podcast image for Watching the Throne: A Lyrical Analysis of Kanye West
Watching the Throne: A Lyrical Analysis of Kanye West
Description

This is an in-depth-yet-entertaining dive into the lyrics and narrative artistry of Kanye West's music. We go track by track through Ye's discography, revealing the narrative and poetic techniques he uses, tracking his growth as a storyteller, and illuminating the narratives behind each of his albums.

Episodes
  • 2022 / 11 / 22
    My StorYe: Ricky Starks

    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 15
    Power by Ye | Part 2

    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....

  • 2022 / 11 / 8
    Power by Ye | Part 1

    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 1
    Gorgeous by Ye

    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...

  • 2022 / 10 / 25
    Dark Fantasy by Ye

    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...

  • 2022 / 10 / 21
    Adam Pally Goes DEFCON

    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...

  • 2022 / 10 / 18
    Season 8: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Ye

    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...

  • 2022 / 10 / 11
    We Should Talk About Ye...

    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...

  • 2022 / 6 / 1
    Reactions to True Love and Daylight

    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....

  • 2022 / 4 / 1
    Every Movie Reference Made By Kanye West

    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...

  • 2022 / 3 / 29
    Hip Hop vs The Grammys | Could Kanye's canceled performance lead to revolution?

    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...

  • 2022 / 3 / 18
    The 10 Most Over-Hated Kanye West Songs

    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...

  • 2022 / 3 / 14
    Pete Davidson texts Kanye West: A Breakdown

    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...

  • 2022 / 3 / 10
    The EAZY video explained | Kanye West, The Game

    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...

  • 2022 / 3 / 7
    City of Gods by Fivio, Kanye West, Alicia Keys

    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...

  • 2022 / 3 / 3
    Jeen-Yuhs Part 3: First Reactions

    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...

  • 2022 / 3 / 1
    An interview with Consequence | The making of Slow Jamz | Working with Kanye | A Tribe Called Quest

    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...

  • 2022 / 2 / 25
    DONDA 2 | 2/25 UPDATE: FIRST REACTIONS

    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...

  • 2022 / 2 / 24
    Jeen-Yuhs Part 2: First Reactions

    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...

  • 2022 / 2 / 23
    DONDA 2 IN MIAMI LIVE SHOW REACTION | KANYE WEST

    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...

  • 2022 / 2 / 22
    DONDA 2 AMA!!! Will we interview Kanye?

    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...

  • 2022 / 2 / 17
    Jeen-Yuhs Part 1: First Reactions

    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...

  • 2022 / 2 / 15
    The Time I Met Kanye West

    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...

  • 2022 / 2 / 11
    An interview with Coodie & Chike, directors of Jeen-Yuhs

    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...

  • 2022 / 2 / 8
    The 2022 Best Kanye West Song Tournament Death Match Extreme

    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...

  • 2022 / 2 / 1
    Everything we know about Donda 2

    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...

  • 2022 / 1 / 25
    Review: JEEN-YUHS: A Kanye Trilogy (Part 1)

    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...

  • 2022 / 1 / 18
    Eazy by The Game & Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 12 / 16
    Donda: Reflections and Song Rankings

    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...

  • 2021 / 12 / 13
    No Child Left Behind by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 12 / 7
    Come to Life by Kanye West (feat. Cole Cuchna)

    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...

  • 2021 / 12 / 2
    Pure Souls by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 11 / 30
    Lord I Need You by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 11 / 22
    Tell the Vision by Kanye West (and Pop Smoke)

    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...

  • 2021 / 11 / 19
    New Again by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 11 / 17
    Jesus Lord (Part 2) - Jay Electronica & Larry Hoover Jr.

    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...

  • 2021 / 11 / 15
    Reactions to Kanye releasing Donda Deluxe

    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...

  • 2021 / 11 / 12
    Reactions to Kanye's SECOND interview on Drink Champs

    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...

  • 2021 / 11 / 11
    Jesus Lord (Part 1) - Kanye's Verse

    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...

  • 2021 / 11 / 8
    Keep My Spirit Alive by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 11 / 5
    Reactions to Kanye's interview on Drink Champs

    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...

  • 2021 / 11 / 3
    Donda by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 11 / 1
    Heaven and Hell by Kanye West

    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,...

  • 2021 / 10 / 25
    Moon by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 10 / 21
    Remote Control by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 10 / 19
    24 by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 10 / 8
    Believe What I Say by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 10 / 6
    Junya by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 9 / 27
    Ok Ok by Kanye West

    "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...

  • 2021 / 9 / 24
    Jonah by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 9 / 23
    Praise God by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 9 / 21
    Hurricane by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 9 / 17
    Off the Grid (Part 2) - Kanye's Verse

    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...

  • 2021 / 9 / 16
    Off the Grid (Part 1) - Fivio and Playboi Carti's verses

    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...

  • 2021 / 9 / 9
    God Breathed by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 9 / 7
    Jail by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 9 / 3
    Donda Chant by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 9 / 1
    Season 7: Donda by Kanye West

    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 we already consider to be Kanye's...

  • 2021 / 8 / 30
    FIRST REACTIONS TO DONDA | KANYE WEST

    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...

  • 2021 / 8 / 27
    FIRST REACTIONS TO KANYE'S DONDA CHICAGO LISTENING PARTY

    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...

  • 2021 / 8 / 23
    GETTING HYPED FOR KANYE'S DONDA SHOW IN CHICAGO

    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...

  • 2021 / 8 / 19
    Dark Fantasy by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 8 / 16
    My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 8 / 10
    DONDA: What we know right now about Kanye's new album

    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...

  • 2021 / 8 / 6
    FIRST REACTIONS TO KANYE WEST'S SECOND LIVESTREAM OF DONDA

    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...

  • 2021 / 8 / 5
    808s & Heartbreak: Reflections and Song Rankings

    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...

  • 2021 / 8 / 4
    Pinocchio Story by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 8 / 3
    Coldest Winter by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 7 / 29
    DONDA: will Kanye drop on August 6th?

