Posted by Emily Exton on 07/21/2011 at 9:53 AM News

The Popdust Files: jay-z, kanye west, otis, try a little tenderness

For all the hype surrounding the super collaboration between Jay-Z and Kanye West—along with their overpowering bravado— the second offering from Watch The Throne is surprisingly restrained. If “H.A.M.” is full of hard-hitting assertions of masculinity and power, “Otis” is a smooth reflection on their journey and guilt-free explanation of how awesome their lives are right now. But that’s not a bad thing! Sampling its namesake Otis Redding’s legendary “Try A Little Tenderness,” the track flows with an infectious coolness, partly because Redding’s signature growls and grunts hang around, flirting in and out of our aural consciousness while Jay and ‘Ye drop cocky, self-referential rhymes that serve as both a look back on their careers (“I made “Jesus Walks” I’m never going to hell,” “Jay Jay is chillin’, ‘Ye is chillin’/ What more can I say? We killin’ ‘em”) and describe their current lavish lifestyles (“They aint see me cause I pulled up in my other Benz / Last week I was in my other other Benz”). As typically epic as Jay and ‘Ye projects can be (or as they are promised), throwing in one of most heart-pounding and dynamic tracks just adds to its badassness, even if they are rapping about pricey cars and Jay’s wife’s money. Watch the Throne is officially out August 2; we’ll be playing this on repeat until then. To borrow from Hov himself, it’s so motherfucking soulful right here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1va9itk-ow

[Life+Times]