Watching the Throne Intro

Chris and Travis proudly present Watching the Throne, the podcast that discusses everything Kanye West. This episode briefly introduces the idea for the podcast, the format of the show, and what we hope listeners (Kanye haters and lovers) can get out of it.

My StorYe: Jordan C. Johnson

EThe gang is back—but this time, they're not dissecting a song by Kanye West. Instead, they're kicking off the first official entry into the "My StorYe" interview series, where they discuss somebody'sjourney with Kanye West. Today we have a KanVert, and his name is Jordan C. Johnson. He discusses how Kanye's music changed not only the way he listened to music, but changed his life as well. In addition, the gangdiscusses hip hop and pop music in a broader sense, the VMAs, and breaks down Yeezus about two years ahead of the Watching the Throne schedule. Oh, and Jordan has a Jay-Z update? Crazy.

My StorYe: Joshua Chaplinsky

EYou'll have to wait one more episode for The New Workout Plan—Chris and Travis have another StorYe to explore, this time with Joshua Chaplinsky, author of Kanye West Reanimator, a reimagining of H.P. Lovecraft's classic sci-fi novella with Kanye West as the main character. They discuss Joshua's inspiration for the story, whether or not he's gained an appreciation for Kanye by researching for the book, and what the hell is going on with Mr. West's fashion line. You can follow Joshua on Twitter at @JaceyCockrobin, visit his website at www.joshuachaplinsky.com, and order "Kanye West Reanimator" on Amazon.

Good Morning - Kanye West

EGood morning! Seriously...wake up! Because it's time for another episode of Watching the Throne. Today, Chris and Travis are covering Kanye West's opening track to Graduation, Good Morning. They're really starting to dig into Kanye's progression as both a producer and a lyricist, as Good Morning marks the first song where Kanye clearly sets up a narrative arc for an album and serves as a lead-in to the soundhe creates on 808s & Heartbreaks. We get into all that and more, with the "more" beinga cliffhanger regarding Jay Z's hatred for black licorice.

Say You Will - Kanye West

EThe WTT crew is finally diving into Kanye West's controversial album 808s & Heartbreaks by breaking down Say You Will line for line. Chris and Travis get into the song's unique structure, the themes of fantasy, yearning, and heartbreak, and how the song signals a new era for Ye's production. They also go through Travis' Snapchat account for a very important Kim Kardashian update, and finally address the Jay Z cliffhanger from last episode.

My StorYe: Lauren Kelly

EThe WTT crew is taking a week off from analyzing Kanye West songs to hear from one of his biggest fans: Lauren Kelly has gone from passive Kanye listener to insatiable aficionado in just a few short years, and she's ready to tell the world her StorYe. Lauren also counts down her favorite songs, her favorite and least favorite lines, and even has some Jay Z news, because who doesn't these days.

Dark Fantasy - Kanye West

EChris and Travis are finally moving on to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, starting with the epic track Dark Fantasy. They analyze the song's general sprawling nature and how it toys with our collective perception of fame, while also working through how the song serves as an intro to the album and how it fits into Kanye's oeuvre as a whole.

Ultralight Beam - Kanye West, The Life of Pablo

EThis is a God dream...this is a God dream! This is everything—this is, finally, Ultralight Beam, the first track from The Life of Pablo. Chris and Travis attempt to dissect what could indeed be Kanye West's greatest song to date. They get into Kanye's struggle with his faith, the duality between innocence and imperiledness, and, ultimately, how you can believe enough in yourself to create beam of light. Overall, they unpack how Ultralight Beam signals Kanye's album-long narrative of finding his younger, hopeful, faith-driven, optimistic, Chance-esque self, which will enable him to be a better father and husband and a more mentally stable individual.

Champion - Kanye West

EIs this another Breathe In Breathe Out moment? For a long time, Chris and Travis had little to no opinion of Champion—but after a long discussion? They think they may have stumbled upon an under-appreciated Kanye track. They get into Kanye's reflections on his past with his father, the deeply layered production, Kanye's influence on Chicago, and how Champion fits into the themes explored on Graduation as a whole.

Welcome to Heartbreak - Kanye West, 808s and Heartbreak

EWelcome to Watching the Throne—or, perhaps we should say, Welcome to Heartbreak. Chris and Travis are breaking down the second track on 808s & Heartbreaks, covering its themes of heartbreak, yearning, and fame life vs. a fulfilling life. Amidst the mindless banter, covering everything from Kid Cudi to family weddings to the inevitable day they meet Kanye West, they also manage to talk about the groundbreaking production of the album.