Let's see if Kanye can continue his hot streak. This will presumably include the Power Remix and the first single, H.A.M., is set to be released January 11th.

Single Artwork:

That cover is awful.

Looking forward to this.

Why does it say "HAM"?

These collabo albums rarely seem to work out.

In my opinion, Jay-Z has fallen way off as a rapper, but I'll give this a chance when it comes out.

Agree with both your statements. I'm still hopeful if Kanye is taking creative control. He's definitely going through a prolific creative period.

Also, Kanye's been responsible for producing some of Jay-Z's more interesting songs, so I have high hopes for this.

This should be good because I have such low expectations for it. Im expecting a 3-3.5 out of 5 album.

Jay-z basically forcing facebook users to "like" it. This better be good

What is Jay-Z doing on Facebook now?

Reaching out to his white dad audience.

Yep, all of the white moms have to explain to their white kids why daddy always has those headphones on.

Rumor has it this will be released digitally on July 4th.

I know bluster has always been part of rap, but "Watch the Throne"? These guys aren't exactly short on ego, are they.

Have you ever listened to either of them?

Yeah, Kanye West has himself believing that he is doing some really important stuff.

1. No Church In The Wild (Feat. Frank Ocean) (Prod. By 88-Keys & Mike Dean)
2. Lift Off (Feat. Beyoncé) (Prod. By Kanye West, Mike Dean, Jeff Bhasker, Q-Tip & Don Jazzy) (Add Vocals. By Seal, Mr Hudson, Don Jazzy, Bankulli and Ricardo Louis)
3. Niggas In Paris (Produced by Hit-Boy)
4. Otis (Feat. Otis Redding) (Produced by Kanye West)
5. Gotta Have It (Produced by The Neptunes)
6. New Day (Produced by The RZA)
7. That’s My Bitch (Produced by Q-Tip & Kanye West)
8. Who Gon Stop Me (Produced by Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph & Kanye West)
9. Murder To Excellence (Produced by Swizz Beatz & S1)
10. Welcome To The Jungle (Produced by Swizz Beatz)
11. Made In America (Feat. Frank Ocean) (Produced by Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph) [previously Sweet Baby Jesus]
12. Why I Love You (Feat. Mr Hudson) (Produced by Mike Dean & Kanye West)
---Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks---
13. Illest Motherfucker Alive (Produced by Southside & Kanye West)
14. H•A•M (Produced by Lex Luger and Kanye West)
15. Primetime (Produced by No I.D.)
16. The Joy (Feat. Curtis Mayfield)

Release Date: August 1, 2011

---

That cover artwork is horrendous. The artwork for HAM was pretty terrible too, as is the artwork for the next single, Otis:



No clue what they're thinking in making the artwork selections for this album, but at least the artwork isn't indicative of the quality of the music so far. Otis is a pretty good track and it's fun to just listen to Jay-Z and Kanye let loose and go back and forth, verse after verse.

This album is going to be sick, really looking forward to it....

Looking forward to this as well.

14. H•A•M (Produced by Lex Luger and Kanye West)

Ah... So that's what he has been up to since WCW went under.

Hip Hop Producer Lex Luger. Awesome.

I like the Otis single.

This dropped as an itunes exclusive at midnight. Niggas in Paris, Welcome to the Jungle and Who Gon Stop Me are my faves thus far.

My favorite rapper and favorite producer. Bound to love it.

I've only skimmed this so far, but my first impression is I'm not really feeling the production. Everything sounds really soft and round. There isn't that one beat that jumps out and grabs me by the throat like D.O.A, Barry Bonds, or a Just Blaze banger. It sounds like Otis is the closest thing I'm going to get to that, which is disappointing. Otis has grown on me a bit, but it's far from my favorite. It sounds like Jay turned over the beat selection to Kanye, as these don't sound like the sort of beats Jay has gravitated towards in the past.

Hopefully the lyrics, or further listens, will bring this together for me.