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 course, they're here to tell you why it's actually an awesome track. They go through every line to show you just how clever Kanye's wordplay is and how the song fits into the Graduation narrative. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Ka...
Jun 01, 2021•2 hr 44 min•Season 5Ep. 8
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 Kanye track is absolutely packed with meaning and nuance that the Watching the Throne team will break down in full detail. 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/adchoice...
May 25, 2021•2 hr 51 min•Season 5Ep. 7
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 it...but then takes on a whole new meaning in the context of the album narrative. 50 Cent, Michael Jackson, Dr. Dre, Gylan Kain, and John Legend join us for this epic breakdown of Good Life. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePod...
May 18, 2021•2 hr 58 min•Season 5Ep. 6
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 beautiful-yet-tragic track that serves as a huge turning point on the narrative of Graduation. 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
May 11, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Season 5Ep. 5
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 is a banger. But the song also captures Kanye at a crossroads as he becomes a worldwide celebrity. Chris and Travis cover the track's deeper intentions as they go line by line through the song. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/K...
May 04, 2021•2 hr 31 min•Season 5Ep. 4
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 fan-favorite, and Chris and Travis are there to break down every second of it. They discuss the song's epic sample, the poetic interpolations being used, and how the song continues to introduce Kanye's character on the album. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: ...
Apr 27, 2021•2 hr 39 min•Season 5Ep. 3
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, they break down every line from Graduation's opening track. From how the song sets up the narrative on Graduation to the soaring Elton John sample to the ghost of Jay Z that looms over it all. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Ka...
Apr 20, 2021•2 hr 49 min•Season 5Ep. 2
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 that's going to release in 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 16, 2021•25 min
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 just as much to offer. In this episode, the Watching the Throne duo discusses what they're most excited about for their upcoming season on Graduation. 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 choice...
Apr 13, 2021•45 min•Season 5Ep. 1
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 narrative. Then they rank every single song from the album to close out the season. 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
Apr 08, 2021•2 hr 33 min•Season 4Ep. 17
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 a multitude of samples and interpolations—and reflect on the long, arduous journey Kanye West went on with his second album. 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/adc...
Apr 06, 2021•2 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 16
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 journey into stardom before the epic finale that is Gone. 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
Apr 01, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 4Ep. 15
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 with Cole—from early memories of the album to the process of writing Season 8 to what Yeezus represents in the wake of Kimye's divorce. 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 megaphon...
Mar 31, 2021•1 hr 12 min
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 Donal Leace to how the lessons Kanye learned from Donda West are infused into the DNA of Late Registration. 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
Mar 30, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Season 4Ep. 14
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 outro—and how the song plays into the Late Registration 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
Mar 25, 2021•2 hr 38 min•Season 4Ep. 13
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, from Kanye's disillusion about the music industry to what Jay and Roc-A-Fella represent to the entire Black community. Also, looking forward to conversations about Robin Williams and Pink Floyd and Chris's last will and testament. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over o...
Mar 23, 2021•2 hr 40 min•Season 4Ep. 12
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 today's episode, they dissect the original mix of Diamonds, and how the song served as the foundation for the remixed version that exists on Late Registration. 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 ...
Mar 18, 2021•2 hr 35 min•Season 4Ep. 11
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 Addiction. In this episode, the WTT team dissects Kanye's dark ode to addiction—yes, his addiction to money, sex and alcohol, but mostly his addiction to celebrity and stardom. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more a...
Mar 16, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Season 4Ep. 10
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 Kanye goes after the people he hates the most—the people who hold him back. Chris and Travis break down all of the sonic and lyrical nuance at play in this episode. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn more about you...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 4Ep. 9
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 same time. On today's episode, Chris and Travis try to navigate those troubling waters as they break down the song's key samples and interpolations and fit Roses into the album's larger narrative. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/K...
Mar 09, 2021•2 hr 32 min•Season 4Ep. 8
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 abuse back to the government's desire to limit the Black community. It's an important step for Kanye as an artist trying to make a difference in the world on Late Registration. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast Learn m...
Mar 04, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 4Ep. 7
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 meaning that builds on the major themes of Kanye's sophomore album. The Watching the Throne crew gets into it all on this episode, from the Gil Scott-Heron sample to Common's poetic lyricism to what chain restaurants Chris and Travis think are the shittiest. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free,...
Mar 02, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Season 4Ep. 6
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 the man who is arguably the greatest artist of the 21st century? Obviously, we have no idea—but we can speculate. So today, Chris and Travis are taking a look back at Ye's career to make some educated guesses about where his music could go from here. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, ...
Feb 25, 2021•44 min
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 this episode, from Kanye's hypnotic beat to Paul Wall's disco-ball mouth to GLC's un-fuck-with-able verse. Chris and Travis tie the entire symbolic song to Kanye's imminent entry into the music industry. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreo...
Feb 23, 2021•2 hr 47 min•Season 4Ep. 5
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 song's commentary on gender roles, how stardom drives people to ugly lengths, and what the song's "twist" said about Kanye's view of materialism and classism at that point in his career. If you'd like to hear the show ad-free, then support us over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KanyePodcast ...
Feb 18, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 4Ep. 4
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 intentions, show how the samples and interpolations exhibit Kanye's quest for fame, and then try to make sense of Lupe Fiasco's wild and wacky guest verse. 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...
Feb 16, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Season 4Ep. 3
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 opening track, Heard Em Say, which introduces several of the themes and narrative threads that will populate the album. 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
Feb 11, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Season 4Ep. 2
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 means it's time for Ye's sophomore album: Late Registration. In this first episode, Chris and Travis discuss their relationship with the album over the years, their theories about the album's narrative, and what they expect to take away from the album over the course of the new season. If you...
Feb 09, 2021•57 min•Season 4Ep. 1
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 seven different Bible verses? Kenny G's sax solo? Yeah, this one's packed full of goodies. And don't worry! Chris and Travis will be back next week to cover Jesus is Lord and review the entire album. They'll also talk about the future of the show and how the structure of Watching the Throne ...
Feb 01, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Season 3Ep. 11
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, the song becomes a crucial component of Kanye's long, arduous road back to God. In this episode they discuss Fred Hammond's crucial input into the song, Ephesians and 1 Corinthians (again), and the hypocrisy of the Christian community's response to Kanye West. And at no point do Chris and Tr...
Feb 01, 2021•2 hr 31 min•Season 3Ep. 10
