Jay-Z discusses Kanye West's growth

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Recently, Jay-Z and Kanye West decided to expand their upcoming EP into a full album. Titled Watch the Throne, this album will be the first time Kanye West records as Jay-Z's equal. West has been the most-successful protege of Jay-Z and held down the Roc when Jay retired for a brief period.

Usually, Jay-Z saves a spot on his albums to record with Kanye, but he has never recorded with him in this manner before. While he always knew Kanye West was good, Jay-Z never knew he was this good. Jay credits this skill to the growth of Kanye West as a person and an artist.

During his recent break, Kanye West finally had the chance to digest the pain of losing his mother. Ever since he released his debut album, The College Dropout, Kanye West's live has been very fast-paced. He never properly grieved for his mother and that is what triggered most of his erratic behavior, which led to his outburst on Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

Jay-Z said it has been incredible to see Kanye West's growth as a rapper, but it has been even more incredible watching him grow as a producer. Initially, Kanye West was known for sampling soul beats and placing hip hop mixes over them. But, following 808s & Heartbreak, Kanye West began to use more pop, electronica, and R&B beats. Now, West is using a rare mixture of all of these beats, which inspired his summer single, "Power."

The Brooklyn rapper revealed that he and Kanye West will be traveling to Australia to finish recording the album. Currently, they have finished seven tracks for the Watch the Throne LP.