Made in America (Jay-Z and Kanye West song)

Last updated

"Made in America"
Song by Jay Z and Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean
from the album Watch the Throne
Recorded2011
Genre
Length4:52
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Shama "Sak Pase" Joseph
  • Mike Dean

"Made in America" is a song by American hip hop recording artists Kanye West and Jay Z, from their collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). It is the eleventh track on the album and features vocals from singer Frank Ocean. Lyrically, the song explores themes of family life and the American Dream. It expresses the hardships of youth and coming of age. The track received positive reviews from music critics who praised Ocean's vocal hook, and the subject matter of the verses. The song has been compared to "inspirational ballads of late-period Michael Jackson." The song charted on South Korea Gaon International Chart at number 178. Jay Z and West performed the song at their 2011 Watch the Throne Tour.

Contents

Background

Jay Z and Kanye West are both American rappers who have collaborated on several tracks together. [1] In 2010, they began production and recording on a collaborative record Watch the Throne. [1] Frank Ocean is an R&B singer who released his debut mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra in early 2011 to critical acclaim. [2] [3] The release of the mixtape interested West, who was reported to be a big fan. [4] West invited Ocean to write and sing on two of the songs from the record. [1] Frank wrote and provided vocals on tracks "No Church in the Wild" and "Made in America" and the songs were recorded in New York. [4] [5]

Composition

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Made in America"
A sample of the track containing the closing lines of Ocean's hook and the start of West's verse, discussing his mother and fame.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The song has been described as an "understated soft-pop" track with influence from Michael Jackson and his 1985 charity single "We Are the World". [6] [7] Ocean's hook "pays tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, Malcolm X, Betty Shabazz and, of course, the sweet baby Jesus on the album's most serene track." [5] Rob Harvilla of Spin stated that "PBR&B prince Frank Ocean" sings on the "subdued but triumphant "Made in America" (wherein Jay wistfully recalls his grandma's banana pudding and Kanye complains about South Park ). [8] The song "invokes heroes of the civil rights movement" and reflects on how West and Jay have "seized what might be an American Dream." [9]

Jay Z muses on his drug-dealing past with lines like "our apple pie was supplied by Arm & Hammer", utilizing "his skill at baking double- and triple-meanings into a line". [9] West's verse describes his "original hustle in terms of blogging and web traffic" and his conflict with fame, "tinged with a political or socio-economic hue." [9] [10] West offers a verse that "starts off humble, but by the end he's bragging about his power and slamming his critics" over a "weirdly magnetic synthetic beat and dots of pretty piano clusters crafted by producer Sak Pace of the Jugganauts ." [11] Popdust reported that "this is Jay at his most vulnerable, revealing things he may be thinking but not regularly willing to share with others. While the song's chorus seems to honor all of those "Made In America," the track is really a look at the history these two have shared and perhaps their differing futures." [12]

Reception

Ocean's hook received the most praise of any aspect of the song, being described as the "emotional weight" of the track. Frank Ocean Coachella 2012 2.jpg
Ocean's hook received the most praise of any aspect of the song, being described as the "emotional weight" of the track.

"Made in America" received mostly positive reviews from most music critics. Pitchfork 's Tom Breihan commented that the track reminded him of "the inspirational ballads of late-period Michael Jackson", and said that while the song was "silly", it "succeeds on pure orchestral excess." [7] Rolling Stone stated that "both rappers deliver sentimental verses, but Ocean carries most of the emotional weight here." [5] Steve Jones of USA Today commented "on the equally potent Made in America, the two talk about their rises to fame, while acknowledging those who helped and inspired them." [13] Sputnikmusic's Tyler Fisher noted that "Frank Ocean asks, "What's a god to a nonbeliever?" on "No Church in the Wild", but later invokes "sweet baby Jesus" on "Made in America", pandering to each track without a thought to the coherence of the album." [14]

Los Angeles Times writer Randall Roberts stated "the album's highlight, and an instant classic, is "Made in America," a solid, slow-paced Frank Ocean-teamed jam about the American dream that reveals the main difference between West and Jay Z: humility." [11] Popdust writer Emily Exton that while "Frank Ocean's "Sweet Baby Jesus" might be stuck in your head for the rest of the day", the highlist is "Kanye who manages to both appreciatively give thanks to his rise to fame as well as generate more than one eye roll with his bravado." [12] Rolling Stone's Simon Vozick-Levinson mused "Frank Ocean's second appearance on the album is another keeper. Hip-hop heads will be singing his honey-voiced, religiously-themed hook all fall. Jay Z and Kanye keep the thoughtful mood going with verses that revisit their respective rises to fame." [15] BBC Music's Marcus J. Moore perceived that "Made in America fails to resonate because of a contrived chorus that pays homage to West's Sweet Baby Jesus, among others." [16] Andy Gill of The Independent found it to be a stand-out track, "featuring assured vocal refrains from Frank Ocean, while the two rappers muse over familiar themes of loyalty, sexuality and maternal solidarity." [17] The track briefly charted on the South Korea Gaon International Chart for one week at number 178. [18]

