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 a...
Dec 09, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 12
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 megapho...
Dec 02, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 11
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 ...
Nov 18, 2020•2 hr 39 min•Season 2Ep. 10
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 ab...
Nov 11, 2020•58 min•Season 2Ep. 9
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-f...
Nov 04, 2020•2 hr 38 min•Season 2Ep. 8
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
Oct 31, 2020•34 min
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...
Oct 28, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Season 2Ep. 7
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...
Oct 21, 2020•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 6
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 o...
Oct 14, 2020•2 hr 34 min•Season 2Ep. 5
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 suppor...
Oct 07, 2020•2 hr 33 min•Season 2Ep. 4
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 example of Kanye's early storytelling and sampling powers, using Lauryn Hill and Biggie songs to encapsulate the power consumerism holds over the Black community. Of course, Chris and Travis get into all of that, along with Showgirls, Single White Female, Fight Club, and then eventually Showgirl...
Sep 30, 2020•2 hr 42 min•Season 2Ep. 3
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 Dropout." On this episode, they discuss the themes of materialism, education, youth, hardship, rebellion, and artistry permeating throughout the song. They also try to put the song into Kanye's perspective as an artist and a new rapper representing Chicago. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, ...
Sep 23, 2020•2 hr 31 min•Season 2Ep. 2
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 do one of the greatest debut albums in the history of music proper justice—but now's the time to fix that. That's why Chris and Travis are cycling back through every song on The College Dropout. In this episode, they preview the album's narrative and discuss what they're most excited about t...
Sep 16, 2020•36 min•Season 2Ep. 1
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 rants to how our conversation about mental illness desperately needs a change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 29, 2020•1 hr 5 min
"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 describe how everyone felt. Chris and Travis talk about the best and the worst parts of the event. If you'd like to support the show, then join our Patreon page. There you'll gain access to over 120 of our song analyses and two weekly bonus episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...
Jul 21, 2020•1 hr 8 min
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 Chris and Travis are going to pretend it is definitely positively 100% is coming out this Friday and wildly speculate about it. If you'd like to support the show, then join our Patreon page. There you'll gain access to over 120 of our song analyses and two weekly bonus episodes. Learn more ab...
Jul 20, 2020•56 min
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 like to support the show, then join our Patreon page. There you'll gain access to over 120 of our song analyses and two weekly bonus episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 10, 2020•1 hr 5 min
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 support the show, then join our Patreon page. There you'll gain access to over 120 of our song analyses and two weekly bonus episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 09, 2020•44 min
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 are...well, interesting puts it mildly enough. Chris and Travis have a lot of feelings to work through regarding the interview, and they expel all of those conflicting emotions in this three-part evaluation of Kanye's words. In this first part, Chris and Travis discuss their history as Kanye fans a...
Jul 08, 2020•45 min
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? And what would his platform look like? Chris and Travis discuss it all and take questions from listeners in this episode. If you'd like to support the show, then join our Patreon page. There you'll gain access to over 120 of our song analyses and two weekly bonus episodes. Learn more about ...
Jul 07, 2020•50 min
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 death" and how Ty, Ye, and FKA Twigs are exploring that concept in this song. If you'd like to support the show, then join our Patreon page. There you'll gain access to over 120 of our song analyses and two weekly bonus episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 01, 2020•59 min
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 episode, Chris and Travis discuss their initial reactions to the song and the music video and what they think it signals about Kanye's forthcoming album God's Country. If you'd like to support the show, then join our Patreon page. There you'll gain access to over 120 of our song analyses and two...
Jun 30, 2020•49 min
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, Chris and Travis dig into every bit of Kanye West news we got today—and there's A LOT. If you'd like to support the show, then join our Patreon page. There you'll gain access to over 120 of our song analyses and two weekly bonus episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...
Jun 26, 2020•48 min
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 episode on the public feed for everyone to enjoy. If you’d like to access every mini-episode, as well as our entire podcast catalog where we break down 120 different Kanye West songs, then subscribe to our Patreon page at patreon.com/KanyePodcast. For $5 a month, you’ll not only get all of thos...
Jun 16, 2020•18 min
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 ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 09, 2020•1 hr 7 min
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 came together, Kanye's fascinating immersion into the fashion world, and how her perception of Kanye changed during her time with him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 07, 2020•48 min
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 discuss what he hopes people take away from the song. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 24, 2020•24 min
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, Travis, and Jordan sit down for a grueling three-hour session to decide on what Kanye's best song is. It's long, it's arduous, it's cutthroat—and hell, it's fun. Will Jordan avenge Lift Off's epic defeat in last year's tournament? Will Travis find new ways of sneaking his favorite songs thr...
Jan 31, 2020•3 hr 7 min
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 Kanye fans on Twitter sat down with Travis to discuss how he became a Ye fan and how Kanye inspires him as an aspiring audio engineer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 17, 2019•56 min
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 album, and other insights into being an artist in the 21st Century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 11, 2019•1 hr
