Here it is, a second taste of the upcoming collaborative album Watch the Throne between Kanye West and Jay-Z (H.A.M. being the first of course). “Otis,” named after the late, great Otis Redding, features heavy sampling of the soul singer’s 1966 song “Try a Little Tenderness.”
As expected, Kanye and Jay-Z showcase their lyrical prowess on this old-school sounding track. Noticeably absent is a drum beat, auto-tune, and heavy bass that typically have been accompanying the hip-hop tracks of late. The result is a raw, unfettered hip-hop track that’s destined to go down as one of the year’s best.
Watch the Throne is set to be released via digital download on August 1st, while physical CDs will be in stores on August 5th.