Promotion

The track was performed by West and Jay Z on their Watch the Throne Tour. [19] Ocean performed his hook of the song at some of the performances during his 2011 concert series through the United States and Europe. [20] The name was adopted for Jay Z's first annual "Budweiser Made in America" festival at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia in September 2012. [21] Jay Z will be the curator and the headliner for the festival. [21]

Charts

Chart (2011)Peak
position
South Korean Gaon Chart [18] 178

Related Research Articles

"Lost in the World" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). The song features vocals by Justin Vernon of indie folk band Bon Iver, as well as sampling his 2009 song "Woods". It also contains portions of "Soul Makossa" written by Manu Dibango, and samples of "Comment No. 1", performed by Gil Scott-Heron. It was produced by West and Jeff Bhasker, who wrote the track with Vernon and Malik Jones. "Lost in the World" was initially leaked on September 29, 2010, and was 5 minutes and 55 seconds long. The version on the album was divided into two parts, with the outro becoming a new track entitled "Who Will Survive in America".

"See Me Now" is a song by American rapper Kanye West featuring R&B singers Beyoncé and Charlie Wilson. The album version includes a verse by Big Sean and is included on West's fifth studio album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) as an iTunes Store bonus track. It was written by West, Knowles, Wilson and Sean, while production was handled by West, Lex Luger and No I.D.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monster (Kanye West song)</span> 2010 single by Kanye West featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, and Bon Iver

"Monster" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West, released as the third single from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). The song features rappers Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and Nicki Minaj, along with indie folk group Bon Iver. All five credited acts have writing credits on the posse cut, with the production handled by West and Mike Dean. The instrumental is atmospheric and drum-heavy, and the lyrics reflect influences from horror films, creating an eerie composition which drew critical comparisons to the Michael Jackson track "Thriller".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Appalled</span> 2010 song by Kanye West featuring Jay-Z, Pusha T, Cyhi the Prynce, Swizz Beatz and RZA

"So Appalled" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). The song was produced by West, along with No I.D. and Mike Dean, and features verses by Jay-Z, Cyhi the Prynce, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, and RZA respectively, who all receive writing credits. Lyrically, the song explores topics such as the troubles produced from being famous, social concerns and features numerous pop culture references.

<i>Watch the Throne</i> 2011 studio album by Kanye West and Jay-Z

Watch the Throne is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West, collectively known as The Throne. It was released on August 8, 2011, through Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc Nation, and Def Jam Recordings. Prior to the release, Jay-Z and West had collaborated on various singles, and with the latter as a producer on the former's work. They originally sought to record a five-song EP together, but the project eventually evolved into a full-length album. The album features guest appearances from Frank Ocean, The-Dream, Beyoncé and Mr Hudson. It also features vocal contributions from Kid Cudi, Seal, Justin Vernon, Elly Jackson, Connie Mitchell, Charlie Wilson and Pete Rock, among others, and samples of vocals by soul musicians Otis Redding and Curtis Mayfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H.A.M.</span> 2011 single by Jay-Z and Kanye West

"H•A•M" is a song by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West. It was released as the first single from their collaborative studio album Watch the Throne on January 11, 2011. It was produced by Lexus "Lex Luger" Lewis and Kanye West. The song has served as the opening track to the duo's Watch the Throne Tour. Various rap artists have remixed it, such as Ace Hood and Busta Rhymes. The song was featured in the 2012 film Project X. It peaked at No. 23 on Billboard Hot 100.

