“Now I’m ’bout to make ’em tuck their whole summer in…”
After Kanye West and Jay-Z’s highly secretive listening session earlier this month, some fans began to worry about Watch the Throne’s content when writers called many of the tracks “experimental.” For all of their immense talent, experimental could easily mean “overindulgence,” especially when it comes to Kanye (see 808s and a few tracks off My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy). For today, this concerns can be quelled with this satisfying throwback track “Otis.”
The sample is a flip of Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.” It’s the type of sound that was heavy in early to mid 90s East Coast Hip-Hop, and Kanye’s own work during the College Dropout–Late Registration days. The original song begins as a mournful ballad that Booker T & the MGs and Isaac Hayes build to a funky and lively conclusion. ‘Ye applies that same format by using the song’s unaltered opening as the beginning, and taking Redding’s vocal transition later in the song for this track’s backbone. “Otis” is in the same vein as their recent appearances on soul-based tracks like Pete Rock’s “The Joy” and Jay Electronica’s “Shiny Suit Theory.” What puts “Otis” a step above is the energy and power of Redding’s voice.
Although Jay is the more superior and accomplished emcee between them, Kanye has been able to one-up his brother on occassion (see “Run This Town” and the “Power Remix”). That helps makes these songs much more interesting and balanced listens, as you never know who’ll take the lead. While Jay is in cruise control boasting about how he originated “swagger,” Kanye takes a more aggressive flow and to accentuate his own punchlines (“Niggas talking real reckless, stuntmen”) and trademark asshole humor (“They didn’t see me because I pulled up/In my other Benz/ Last week I was in my other other Benz…”). Jay picks up his end more on his second verse (“Photoshoot fresh/ Looking like wealth/ I’m about to call the paparazzi on myself..”). Although they continue trading verses, the expected portion of them trading bars never comes and the tracks ends abruptly.
“Otis” likely does not represent the experimental and avant-garde elements of Watch the Throne. However, it’s nice to see Jay and Kanye not abandoning their traditional Hip-Hop fans.
KANYE WEST X JAY-Z “OTIS”
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