Today's Pick

Without further ado, Kanye West and Jay-Z share their brand new video for "Otis," the first official leak off the duo's joint highly-anticipated project "Watch the Throne" is now available on iTunes. The mid-tempo hip-hop song pays tribute to the soulful legend utilizing cuts from Otis Redding's classic 1966 tune, "Try a Little Tenderness." The soulful tune, which features the dynamic hip-hop duo spitting 'luxury raps,' is officially the hottest rap song of the summer.
Both rappers trade off verses and never pause for a chorus. The iconic duo are probably the only two who could afford to clear the sample and this is just the kind of track needed to really crank up the anticipation for their collaborative LP. The track begins with the sample of classic tune as we hear the late soul crooner wail, "It makes it easier to bare, you won't regret it." Then comes in the tickling piano, a flourishing bass line and a thunderous beat produced by West. The back-and-forth banter between the rap kings is endearing, and they offer plenty of fantastic one-liners too. Overall, "Otis" is a triumphant song that will garner repeat listens just for the one-liners alone.
The Spike-Jonze directed video, which just debuted on MTV, is an on-screen bromance, complete with a souped-up Maybach, fireworks, and a guest appearance by Aziz Ansari. It eschews the narrative spazzouts and stoner-boggling tricks of previous Jonze video, preferring instead to luxuriate in the icon status of its two principals. We get fireworks, fist bumps, a fast car, and general larger-than-life camaraderie rather than, say, guys on fire running in slow-motion. It's like "The Expendables," if that movie only starred two guys, and both of them were rappers who didn't do any onscreen fighting.
The video begins in crisp colors with the duo torching a Maybach in a large, empty warehouse yard. They tear that car apart and create some sort of makeshift convertible, which they then drive around the lot aimlessly in circles, with four young girls riding high in the back. The video has a real light, soft quality to it. West and Jay-Z amble around almost in slow-motion, talking down to the camera all giddy-like. It climaxes with the duo laughing maniacally as sparks shoot up all around them. It makes you think, as Jonze always does, this is what a music video should be.