Watching The Throne: A Lyrical Analysis Of Kanye West

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 ghosts and dipping into Yeezus-like behavior. It's a similar journey Kanye experiences on ye, so Chris and Travis are going line by line through Fire to show how the spiritual journey of Kanye's last album lines up with the internal battle through which he and Cudi struggle on this track. 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

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 put up this front—and the WTT crew is going to tear it apart. Chris, Travis, and Jordan go line by line through Yikes, noting the back-and-forth between the bombastic and mindful versions of Kanye and how it captures his chaotic headspace. 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

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 the Love dissection, the WTT gang gets into all kinds of murky territory where Kanye West and Kid Cudi are forced to confront their ghosts and resist the unhealthy urges that would form new ghosts in the future. Hopefully Cudi and Ye are holding hands too… 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, 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 You is. They get into all kinds of topics, including how the song is largely a response to Kill Jay Z, how Kanye sonically explores his bipolar disorder, and how the song foreshadows a grand narrative and thematic journey that builds from Daytona to ye to Kids See Ghosts. 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

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 released, and dammit, we're following through. After a marathon texting session this morning as we listened through the album on repeat, and after a lengthy discussion as we went track by track, Chris and Travis are ready to give an overview of the storyline occurring on KIDS SEE GHOSTS—an album that takes mental illness and suicide head on, and acknowledges that if you want to get better, you have to confront (and overcome) your past demons, your ghosts. 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

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 and thematic journey before heading into the individual song analyses over the next seven weeks. In this episode, we discuss how the album provides insight into Kanye's recent behavior, how it plays into the narrative building on his discography, and what new directions it points for his forthcoming projects (including Kids See Ghosts). 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

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

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 West's magnum opus: a 13-minute track that details how Kanye used arrogance as the steam to power his dreams. 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

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 the story on The College Dropout to a poetic close. 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 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 situation as he looks to turn tragedy to triumph after a terrible car accident. Chris and Travis break down how Kanye does this with his energy and production, from his legendary Chaka Khan sample to his avant-garde storytelling techniques to his subtle nod to Gil Scott-Heron. 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

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, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, 5th Dimension and Mandrill all contribute to what is perhaps Old Kanye's most layered track, and Chris and Travis are going to break it all down. 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

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 Franklin sample), but how School Spirit and the skits play into the College Dropout narrative is next level. We're here to break it all down. 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

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 problems, Kanye actually pulls off one of the most impressive feats of his career by interpolating one of Black Star's most famous songs, Respiration. We'll show how Kanye's ironic twist on this classic track signals a turning point in The College Dropout's 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

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 are ready to break it all down, from how "Slow Jamz" fits into the "College Dropout" narrative to Kanye's beautiful twist on Luther Vandross's "A House is Not a Home." 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 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 be one of Kanye West's worst songs...they happen upon something. Go through this journey with them, as they try to fit this song into the "College Dropout" narrative and find out how it captures a young Kanye trying to find his place in the music industry. 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 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 kind of leader Kanye would be. Note: This is just Part 1 of Chris and Travis's breakdown of the interview. If you'd like to hear the full breakdown, then support the show over at Patreon.com/KanyePodcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Kweli's disguised advice to a young Kanye, to Common's gargantuan (and slightly confusing (and purposely off-rhythm???)) verse. Take a puff, because episode is gonna get you high AF. 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 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 episode, Chris and Travis dissect every important component of this epic-and-inspiring Kanye track, from its critical place in the album narrative to the importance Jay Z's serves to both the black and hip hop community to how J. Ivy channels the energy and spirit of God to better himself. 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

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 give this song a subpar analysis! So they're going to be extra thorough for this line-by-line deconstruction, which is chock-full samples and interpolations and stories and meaning and oh god this is gonna be a long one isn't it. 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

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 "College Dropout" track justice, from the beautiful chipmunk-ed Marvin Gaye sample to legendary guest verses from GLC and Consequence to Kanye's impeccable storytelling skills. Strap in, everybody, cause we're 'bout to take off in this spaceship. 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