    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...

  • 2021 / 7 / 28
    See You In My Nightmares by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 7 / 26
    Bad News by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 7 / 23
    DONDA IN ATLANTA LIVE SHOW REACTION | KANYE WEST

    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...

  • 2021 / 7 / 21
    DONDA: PRE-RELEASE HYPE!!!

    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...

  • 2021 / 7 / 16
    “Tell the Vision” | First reactions to Kanye's verse on Pop Smoke’s new song

    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...

  • 2021 / 7 / 16
    Street Lights by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 7 / 14
    RoboCop by Kanye West

    "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...

  • 2021 / 7 / 12
    Paranoid by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 7 / 9
    Lock Lockdown by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 7 / 8
    Amazing by Kanye West

    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 &...

  • 2021 / 7 / 7
    Heartless by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 7 / 5
    Welcome to Heartbreak by Kanye West

    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....

  • 2021 / 7 / 2
    Say You Will by Kanye West (feat. Cole Cuchna)

    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...

  • 2021 / 7 / 1
    808s & Heartbreak by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 6 / 30
    Graduation: Reflections and Song Rankings

    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...

  • 2021 / 6 / 29
    Big Brother by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 6 / 25
    Homecoming by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 6 / 23
    The Glory by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 6 / 22
    Everything I Am by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 6 / 17
    Flashing Lights by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 6 / 8
    Drunk and Hot Girls by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 6 / 1
    Barry Bonds by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 5 / 25
    Can't Tell Me Nothing by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 5 / 18
    Good Life by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 5 / 11
    I Wonder by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 5 / 4
    Stronger by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 4 / 27
    Champion by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 4 / 20
    Good Morning by Kanye West

    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,...

  • 2021 / 4 / 16
    SPECIAL: The World Famous Tony Williams

    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...

  • 2021 / 4 / 13
    Graduation by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 4 / 8
    Late Registration: Reflections and Song Rankings

    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...

  • 2021 / 4 / 6
    Gone by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 4 / 1
    Celebration by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 3 / 31
    Cole Cuchna talks Season 8 of Dissect: Yeezus

    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...

  • 2021 / 3 / 30
    Hey Mama by Kanye West

    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...

  • 2021 / 3 / 25
    We Major by Kanye West

    One of Kanye's longest songs deserves one of our longest episodes! Today, Chris and Travis pick apart the epic track We Major—from Nas's ambitious guest verse to Really Doe's wacky chorus to Kanye's epic...

  • 2021 / 3 / 23
    Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix) by Kanye West

    First they covered the OG, and now it's time for the Remix. Today, Chris and Travis talk about the version of Diamonds From Sierra Leone with both Kanye and his big brother, Jay Z. They get into everything,...

  • 2021 / 3 / 18
    Diamonds from Sierra Leone (OG Mix) by Kanye West

    When Complex ranked Kanye West's best verses, they had a surprising take for their #1 slot: the second verse of Diamonds of Sierra Leone. And no, not the remix—the OG mix. And Chris and Travis see why. On...

  • 2021 / 3 / 16
    Addiction by Kanye West

    What's your addiction? Is it Chris? Is it Travis? Is it Ye? Well, guess what? We've got a cure for not one, not two, but all three! And the cure is our lyrical breakdown of Kanye West's fantastic song...

  • 2021 / 3 / 11
    Bring Me Down by Kanye West

    If we were to make a list of Kanye's most underrated songs, then Bring Me Down would be near the top of the list. This slight-yet-bombastic track adds even more emotional tenacity to Late Registration, as...

  • 2021 / 3 / 9
    Roses by Kanye West

    Roses is one of the most cherished Kanye West songs—it's also one of the more complicated tracks from Late Registration. It's a song that feels optimistic and uplifting and downtrodden and dour all at the...

  • 2021 / 3 / 4
    Crack Music by Kanye West

    Up to this point in Kanye's discography, there probably wasn't a song more frustrated and bitter than Crack Music—there also wasn't a song more determined. On this epic banger, Kanye traces decades of drug...

  • 2021 / 3 / 2
    My Way Home by Kanye West

    Feeling lost? Chris and Travis will point you in the right direction...with their analysis of My Way Home. This short interlude-ish track on Late Registration is actually pretty deep and packed full of...

  • 2021 / 2 / 25
    The Kimye Divorce: What's Next For Kanye?

    There's been a lot of talk lately about Kim and Kanye's divorce, and there's probably enough material to keep the gossip mags talking for months. But...what about Kanye's music career? What does this mean for...

  • 2021 / 2 / 23
    Drive Slow by Kanye West

    Turn those hazard lights off, because we're not slowing down! Chris and Travis are barrelling through Late Registration one song at a time, and the next track up is Drive Slow. They get into everything on...

  • 2021 / 2 / 18
    Gold Digger by Kanye West

    As Chris and Travis continue on their Late Registration journey, they face what is probably Kanye's most complicated song narrative for any of his singles up to that point: Gold Digger. They discuss the...

  • 2021 / 2 / 16
    Touch The Sky by Kanye West

    Chris and Travis continue their lyrical dissection of Late Registration with the track Touch The Sky. On this episode, they discuss how the classic single plays off of Heard Em Say to build the album's...

  • 2021 / 2 / 11
    Heard 'Em Say by Kanye West

    And they back! Chris and Travis are itching to do some lyrical analysis once again, and this time around they've decided to take on Kanye's sophomore album: Late Registration. Today, they start with the...