"Dark Fantasy" is a song by American hip hop recording artist and producer Kanye West from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). The song serves as the opening track of the album, and was written by West, Ernest Wilson, Jeff Bhasker, Mike Dean and Robert Diggs. It features an opening narrative delivered by rapper Nicki Minaj, and singers Teyana Taylor and Justin Vernon contribute to the song's hook and provide background vocals. The track heavily samples "In High Places" by Mike Oldfield. The song introduces several of the themes presented on the album and features numerous pop culture references, a gospel-inspired production style, and piano-driven composition. The song received acclaim from music critics, who praised the song as a strong opener to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, complementing West's vocal delivery and the song's production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otis (song)</span> 2011 single by Jay-Z and Kanye West featuring Otis Redding

"Otis" is a song by American hip hop artists Jay-Z and Kanye West from their first collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). The song posthumously features soul singer Otis Redding, whose version of "Try a Little Tenderness" is sampled in the song. The production was covered solely by West. The track was premiered by Funkmaster Flex's Hot 97 radio show and was released onto the Internet the day afterward. Lyrically, the song has the two rappers sharing lines discussing wealth, decadence and fame. The track received highly positive reviews from music critics who praised the trading off of verses by the two rappers and the Redding-sampled beat, which was compared to the style heard on West's The College Dropout. Several publications placed the song amongst the best of the year.

"Gorgeous" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). The track features a hook provided by Kid Cudi, a recording artist formerly signed to West's label GOOD Music, and a rap verse provided by the Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon. The song was written by West, Cudi, Raekwon, No I.D., Mike Dean and Rhymefest, and was produced by West, No I.D. and Dean. It contains elements of Enoch Light and the Glittering Guitars' cover version of The Turtles' song "You Showed Me". "Gorgeous" received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who generally praised the intricacy of the production, the quality of the guest features and the rock music inspired aesthetic of the song. Several critics cited West's verses as a highlight of the track, complimenting his lyricism and delivery.

"Lift Off" is a song by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West featuring the former's wife and American singer Beyoncé. It was written by Kanye West, Jay-Z, Jeff Bhasker, Mike Dean, Bruno Mars and Seal, while production was handled by West, Bhasker, Mike Dean, Pharrell, Q-Tip, and Don Jazzy for Jay-Z's and West's collaboration album, Watch the Throne (2011). The song was rumored to be released as the lead single from the album containing additional vocals by Bruno Mars. However, Mars never appeared on the song and it was sent to urban contemporary radio on August 23, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niggas in Paris</span> 2011 single by Jay-Z and Kanye West

"Niggas in Paris" is a song by American rappers Jay-Z and Ye from their collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). The song is built around a synth bell loop from the Dirty South Bangaz music library, and contains vocal samples from "Baptizing Scene" by Reverend W.A. Donaldson, an interpolation of "Victory" by Puff Daddy featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes, and dialogue excerpts from the 2007 film Blades of Glory. On the week of the album's release, "Niggas in Paris" debuted at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually peaking at number five. Outside of the United States, "Niggas in Paris" peaked within the top ten of the charts in the United Kingdom. As of 2018, it has sold 6.7 million archetype digital units in the United States. The song won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.

"Who Gon Stop Me" is a song by American hip hop recording artists Kanye West and Jay-Z, from their first collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). The song is the ninth song on the official track list for the album. Music critics praised the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why I Love You (Jay-Z and Kanye West song)</span> 2011 single by Kanye West and Jay-Z featuring Mr. Hudson

"Why I Love You" is a song by American hip hop artists Kanye West and Jay-Z, from their first collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). The song features pop musician Mr. Hudson who is signed to West's GOOD Music label. "Why I Love You" heavily samples French house duo Cassius' 2010 single "I <3 U So", which itself is based upon a sample from the original 1971 version of "I Feel a Song " by Sandra Richardson. The song almost entirely features Jay-Z rapping and only contains a few lines provided by West. Lyrically, the song is about the people who have stood in the way of Jay-Z throughout the year and expresses themes of victory and anger. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, who normally praised the production.

"No Church in the Wild" is a song by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West featuring American singers Frank Ocean and The-Dream, from the former two's first collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). Opening the album, the song explores themes of religion and decadence. The track received highly positive reviews from music critics, who praised Ocean's vocal hooks, the depth of the verses, the cinematic production and the song's power as an opening track.

"Gotta Have It" is a song by American hip hop artists Kanye West and Jay-Z from their collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). The song was produced by West and The Neptunes, and samples three original compositions by James Brown: "Don't Tell a Lie About Me and I Won't Tell the Truth About You", "People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul" and "My Thang". The song explores themes of wealth, decadence and the economic stature in the US. The song received positive reviews from critics who complimented the production and the clever wordplay of the two rappers.

"Blood on the Leaves" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West from his sixth studio album Yeezus (2013). In the song West presents his thoughts on how fame can cause the destruction of relationships, while making comparisons of contemporary times to the lynching of African Americans in the United States during the pre-civil rights era. West delivers his vocals through an Auto-Tune processor, like on his 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak. It contains samples of both singer Nina Simone's 1965 rendition of Billie Holiday's song "Strange Fruit", and "R U Ready" by the duo TNGHT, who co-produced the track.

