Wednesday, Dec. 07, 2011
Jay-Z and Kanye West, 'Otis'
The lead single off Watch the Throne mixes and loops Otis Redding's passionate shouts and screams from "Try a Little Tenderness," paying homage to his soulful style while mixing it up by adding heavy beats and chopping up the original track's piano tune. "I guess I got my swagger back!" Jay-Z declares as Redding's impassioned "gotta-na-na-na" line provides a pounding backdrop. Hova and Yeezy then trade witty, lighthearted verses (standout: "last week I was in my other other Benz") to create a genre-defying tune drawing equally from soul, hip-hop and pop. "Otis" is clever, upbeat and irresistibly fun.