  • 2021 / 2 / 9
    Late Registration by Kanye West

    It's finally time for Chris and Travis to start a new season! As part of their rebuild, they're going back through and re-analyzing each Kanye album. And since they already covered The College Dropout, that...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Use This Gospel by Kanye West

    Another day, another dollar, another Kanye West album. That's right: today Chris and Travis close out Jesus is King by analyzing the album's final full track, Use This Gospel. A Clipse reunion? References to...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Hands On by Kanye West

    Cut out all the lights...then turn em back, because we need to have a discussion about what might very well be Kanye West's most somber song ever: Hands On. As Chris and Travis near the end of Jesus is King,...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Everything We Need by Kanye West

    No need to go outside during these strange, quarantined times—everything we need is right in front of us! Today, Chris and Travis see Kanye grappling with that universal truth as they discuss Everything We...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    God Is by Kanye West

    Oh! Chris and Travis are feeling those old school College Dropout vibes today!! That's right: they are talking about God Is, the eighth track from Kanye West's Jesus is King. What seems like a straightforward...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Water by Kanye West

    Feeling thirsty? Then drink some water. Wanna hear a great song that transitions Jesus is King from its combative, alienated first half into its embracing, communal second half? Then listen to Water. Look,...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Every Hour by Kanye West

    Oh look! A nice, easy, short song. This shouldn't take too long— JUST KIDDING. You knew the Watching the Throne boys would go extra on a short intro track. For their lyrical analysis of Every Hour, Chris and...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Closed on Sunday by Kanye West

    Who's hungry? Because we're heading to Chick-fil-A and we're blasting Closed on Sunday all the way there. That's right, Chris and Travis dissect Kanye's most quotable song from Jesus is King—and they once...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Violent Crimes by Kanye West

    At the end of The Holy Mountain—one of Kanye West's favorite movies—the Alchemist says, "We shall break the illusion. This is Maya! Goodbye to the Holy Mountain. Real life awaits us." And now here, on the...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Jesus is Lord by Kanye West

    Here we are at the end again! Another album from Kanye West complete—every line, every bar, every note dissected to the very core. Today Chris and Travis wrap up their analysis of Jesus is King with the...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    On God by Kanye West

    Chris and Travis have been super busy lately...but there's always time for Kanye West! And for this episode they found a few moments away from their chaotic existences to discuss the next song on Jesus is...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Follow God by Kanye West

    No your eyes don't deceive you—they're back! After an extended break, Chris and Travis have finally returned to dissecting Kanye West's latest masterpiece, Jesus is King. And they're taking on what is...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Selah by Kanye West

    Hallelujah! Let's talk about Selah! Hallelujah! Today, Chris and Travis discuss Ephesians, Timothy, John, and Revelations as they break down the second track on Kanye West's latest album. On this episode,...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Jesus is King by Kanye West

    The new season is finally here! Chris and Travis are ready to start their song-by-song analysis of Kanye West's latest album, Jesus is King. Each week, they'll go line by line through each track and pick...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Cudi Montage by Kids See Ghosts

    Throughout KIDS SEE GHOSTS, we've seen Kid Cudi and Kanye West slowly overcome their demons—and it all culminates with Cudi Montage. As Chris and Travis recap the entirety of the album, they show how the Kids...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Kids See Ghosts by Kids See Ghosts

    On No Church in the Wild, Frank Ocean wondered, "What's a god to a non-believer?" Well, what's a god to a spirit? What's a god to the ghosts that populate KIDS SEE GHOSTS? Well, on the album's title track, we...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Ghost Town by Kanye West

    On POWER, Kanye had treasures in his mind but couldn't open up his own vault. But on Ghost Town, Ye's childlike creativity, purity, and honesty is set free, allowing him to feel like a kid again. The...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Reborn by Kids See Ghosts

    There's a key moment in Reborn where Kid Cudi is sitting in a storm, wondering which way to go. And his (and Kanye's) will to move out of that storm represents a true turning point for this crazy, ghoulish...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    No Mistakes by Kanye West

    Make no mistake, Kanye, we still love you!  ...even though you make our brains hurt. Because even a seemingly simple song like No Mistakes is chock-full of meaning and sonic depth. Chris and Travis try their...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Freeee (Ghost Town Pt. 2) by Kids See Ghosts

    What do Marcus Garvey, Black Star, Ty Dolla $ign, and Anthony Hamilton all have in common? They're all part of the formula on Freeee, the sequel to Ghost Town on ye and the song where Kanye and Cudi break...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Wouldn't Leave by Kanye West

    In Runaway, Kanye told her to run away—in Wouldn't Leave, he realizes she wants to stay. While The Life of Pablo encapsulates Kanye West's commitment to marriage and domesticity, ye is a spiritual journey...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    4th Dimension by Kids See Ghosts

    It's Christmas...in July! That's right, Santa's coming down the chimney—but is that a good thing? Have Kanye and Cudi been naughty or nice? Chris and Travis have the answer, which is mixed within what may be...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    All Mine by Kanye West

    Rub on the lamp, get the genie out the bottle...and what do you get? One chaotic, disillusioned life. On All Mine, the third track from ye, we find Kanye nearing a crossroads when he'll need to move away from...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Fire by Kids See Ghosts

    Throughout KIDS SEE GHOSTS, Cudi and Ye are up and down, welcoming and angry, hopeful and bitter—it's a beautiful madness. And on the album's second track, Fire, we see that those two are giving into their...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Yikes by Kanye West

    Kanye claims that being bi-polar is a superpower...in a song called Yikes? Yeah, sure. In the ye narrative where Kanye attempts to finally overcome his Yeezus persona, it seems all too fitting that he would...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    Feel the Love by Kids See Ghosts

    As Chris and Travis continue their lyrical analysis from ye to KIDS SEE GHOSTS, they find themselves in much darker, scarier territory...which is why they'll be holding hands this entire season. For the Feel...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    I Thought About Killing You by Kanye West

    Today, our trek through ye—which could be Kanye West's most challenging album yet—begins. To help, Jordan teams up with Chris and Travis as they all try to decipher who the "you" in I Thought About Killing...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    KIDS SEE GHOSTS by Kanye West & Kid Cudi

    You know how Kanye set release dates for Pusha's album, for his solo album, for KIDS SEE GHOSTS, for Nas' album, and for Teyana's debut? Well, we said we'd put out a Kids See Ghosts episode on the day it...