"Oceans" is a song by American rapper Jay-Z recorded for his twelfth studio album Magna Carta Holy Grail. The song features American singer Frank Ocean and was produced by Pharrell Williams, with additional production from Timbaland. The song has peaked at number 83 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pop Style</span> 2016 single by Drake featuring Jay-Z and Kanye West

"Pop Style" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake, featuring American rappers Kanye West and Jay-Z, collectively known as The Throne. The song was released alongside "One Dance", as singles promoting Drake's fourth studio album Views, initially for exclusive digital download on iTunes on April 5, 2016. The album version features only Drake with a new verse. The single version was nominated for Best Rap Performance at the 59th Grammy Awards.

"Illest Motherfucker Alive" is a song by American rappers Kanye West and Jay-Z. It is only available on their collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011) on the deluxe edition. The song features additional vocals by Kid Cudi, Bankulli, and Aude Cardona. It samples "Tristessa" by Orchestra Njervudarov for an interlude.

"Welcome to the Jungle" is a song by American hip hop recording artists Kanye West and Jay-Z, from their collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). Additional vocals are provided by Swizz Beatz and Acapella Soul, and Swizz Beatz also produced the song. It plays an interlude afterwards that samples "Tristessa" by Orchestra Njervudarov. The song was praised by music critics, with Jay-Z usually pointed out as the main star. Rolling Stone listed it as the 20th best song of 2011.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dombal, Ryan (2010-10-25). "Kanye West and Jay-Z Planning Joint Album". Pitchfork . Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  2. ↑ Youngs, Ian (2012-05-01). "Sound of 2012: Frank Ocean". BBC . BBC Online . Retrieved 2012-06-01.
  3. ↑ Baker, Ernest (2011-03-18). "In His Own Words: Who is Frank Ocean?". Complex Magazine . Retrieved 2011-04-28.
  4. 1 2 "Kanye & Jay-Z Confirm 'Watch The Throne' Release Date". MTV UK . MTV Networks. 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
  5. 1 2 3 "Kanye West and Jay-Z's 'Watch the Throne': A Track-by-Track Breakdown". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  6. ↑ Amidon, David (2011-08-12). "Jay-Z & Kanye West: Watch the Throne". PopMatters . Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  7. 1 2 Breihan, Tom (2011-08-11). "Album Reviews: Jay-Z / Kanye West: Watch the Throne". Pitchfork . Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  8. ↑ Harvilla, Rob (2011-08-12). "Jay-Z and Kanye West, 'Watch the Throne' (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam/Roc Nation)". Spin . Spin Media. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  9. 1 2 3 Abebe, Nitsuh (2011-08-12). "Watch the Throne: Uneasy Heads Wear Gaudy Crowns -- Vulture". New York . New York Media. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  10. ↑ Rodriguez, Jayson (2011-08-11). "The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West), Watch the Throne". XXL . Harris Publications . Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  11. 1 2 Roberts, Randall (2011-08-08). "Album review: Jay-Z and Kanye West's 'Watch the Throne'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  12. 1 2 Exton, Emily (2011-08-10). "Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne Reviews: Made in America". Popdust. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  13. ↑ Jones, Steve (2011-08-08). "Listen Up: Jay-Z and Kanye West raise the bar with 'Throne'". USA Today . Gannett Company . Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  14. ↑ Fisher, Tyler (2011-08-10). "Jay-Z and Kanye West – Watch the Throne (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  15. ↑ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (2011-07-08). "Jay-Z Previews 'Watch the Throne' in New York". Rolling Stone . Wenner Media . Retrieved 2011-07-17.
  16. ↑ Moore, Marcus J. (2011-08-09). "Review of Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch the Throne". BBC Music . BBC . Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  17. ↑ Gill, Andy (2011-08-12). "Album: Watch The Throne, Watch the Throne (Mercury) – Reviews, Music". The Independent . Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  18. 1 2 "Made in America Kanye West and Jay-Z feat Frank Ocean – South Korea". Gaon Chart . Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  19. ↑ Bretbaf (2012-05-21). "Kanye West & Jay-Z Concert Setlist at the O2 Arena, London, UK on May 21, 2012". The Independent. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
  20. ↑ Staff (2011-11-06). "Frank Ocean Flies Solo at House of Blues in New Orleans". Rolling Stone . Wenner Media . Retrieved 2011-12-09.
  21. 1 2 Itzkoff, Dave. "Jay-Z to Curate and Star in Two-Day Music Festival in Philadelphia". The New York Times . Retrieved 2012-05-13.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.