Long before the phrase "Watch The Throne" was ever uttered,Kanye West and Jay-Z represented two hip-hop forces that were all the more powerful when combined. West's forward-thinking production has long found its muse in Jay's lyrical style, and when Kanye decided to take a turn on the mic himself, he and his mentor started doing damage to tracks side-by-side.
To celebrate next week's release of "Watch The Throne," Billboard.com's The Juice has selected the five best Kanye West-produced Jay-Z songs, as well as the five best songs that Jay and Kanye rap on together. Let us know if you agree or disagree with our picks in the comments section below.
FOR MY OPINION THESE ARE TOP 5 JAYZ AND KANYE COLLABO
5. "'03 Bonnie & Clyde"
Found On: "The Blueprint 2: The GIft & the Curse" (2002)
After one studio session with E Base and Just Blaze, Kanye produced the first track to feature Jay-Z and wife, Beyoncé. '03 Bonnie & Clyde became Hov's second top ten hit.
4. "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
Found On: "The Blueprint" (2001)
4. "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
Found On: "The Blueprint" (2001)
The fruits of Kanye's midas touch on "Izzo" came as Jay-Z's first top ten as a lead artist on the Billboard charts.
3. "Takeover"
Found On: "The Blueprint" (2001)
3. "Takeover"
Found On: "The Blueprint" (2001)
Jay-Z recruited little brother to back him on the Nas and Prodigy diss track, which samples of KRS-One's "Sound of Da Police" and The Doors"Five to One."
2. "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)"
Found On: "The Blueprint" (2001)
2. "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)"
Found On: "The Blueprint" (2001)
Kanye West built an anthem of Jay-Z's harsh reality around Bobby Bland's 1974 R&B song, "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City."
1. "Lucifer"
Found On: "The Black Album" (2003)
1. "Lucifer"
Found On: "The Black Album" (2003)
Jay-Z said it best on the track, "Kan-yeezy you did it again, you're a genius." You can catch Kanye West borrow a line from "Lucifer" on "Murder of Excellence," off their upcoming album, "Watch the Throne." -Erika Ramirez