  • 2021 / 2 / 1
    ye by Kanye West

    It's only been three days, but Chris, Travis, and Jordan have been talking NON-STOP about Kanye West's new album, ye, since its release and feel ready to provide a general overview of the album's narrative...

  • 2021 / 1 / 25
    The 2021 Best Kanye West Song Tournament Death Match Extreme

    It's the most wonderful time of the year! No, not Christmas...the Best Kanye West Song Tournament Death Match Extreme!!! In this 2021 version of the tournament, Chris and Travis sit down with their favorite...

  • 2021 / 1 / 21
    Last Call by Kanye West

    We've reached the end of The College Dropout...and the end of an era on Watching the Throne. Chris and Travis have big plans for season 10 of the show, but for now, they're going to focus on what may be Kanye...

  • 2021 / 1 / 6
    Family Business by Kanye West

    All that glitters is not gold...but all that shines IS Kanye! OK, sorry, that was terrible, and doesn't do justice to Family Business. We'll make up for it by analyzing this fan-favorite track, which brings...

  • 2020 / 12 / 16
    Through the Wire by Kanye West

    Every superhero has their origin story. Often they are called upon for a greater mission, but must find the power to fight from within. And here on Through the Wire, Kanye finds himself in that exact...

  • 2020 / 12 / 9
    Two Words by Kanye West

    Moving away from "bullshit ice rap", Kanye enters the final phase of The College Dropout with Two Words—an epic tribute to his idols and a promise to make music that change the world for good. Jay Z, Mos Def,...

  • 2020 / 12 / 2
    School Spirit by Kanye West

    At one time, Chris and Travis considered School Spirit to be Kanye's worst track—today, they make amends. Not only is there so much going on within the song itself (don't get us started on that Aretha...

  • 2020 / 11 / 18
    Breathe In Breathe Out by Kanye West

    Alright everyone, we know what you're thinking: "Why even bother with Breathe In Breathe Out? It's the worst song in Kanye's discography!" Well, we're here to help you appreciate it a little more. Despite its...

  • 2020 / 11 / 11
    Slow Jamz by Kanye West

    Jamie Foxx sang the chorus as a lark—but little did he know that "Slow Jamz" would become Kanye West's first No. 1 single. There's so much to unpack when it comes to this legendary track. And Chris and Travis...

  • 2020 / 11 / 4
    The New Workout Plan by Kanye West

    For about two-thirds of this episode, Chris and Travis wondered, "Did Kanye have any deeper intentions with 'The New Workout Plan?'" And then suddenly, amidst the chaos of their what is considered by many to...

  • 2020 / 10 / 31
    Joe Rogan's interview with Kanye West

    Today, Chris and Travis discuss how they felt about Joe Rogan's interview with Kanye West. The topics include how Kanye has opened up about his potential policies, Kanye's "symphony" style of speaking, what...

  • 2020 / 10 / 28
    Get Em High by Kanye West

    We've got another extensive breakdown of a Kanye West song, this time for the legendary Get Em High. Chris and Travis cover it all, from Kanye's first instance of conflating romance with fame, to Talib...

  • 2020 / 10 / 21
    Never Let Me Down by Kanye West

    The first seven tracks of The College Dropout build and build and build, starting from an oppressed position on "We Don't Care" before breaking through the stratosphere on "Never Let Me Down." On this...

  • 2020 / 10 / 14
    Jesus Walks by Kanye West

    If you know Kanye West, then you know it all started here. "Jesus Walks" was everything to the young rapper/producer/storyteller/future president back in 2004, which means Chris and Travis can't screw up and...

  • 2020 / 10 / 7
    Spaceship by Kanye West

    Time for a redo! About 5 years ago during one of their earliest episodes, Chris and Travis analyzed the fantastic Kanye West song "Spaceship"—and did a terrible job. Now they're back to do this classic...

  • 2020 / 9 / 30
    All Falls Down by Kanye West

    It's time for Round 2! Chris and Travis tried analyzing All Falls Down a couple years ago when they were noobs—but they are now ready to give it a more legit dissection in 2018. All Falls Down is a great...

  • 2020 / 9 / 23
    We Don't Care by Kanye West

    Oh yeah, we've got a perfect podcast for the fans to hear! It's called Watching the Throne, and today hosts Chris and Travis are starting down a new path as they tackle Kanye's debut album "The College...

  • 2020 / 9 / 16
    The College Dropout by Kanye West

    The first time Chris and Travis cycled through every song on Kanye West's first album, The College Dropout, they weren't up to the task. Armed with shoddy equipment and amateur analytical skills, they didn't...

  • 2020 / 7 / 29
    DONDA delays and Kanye Twitter rants

    This past week has been one of the most trying times ever for Kanye fans—and Kanye himself, seemingly. Chris and Travis run through everything in this episode, from DONDA being delayed to Kanye's Twitter...

  • 2020 / 7 / 21
    Kanye hosts his first presidential campaign rally

    "This was extremely good, this was extremely bad. I’m out." Those were the words spoken by Kanye West as he exited his first presidential campaign rally. And those words...well, they pretty much exactly...

  • 2020 / 7 / 20
    Kanye West announces new album DONDA

    Kanye West announced a new album!!! An album called DONDA!!!! An album that is....definitely coming out.......right? Right??? OK, realistically? The album might not come out this Friday. But in this episode...

  • 2020 / 7 / 10
    Our reaction to the Kanye/Forbes interview: Part 3

    Chris and Travis continue their discussion of Kanye's interview with Forbes. They finish going through Kanye's actual platform in this episode as they go quote by quote through the entire article. If you'd...

  • 2020 / 7 / 9
    Our reaction to the Kanye/Forbes interview: Part 2

    Chris and Travis continue their discussion of Kanye's interview with Forbes. They get into Kanye's actual platform in this episode as they go quote by quote through the entire article. If you'd like to...

  • 2020 / 7 / 8
    Our reaction to the Kanye/Forbes interview: Part 1

    More than any day in history, today is probably the weirdest day ever to be a Kanye West fan. Ye conducted an interview with Forbes in which he laid out his 2020 presidential platform, and the results...

