worlds richest couple; GWR) who feel as though they will never only be defined by their successes, but that their skin color will always have something to do with how the world sees them. "N----'s In Paris" is a fine example of that, using laid back, satirical voices to describe what they are thought of as. A good topic to bring up with responsible 13< year-olds.
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| Artists: | Jay-Z, Kanye West |
| Type: | Album |
| Release date: | August 15, 2011 |
| Label: | Roc-A-Fella |
| Genre: | Rap |
| Parental advisory: | Yes |
| Edited version available: | Yes |
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