Otis

‘Otis’ begins with the unmistakable sound of Otis Redding roaring to a climax on ‘Try A Little Tenderness’, albeit at a slightly slower pace than the one we’re used to. It’s 30 seconds before the soul man’s iconic vocal is interrupted by Jay-Z proclaiming, “I guess I got my swagger back,” as if the matter was ever in question. From here, Kanye and Jay trade rhymes in a distinctly oldschool fashion, leaving the track completely hook-less (certain death in the fickle pop world). In spite of, or possibly due to, its lack of a chorus, ‘Otis’ is remarkably simple and hugely effective.