  • 2020 / 7 / 7
    Kanye West is running for president

    Man, it's a good time to host a Kanye West podcast. The Louis Vuitton Don himself has officially decided to run for president in 2020—and that's amazing! But...what does it mean? Can he technically still run?...

  • 2020 / 7 / 1
    First reactions to the new Ty Dolla $ign and Kanye West song "Ego Death"

    Another day, another Kanye song! This time he's featured on Ty Dolla $ign's new song Ego Death—which was long rumored to be part of Yandhi. In this episode, Chris and Travis discuss the philosophy of an "ego...

  • 2020 / 6 / 30
    First reactions to Kanye's new song "Wash Us in the Blood"

    What a glorious day! It's been a minute since we got a new Kanye song ahead of an album, but today we've been blessed with Ye's first single since Jesus is King: "Wash Us in the Blood." In this emergency...

  • 2020 / 6 / 26
    #WESTDAYEVER: Details on YZY Gap, Dr Dre’s Jesus Is King, Wash Us in the Blood music video, KIDS SEE GHOSTS animated show

    Yeezy partners with Gap? Dr. Dre + Jesus is King? A music video for Wash Us in the Blood? A KIDS SEE GHOSTS animated series?!?! Wow, this really is the #WESTDAYEVER. On today's very special emergency episode,...

  • 2020 / 6 / 16
    Has Ghost Town has aged well? (Patreon Exclusive)

    Today’s episode comes from our Patreon page. Twice a week, we post bonus mini-episodes of the show. These mini-eps are a lot of fun to record and we want everyone to enjoy them. So we decided to post this...

  • 2020 / 6 / 9
    My StorYe: Malik

    Chris speaks with Malik, an Austin artist who has won a Grammy, is being mentored by No ID, and is releasing his first project, “Spectrum,” bi-weekly over the course of the 2020 summer. Learn more about your...

  • 2020 / 4 / 7
    The WSJ Kanye Interview: Behind the Scenes with Christina Binkley

    Meet Christina Binkley: the writer behind the recent Wall Street Journal article "The Creation and the Myth of Kanye West." In this very special episode, she sits down with Travis to discuss how the article...

  • 2020 / 2 / 24
    Song Premiere: "Skin I’m In" by The World Famous Tony Williams

    For Black History Month, The Word Famous Tony Williams—now known as WRLDFMS—is releasing his new single, "Skin I’m In." On today's very special episode, he joins Chris and Travis to premiere the track and...

  • 2020 / 1 / 31
    The 2020 Best Kanye West Song Tournament Death Match Extreme

    Every year we get Christmas, we get Halloween, we get the 4th of July. Oh, and we get the Best Kanye West Song Tournament Death Match Extreme. In the 2020 edition of Watching the Throne's annual event, Chris,...

  • 2019 / 12 / 17
    My StorYe: Alex Johnson

    Kanye West only follows 264 people on Twitter. You've got Kim Kardashian, Kid Cudi, Donald Trump, the Watching the Throne bros—oh yeah, and some guy named Alex Johnson (@alexmjjohnson). One of the most vocal...

  • 2019 / 12 / 11
    My StorYe: Harry Edohoukwa

    Harry Edohoukwa is a huge Kanye fan, and his new album, “Fire on the Mountain,” draws a lot of inspiration from Kanye. Chris talks with Harry about his relationship with Kanye’s music, the making of the new...

  • 2019 / 11 / 26
    My StorYe: Rob Haze

    Rob Haze is a comedian. Kanye fans may also know him as the co-host of the Book of Ye podcast. Join Chris in discovering Rob’s StorYe, from his beginnings of becoming a Kanye fan, to what happened to Book of...

  • 2019 / 11 / 12
    My StorYe: Creator of the "DidYandhiDrop" Twitter Account

    Jackson is the voice behind the infamous “DidYandhiDrop” Twitter account. He spent almost a year making commenting on the long awaited and oft delayed Kanye project. He speaks with Chris about the origin...

  • 2019 / 11 / 8
    An Interview With The World Famous Tony Williams

    The World Famous Tony Williams sings on "Spaceship" and 25 other Kanye West tracks. He co-wrote "Street Lights" and 10 other Kanye West tracks. He's a Grammy winner. He's Kanye West's cousin. In this special...

  • 2019 / 11 / 5
    First Reactions to Jesus is King: Chris's Take

    OUR BOY IS BACK!!! Chris is home from his honeymoon and ready to talk some Ye—specifically, he's ready to give us his first impressions of Jesus is King. In this episode, Chris sits down with Travis and...

  • 2019 / 11 / 3
    First Reactions to Jesus is King: The Most Unruly's Take

    In the week leading up to Chris's return from his honeymoon, Travis is hosting some of Watching the Throne's favorite guests to hear their reactions to Kanye West's new album, Jesus is King. Today, Travis...

  • 2019 / 10 / 30
    First Reactions to Jesus is King: Jordan Johnson's Take

    In the week leading up to Chris's return from his honeymoon, Travis is hosting some of Watching the Throne's favorite guests to hear their reactions to Kanye West's new album, Jesus is King. Today, Travis...

  • 2019 / 10 / 28
    First Reactions to Jesus is King: Anna Zeck's Take

    In the week leading up to Chris's return from his honeymoon, Travis is hosting some of Watching the Throne's favorite guests to hear their reactions to Kanye West's new album, Jesus is King. Today, Travis...

  • 2019 / 10 / 27
    First Reactions to Jesus is King: Martin Connor's Take

    In the week leading up to Chris's return from his honeymoon, we're hosting some of Watching the Throne's favorite guests to hear their reactions to Kanye West's new album, Jesus is King. Today, Travis speaks...

  • 2019 / 10 / 26
    First Reactions to Jesus is King: Cole Cuchna's Take

    In the week leading up to Chris's return from his honeymoon, we're hosting some of Watching the Throne's favorite guests to hear their reactions to Kanye West's new album, Jesus is King. Today, Travis speaks...

