1. No Church In the Wild (feat. Frank Ocean)
The second the album starts off you hear the this gem of a instrumental, and it just elevates when guest vocalist Frank Ocean graces the hook with "Human beings in a mob/What's a mob to a king/What's a king to a god/What's a god to a non-believer/Who don't believe in anything?" Jay-Z explodes in with the first verse of the track, showing that he is still a titan of hip-hop, that he can't be touched, and that he deserves the throne. After Ocean's hook artist The-Dream lays a nice, auto-tuned, bridge before Kanye comes in and picks up where HOVA left off. Ye hits with very nice quotables, but in the end, doesn't take the throne from Jay. This is the first time you hear that odd outro, and wonder, why is it there, however perfect opening track. 10/10
2. Lift Off (feat. Beyonce)
Synths popping right away as they build up for Beyonce's beautifully laid hook. Kanye starts his part with 808's reminiscent autotuned singing, executed rather well, but no real rapping from him before Beyonce cuts in once more for the second hook. More of Ye's singing before Jay drops a couple bars, what doesn't sound like a full verse. This sounds more like a Beyonce song featuring Kanye West & Jay-Z still delivers instrumental wise and talent-wise. 6.5/10
3. Niggas In Paris
Odd intro at first, but as soon as the beat starts you can tell this is gonna be a hard hitting lyrical rap song. Jay-Z starts the track off, starts hitting hard right away and doesn't let up at all throughout his verse. Kanye then begins delivering his verse in his trademark flow, and is very enjoyable. "Prince Williams ain't do it right if you ask me/cuz I'd Mary(Marry) Kate & Ashley". Then the beat completely switches up and Kanye takes the mic and starts it up and makes it known that you are now watching the throne. For pure hip-hop over amazing production. 10/10
4. Otis (feat. Otis Redding)
Classic Kanye production with a great soul sample. Jay-Z first and doesn't disappoint. Him and 'Ye trade the mic flawlessly with no hook over a great soul beat, how much more classic 'Ye & Jay could you want? Some nice Kanye quotes? "I made Jesus Walks so I'm never going to hell" "Sophisticated ignorance, write my curses in cursive". 9/10
5. Gotta Have It
Another great sample to lead off with. This time Kanye takes the lead with a laid back flow. Him & Jay passing the mic every couple bars. This is a very enjoyable collaboration as it's the two artist working so closely together. "I'm planking on a million" (Jay-Z). Nothing quite outstanding but extremely enjoyable. 8.5/10
6. New Day
Piano beat and dark hook play before Kanye lays an extremely introspective verse while talking about his unborn son. He sounds more vulnerable here the any other time in recent history. His verse is reminiscent of College Dropout or Late Registration. Jay-Z also talks about his unborn son while mentioning evils of fame, and who could tell us that more than arguably the most famous rapper alive? This song shows that no matter how much they brag, they are just real people and feel too. An extended outro allows the lyrics to sink in as well. Note, odd outro once again plays after. 10/10
7. That's My Bitch
Hard-hitting drums kick this track off. The production is phenomenal. Kanye leads the track off with a mini verse/pre-chorus. Elly Jackson of La Roux handles the chorus flawlessly before Kanye once again takes the mic and both lyrically and flow-wise delivers here, setting the bar high for Jay. For the second hook after Elly Jackson an uncredited singer (Charlie Wilson I believe) add a bit to it. Jay-Z easily holds up to Kanye and makes this a great, above average track. 9.5/10
8. Welcome To The Jungle
Swizz Beatz production and ad-libs the hook here. Jay-Z, the "Black Axl Rose", begins this track with great lyricism before passing the mic to 'Ye who continues the streak before passing it back to Jay, who's "Still big pimpin". Jay-Z delivers one of his greatest verse and makes you forget Kanye was even on this song. Odd outro #3. 10/10
9. Who Gon Stop Me
"This is something like a holocaust" is the first line Kanye says in this dubstep influenced track that seems to be about hood violence. The beat drops about half way through and both Kanye goes off, Jay then takes the spotlight and goes even further off. Another flawless Jay-Z verse. 10/10
10. Murder To Excellence
The second this track started, I loved the intro to the instrumental. Kanye (without auto-tune) sings the hook before Jay-Z once again goes in. However Kanye lyrically may take this one. "I in the murder capital where they murder for capitol." Kanye takes it again after the hook and once again amazes, comparing war violence to hood violence. "314 soldiers died in Iraq/509 died in Chicago". Beat switches up around the middle and Jay-Z starts up again and completely shines again before 'Ye takes it again and doesn't let up. 10/10
11. Made In America (feat. Frank Ocean)
Frank Ocean's encore over interesting, but amazing production. Honestly I love the hook and beat for this track and none of the artist let up. This seems like it would be the radio track of the album (much like Lighters of BME:HTS, although with a much better outcome). From a song that would be a 8-8.5, Jay-Z bumps it up to a solid 9 with his verse and the outstanding faux-outro to final hook bumps it to a 9.5. Nothing really wrong with this track and its very enjoyable. 9.5/10
12. Love You So (feat. Mr. Hudson)
Instantly love this beat and hook from Mr. Hudson. Jay-Z starts off completely burning the mic with his lyrics and flow. "I try teach these niggas to be kings, all they wanna be is soldiers". Jay-Z takes the second verse with ease as well and sounds flawless leading into him and 'Ye trading bars. Kanye and Jay trading lyrical, amazing bars as the track ends is the perfecting ending to the original album. 10/10
13. Illest Motherfucker Alive [Bonus]
3 minutes of silence to seperate the bonus tracks from the album, and after that you hear that odd outro music that we heard in some of the aforementioned songs open this one, and the feeling of unity to the album kinda draws out. Once it kicks in 'Ye kicks it off with some (un-autotuned) singing before rapping some memorable bars (both lyrically and emotionally). Jay-Z steals the show with another legendary verse proving he deserves the throne, they both prove they do. This is easily one of my favorite tracks and I see how it doesn't fit with the album, and I'm glad we got it. 10/10
14. H*A*M [Bonus]
When I first heard it I loved it, then when I kept listening to it, I was on the line on this one. Jay-Z delivers, Kanye not so much here. The hook is mesmerizing and the ending of the beat is hypnotic. Jay-Z's verse is insane, so that helps. 7.5/10
15. Prime Time [Bonus]
Soulful beat, piano led. Jay-Z kicks his verse first and doesn't disappoint, but after everything we've heard doesn't impress either. Kanye is a bit above average here and steals the throne from Jay. 7.5/10
16. The Joy (feat. Curtis Mayfield) [Bonus]
One of my favorite G.O,O.D. Friday tracks. No complaints at all and some really dope lines and amazing production by Kanye & Pete Rock. 9/10
Average: 9.2/10
Title: Average Classic Album
