Standard and Deluxe editions will be available; details TBA.

CD:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BQLCBO/?tag=imwan-20

LP:
No (Amazon) pre-order information available...

MP3:
No (Amazon) pre-order information available...

Kanye West and Jay-Z Offer 'Watch the Throne' Pre-Order

7/4/2011 by Shirley Halperin
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/k ... fer-207907

The long-awaited joint effort by the two superstar rappers, featuring guest vocals by Beyonce, was made available for sale on July 3 though an official release date has yet to be announced.

Kanye West and Jay-Z’s long-awaited Watch The Throne album is one step closer to a release date and, as of the evening of July 3, fans can preorder it via West’s official site and the newly created www.watchthethrone.com.

The first joint effort by the two superstar rappers is being offered in four different versions: a standard CD with 10 songs for $13.99 or the deluxe version for $16.99 with special packaging and four bonus tracks. Both are also available in MP3 form.

Watch The Throne has been in the works for the better part of a year and was recorded all over the world (Paris, London, Abu Dhabi, Australia, and New York City). In December 2010, West described the effort in an Interview magazine story as “very dark and sexy -- like couture hip-hop.”

Production credits on the album name West, Jay-Z, Swizz Beatz, No ID and Lex Luger and Beyonce is also listed as contributing guest vocals on a song called “Lift Off,” along with Bruno Mars. Other reported song titles include "Murder To Excellence," "Illest Motherf---er Alive" and "Living So Italian."

The album cover’s metallic gold artwork was designed by Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci.

Rumors were swirling that Watch The Throne would finally be released on the fourth of July, but that looks unlikely. According to a source, the album is still getting its final touches. An official release date has yet to be announced.

The Clipse member Pusha T, who is signed to West’s G.O.O.D. Music label but does not appear on Watch The Throne, told Beats by Dre TV that he’s heard the album and believes it’s “going to be a gem” and that fans will be “really happy with it.”

Representatives for Def Jam, the labels [sic] to which West and Jay-Z are signed, were not available for comment.

Indie stores object to Jay-Z, Kanye release plans

By Chris Talbott, AP Entertainment Writer
Thursday, July 28, 2011

Nashville, Tenn. (AP) -- Scores of independent record store owners are calling out Jay-Z and Kanye West over release plans for their much-anticipated "Watch the Throne" collaboration.

Owners signed a letter that calls the exclusive deals with iTunes and Best Buy "bad news" and asks two of music's top stars to reconsider and allow more than 1,700 indie retailers equal access.

"We know that you are busy, and that you put most of your energies into creating great music, but we are writing to you in the hope that you will hear us and take the time to rectify this matter," the letter states. "As representatives of the independent record store music community, we are asking you to allow record stores and music fans equal access to your new album."

Exclusive deals are now common for top acts and it's unclear why the letter's original writers, the organizers of Record Store Day, chose this project to object. Doyle Davis, co-owner of Grimey's New and Preloved Music in Nashville, said some of the letter's signees will pull current and previous releases by the two artists from their shelves, though he will not go that far.

Jay-Z and West have agreed to give iTunes customers access to "Watch the Throne" on Aug. 8, four days ahead of everyone else. And Best Buy will exclusively sell a deluxe album till Aug. 23 when other retailers will have access.

Jay-Z's spokesman had no comment and West's did not immediately reply to an email from The Associated Press.

Record Store Day has become something of a holiday for independent retailers each April. This year, dozens of artists provided exclusive vinyl, performances and other perks.

Fans lined up, sometimes hours early and around the block, to score new music from acts like Radiohead and The White Stripes. Independent stores have suffered a marked decline over the last decade, casualties of the ascendance of box stores, digital music sales and a poor economy.

Now they say they just want a fighting chance.

"We believe this is a short-sighted strategy, and that your decisions will be doing great damage to over 1,700 independent record stores — stores that have supported you and your music for years," the letter states.