  • 2019 / 10 / 25
    First Reactions to Jesus is King: Travis's Take

    OMG JESUS IS KING IS HERE!!! To celebrate, while Chris is on his honeymoon, Travis is going to host a line-up of several episodes where some special guests discuss their first reactions to the album. Today...

  • 2019 / 9 / 29
    Our Report from the Jesus Is King Experience in Chicago

    In the lead-up to the release of Jesus is King, Kanye West has hosted a handful of live listening sessions—and Travis attended the Chicago party. In this episode he sits down with Chris to recount the...

  • 2019 / 8 / 23
    My StorYe: Mr Hudson

    Chris speaks with Benjamin Hudson McIldowie — aka Mr Hudson. The English Electropop musician talks about collaborating with Kanye West on 808s & Heartbreaks and how it's guided his musical career ahead of his...

  • 2019 / 8 / 16
    My StorYe: Don, creator of The Most Unruly

    Chris speaks with Don, the creator of The Most Unruly YouTube channel. The Most Unruly has done extensive work covering Kanye’s artistry and discography, but has, for the time being, reached the end of Kanye...

  • 2019 / 8 / 9
    My StorYe: Bink! The Humble Monsta, Producer of "Devil In A New Dress"

    On this episode, Chris talks with Bink! The Humble Monsta. Kanye fans may know him as the original producer of Devil in a New Dress. But his history with Kanye dates much further. Hear directly from Bink...

  • 2019 / 7 / 12
    The Forbes Kanye Interview: Behind the Scenes with Zack O’Malley Greenburg

    Zack O’Malley Greenburg, senior editor for Forbes, got spend a day with Kanye for a Forbes cover story. Hear, first hand, what the experience was like—from Zack’s initial call with Kanye, to their midnight...

  • 2019 / 1 / 30
    The 2019 Best Kanye West Song Tournament Death Match Extreme

    Every year we get Christmas, we get a birthday, we get the Best Kanye West Song Tournament Death Match Extreme. In this year's 3000 edition, deals are struck, alliances are formed, upsets are given, and...

  • 2018 / 10 / 9
    My StorYe: Matt Kessler

    Matt Kessler creates the Too Many Records YouTube channel. His StorYe involves vinyl and a personal encounter with Kanye out in the wild! If you'd like to support the show, please rate us on iTunes, or help...

  • 2018 / 9 / 29
    Pre-Wedding, Pre-YANDHI AMA

    It's the night before Travis' wedding. It's the night before YANDHI. And what are the Watching the Throne hosts to do? How about answer some questions! And try to break their record for longest episode...

  • 2018 / 9 / 26
    My StorYe: Chris Mench

    Chris Mench is the news editor at Genius, and just so happens to be a big Kanye fan. Hear how his StorYe got started and the journey he’s gone on in one of those rare and wondrous times where a Chris...

  • 2018 / 9 / 21
    My StorYe: Jacobi IV

    Jacobi IV is an artist on a mission. Hear how Kanye has helped shape his approach as a solo artist and empower him to make the music he’s passionate about. If you'd like to support the show, please rate us on...

  • 2018 / 9 / 14
    Our StorYe: Caleb & Clementine Smidt

    Meet Caleb Smidt and his daughter Clementine. Hear how and why they’ve bonded over Kanye West’s music and what they’ve learned through the journey. If you'd like to support the show, please rate us on iTunes,...

  • 2018 / 8 / 17
    The Time Kanye West Went on Jimmy Kimmel and Gave One of the Best Interviews Ever

    It was the four seconds heard around the world—the moment Kanye West couldn't answer a question about Donald Trump. Well...couldn't immediately answer. Which in retrospect seems kinda normal. Which makes you...

  • 2018 / 8 / 14
    My StorYe: Chase Crawford

    Director, actor, podcast host, and all-around go-getter Chase Crawford dishes on his relationship with Kanye's music over the years.  Check out his podcast: According to the Internet Follow him on twitter:...

  • 2018 / 7 / 25
    My StorYe: Justin Hunte

    Listen in awe as Justin Hunte brings to bear his prodigious knowledge on rap history and culture to speak on his highs and lows with Kanye. Justin Hunte is Head of Video Production & Development for Ambrosia...

  • 2018 / 7 / 17
    My StorYe: Donna-Claire Chesman

    Donna-Claire discusses her relationship with Kanye's music, music in general, and writing about Ye's Wyoming projects. Listen for some insight and compassion.  Donna-Claire Chesman is an East Coast-based...

  • 2018 / 6 / 18
    My StorYe: Leon Laing

    Leon Laing is a Jamaican-American and founder of Vigor Online, an award-winning website that posts online stories about urban music, culture, and the arts in mainly the Harrisburg and Philadelphia...

  • 2018 / 6 / 1
    First Reactions to Kanye’s New Album, ye

    Before Chris and Travis dive headfirst into dissecting every nook and cranny of Kanye West's new album, ye, they're here to give some knee-jerk reactions to the days leading up to the album, their...

  • 2018 / 5 / 29
    My StorYe: Robin Petering

    Yeezy Super-stan Robin Petering dishes on her experience with Kanye West concerts and more in this week's StorYe! Robin is a community inclusive researcher who specializes in homelessness advocacy. She runs a...

  • 2018 / 5 / 18
    My StorYe: TinyTosha

    Artist LaTosha Maddox shares how Kanye helped fuel her creative journey.  She is a 23 year old African American Visual Artist who takes strong influence in Pro Black themes and Pop Culture. After beginning...

  • 2018 / 5 / 15
    Lift Yourself?

    Poopy-di scoop Scoop-diddy-whoop Whoop-di-scoop-di-poop Poop-di-scoopty Scoopty-whoop Whoopity-scoop, whoop-poop Poop-diddy, whoop-scoop Poop, poop Scoop-diddy-whoop Whoop-diddy-scoop...

