Competition and thick ambitions toward having the best product, or in other words albums, are alive and well throughout the culture of music and strongly emphasized amongst Hip Hop. Additionally, when albums are debuted or released with dates that are close together, it usually causes many fans, media outlets, and Hip Hop advocates, to express their opinions and criticism on which album is considered “Better,” or the “Best.” Hip Hop’s recent albums competing for the fans favor as of right now are; Watch the Throne by NY’s General, Jay Z and Chicago’s Head Honcho, Kanye West vs. Tha Carter IV , by the Hip Hop Rock Star, Lil Wayne. Watch the Throne was released onto ITunes August 8th, with the hard copy being released a few days later on August 12. The album’s team of producers includes 88-Keys, Jeff Bhasker, Mike Dean, Hot-Boy, Don Jazzy, Kyambo Joshua, Anothny Kilhoffer, Ken Lewis, The Neptunes, Q-Tip, Gee Roberson, RZA, Swizz Beatz and S1. The album debuted on Billboard.com 200 chart, selling 436,000 within the first week, and breaking the ITunes first week sales record with roughly 290,000 copies sold, replacing the previous record held by Coldplay. The album also contains two singles, “Otis” and “H.A.M.” which both successfully top charted on Billboard.com. Nevertheless,Tha Carter IV broke that record four days after its released date of August 29, 2011 with more than 300,000 copies sold. Tha Carter IV recording process started late 2008 and was finished July of 2011. The producing team includes, Cortez Bryant, Ronald "Slim" Williams, Birdman, Willy Will, Bangladesh, Noel "Detail" Fisher, T-Minus, Polow da Don, Boi-1da, Develop, Kenoe, Cool & Dre, Infamous, Rob Holladay, The Smeezingtons, Snizzy, MegaMan, Young Fyre, Ayo The Producer, Commission, Drum Up, and Matthew Burnett.
The various reviews and criticisms from sources have created a type of uproar within the Hip Hop community by encouraging listeners and fans to lean or choose either Watch the Throne or Tha Carter IV as the better album. According to Slant Magazine's Matthew Cole commented that the album's production "Chases trends far more often than it attempts to set them" and defined Wayne "Not in exhilarating top form," noting "How slack the verses on Tha Carter IV are in comparison to his best work". Nonetheless, Rolling Stone writer, Rob Sheffield stated, "It’s thrilling how unhinged Weezy sounds", continuing to say, "Even the failed moments sound like nobody else". As for Watch the Throne, Wikipedia.com has it written for its Lyrical Themes, “The album features themes of opulence, fame, materialism, power, and the burdens of success.” Conclusively, both albums are tallying up extraordinary numbers with the Watch the Throne Tour under way and Tha Carter IV media buzz still in rapid circulation, new pinnacles will certainly be met by each album and could possibly be the biggest debate for best Hip Hop album of this generation.