  • 2018 / 5 / 11
    Is Kanye West Doing Performance Art: A Discussion with Snowcone/Spencer Wolff

    Spencer Wolff, aka @Snowcone965 on Twitter, is the man who helped popularize the theory that Ye’s recent controversies—Candace Owens, Trump, TMZ—are part of a larger performance art. Dive further into the...

  • 2018 / 5 / 8
    My StorYe: Daniel Pultz

    A true lover of hip-hop, Daniel Pultz shares with us the reasons why he’s been a fan of Kanye since day 1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • 2018 / 5 / 4
    My StorYe: Deezie Brown

    Deezie Brown’s album “Judith” is the closest thing Chris has felt to listening to Kanye. It makes sense that Deezie drew incredible inspiration from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Enjoy the perspective an...

  • 2018 / 5 / 4
    Our StorYe: Fans React to this Week in Kanye

    Watching the Throne is happy to host a conversation between DeMario Jackson and friends Amaron and Nate about the most dramatic week in Kanye history. Real people, real fans, real reactions. These are the...

  • 2018 / 5 / 1
    Ye vs. the People - Kanye West

    For the first time, Chris and Travis have a Kanye West song that exists outside any album narrative. However, Ye vs. the People fits PERFECTLY into the Kanye West narrative on a broader scale, as he's now...

  • 2018 / 4 / 24
    My StorYe: Carrington Harrison

    Carrington Harrison is known for being a radio host on 610Sports in Kansas City. More relevant to Kanye fans, Carrington and his friends are the ones behind the Kanye Madness bracket challenge that swept the...

  • 2018 / 4 / 17
    My StorYe: Zack O’Malley Greenburg

    Zack specializes in the intersection of hip-hop and business (evidenced by his new book, 3 Kings: Diddy, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z and Hip-Hop’s Multibillion-Dollar Rise). This gives him quite the unique perspective on...

  • 2018 / 4 / 6
    My StorYe: Robert Ruggerio

    Robert Ruggerio is you. He's me. He's all of us who have followed Kanye since Through the Wire and had Ye not only be a soundtrack for life (from those teenage years, to the early twenties, now into the...

  • 2018 / 3 / 27
    My StorYe: Miranda Feneberger

    Miranda Feneberger dishes on her history with Kanye's music, developing a love and understanding of hip hop, and more things Kanye West.  ------- Miranda's work has been published or is forthcoming on sites...

  • 2018 / 3 / 16
    My StorYe: Timothy Anne Burnside

    Timothy Anne Burnside brings her expert opinion on African American history and culture to bear on Kanye as a musician, his influences, and his legacy.  ------ Timothy Anne Burnside works closely with object...

  • 2018 / 3 / 14
    Live from the 2018 SXSW and TuneIn Podcast Stage

    We were live on the SXSW and TuneIn Podcast Stage. Chris and Travis, a room full of Kanye fans, delicious breakfast tacos from Tacodeli—could we get much higher? You'll hear some Kanye-themed games (Family...

  • 2018 / 3 / 9
    My StorYe: Joe Perez

    Joe Perez is a freelance creative director and graphic artist who worked as the lead art director at Kanye West’s design studio DONDA from 2011-2016. His most notable work was on the Cruel Summer, & Yeezus...

  • 2018 / 2 / 27
    My StorYe: Kish Lal

    Kish is currently based in Melbourne, Australia. Her recent bylines have been in Sydney Morning Herald, Noisey, Acclaim Magazine and VICE Magazine. She's a writer, DJ and podcaster. Follow her on Twitter:...

  • 2018 / 2 / 13
    My StorYe: Brent Lewis

    Brent Lewis is the Senior Photo Editor for ESPN's "The Undefeated" and co-founder of the Diversify Photo Initiative. Self-proclaimed lover of all things Chicago. You can follow Brent at @BLewisPhoto. Learn...

  • 2018 / 2 / 2
    My StorYe: Nia Renee Hill

    Nia Renee Hill is a actor, writer, producer, and director. You can occasionally hear her on the Monday Morning Podcast with her husband Bill Burr. She recently guest starred on an episode of HBO's "Crashing"....

  • 2018 / 1 / 30
    The 2018 Best Kanye West Song Tournament Death Match Extreme: Part 2

    Just when Jordan thought it was over...it wasn't. It totally wasn't. Like, not even close. We got through the first 64 matchups of the 2018 Best Kanye West Song Tournament Death Match Extreme 2000, and there...

  • 2018 / 1 / 23
    The 2018 Best Kanye West Song Tournament Death Match Extreme: Part 1

    Once again, Chris and Travis have kidnapped Jordan from his humble abode and forced him to participate something no human being should be forced to endure: Sitting in a room for 3 hours with Chris and Travis,...

  • 2018 / 1 / 16
    My StorYe: Kanye Bars (Twitter Account)

    This StorYe is with the man behind one of the fastest growing Kanye-fan accounts on Twitter, @Kanye_Bars. Find out the origins behind the account and, of course, a lot of feelings about Kanye West. Learn more...

  • 2017 / 12 / 22
    My StorYe: Tyler Barstow

    Tyler Barstow is the co-founder of the record of the month club "Vinyl Me Please." More importantly, he's a mega Kanye fan.  http://www.vinylmeplease.com The 2017 releases were pretty awesome, including...

  • 2017 / 11 / 14
    Breaking Down Taylor Swift's "Reputation" and How it Relates to Kanye West

    This is why we can't have nice things, Taylor! Because you go and and make an album like "Reputation," which we then have to completely tear apart, track by track. Chris is out this week, but Anna joined...

  • 2017 / 10 / 25
    My StorYe: Ron Parida

    Ron Parida is the mind behind RPV Creative, a social media gency and production company. This is the group behind the wild and wonderful @kanye_isms Instagram page where they turn Kanye sound bytes into...

  • 2017 / 10 / 17
    My StorYe: Corbin Reiff

    Corbin Reiff is the Deputy Music Editor at Uproxx. He's first book, "Lighters in the Sky: The All-Time Greatest Concerts, 1960-2016" just came out and features not one but two Kanye performances. In this...

  • 2017 / 10 / 3
    My StorYe: DeMario Jackson

    You may know DeMario Jackson from season 13 of The Bachelorette. What's apparent is how charismatic, charming, and fun DeMario is. What may not have been apparent is just how much he loves Kanye. In his...

  • 2017 / 9 / 26
    My StorYe: Don, creator of Noisy Images

    Noisy Images is one of the best YouTube channels for hip hop related content. Perhaps the best part of the channel is how Kanye-centric it is. In this episode, Chris talks with Noisy Images creator Don about...

  • 2017 / 8 / 26
    Taylor Swift and Kanye West 2017: Analyzing "Look What You Made Me Do" and Jay-Z dissing Kanye

    Taylor, look what you made us do! We have an obligation to defend Kanye in any and all scenarios, that goes double when it involves Taylor Swift, who released "Look What You Made Me Do" yesterday—and we're...

  • 2017 / 8 / 8
    My StorYe: Martin Connor, founder of Rap Analysis

    Martin Connor analyzes production in hip hop music living on his website, Rap Analysis. In his StorYe, he discusses the evolution of Kanye's production from soul-sample-heavy to weird-as-shit. Kanye’s soul...

  • 2017 / 7 / 31
    My StorYe: Cole Cuchna, Host of the Dissect Podcast

    Today we're talking to Cole Cuchna, creator and host of the Dissect Podcast. He performs musical analysis (just like us!) by going track-by-track through albums, breaking the format into short, easily...

  • 2017 / 6 / 27
    My StorYe: Caitlin White, managing editor of Uproxx Music

    Caitlin White is the managing editor of Uproxx's music section. She also happens to be wavy as hell because she's a firm believer of the one and only Yeezy. In her StorYe she discusses the impact Kanye West...

  • 2017 / 6 / 13
    40 Things We Love About Kanye West For His 40th Birthday

    Watching the Throne is finally taking the time to celebrate the greatest national holiday that's ever been blessed upon this great nation of ours: Kanye West's birthday (aka Christmas in June). And Chris and...

  • 2017 / 5 / 30
    The Kimye Third Anniversary Special

    Bill and Melinda Gates. Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII. Jay Z and Beyonce. Julius Caesar and Cleopatra.  Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. Come...

  • 2017 / 3 / 12
    Live from the 2017 SXSW & TuneIn Podcast Stage: Exploring the Genius of Yeezus

    Middle America packed in, came to see...Watching the Throne? At SXSW 2017?! Better believe it! Chris and Travis somehow sweet-talked their way onto the SXSW Podcast Stage (presented by TuneIn), and they're...

  • 2017 / 3 / 3
    My StorYe: Alex Dellbridge

    It's StorYe time! We've got superfan Alex Dellbridge on the show, and he's to tell us if other countries like Kanye West as much as the U.S. of A. In addition, Alex joins Chris and Travis to cover Kanye West...

  • 2017 / 2 / 28
    My StorYe: Justin Leduc

    Travis is off doing the things a Travis does. So Chris brings in a special guest: r/Kanye moderator and graphic designer/photographer from Quebec, Justin Leduc! Justin shares his thoughts on the Kanye...

  • 2017 / 1 / 13
    The 2017 Best Kanye West Song Tournament Death Match Extreme

    What are Chris and Travis to do when they have a slow Kanye news week...START A NEW TRADITION. That's right, they kidnapped Jordan and forced him to participate in the first ever Best Kanye West Song...

  • 2017 / 1 / 3
    My StorYe: Kevin

    It's been a minute since we had some fresh blood on Watching the Throne, but this week that all changes. Kevin sits down with Chris for a marathon interview about the ups and downs of being a Kanye...

  • 2016 / 10 / 21
    The Kim Kardashian 36th Birthday Spectacular Extravaganza

    With all the negativity weighing everyone down in recent weeks, it's time to celebrate one truly magnificent woman—the one, the only, Kim Noel Kardashian West. Chris and Travis (and Anna!) cover their...

  • 2016 / 10 / 3
    My StorYe: Janie Contreras Johnson

    Shhhhhhh try not to wake up mom... That's right, it's STORYE TIME (dude shut up!) and Janie Contreras Johnson (guess who she's married to!) is joining Chris and Travis's latest WTT slumber party to tell...

  • 2016 / 8 / 5
    My StorYe: Robyn O'Neil

    Kids, grab your sleeping bags, gather 'round, and turn on your flashlights...because it's storYe time! That's right, artist Robyn O'Neil sits down with Chris and Travis to talk about Kanye West because...

  • 2016 / 7 / 22
    The Full History of Kanye West and Taylor Swift from the VMAs to Kim's Snapchat

    Chris, Travis, and Anna spend close to two hours detailing the history of Kanye West and Taylor Swift, from when Kanye stormed the VMA stage in 2009 to Kim Kardashian’s Snapchat revelation that Taylor...

  • 2016 / 7 / 1
    My StorYe: Anna Zeck

    To quote the legendary rock band Staind: It's been awhiiiiile. That's right, it's time for another StorYe! And this week Chris and Travis are interviewing friend-of-the-show/Throner/Keeping Up-dater Anna...

  • 2016 / 4 / 4
    My StorYe: Lauren Kelly

    The WTT crew is taking a week off from analyzing Kanye West songs to hear from one of his biggest fans: Lauren Kelly has gone from passive Kanye listener to insatiable aficionado in just a few short years,...

  • 2015 / 10 / 28
    My StorYe: Joshua Chaplinsky

    You'll have to wait one more episode for The New Workout Plan—Chris and Travis have another StorYe to explore, this time with Joshua Chaplinsky, author of Kanye West Reanimator, a reimagining of H.P....

  • 2015 / 9 / 9
    My StorYe: Jordan C. Johnson

    The gang is back—but this time, they're not dissecting a song by Kanye West. Instead, they're kicking off the first official entry into the "My StorYe" interview series, where they discuss somebody's journey...