Jay Z & Kanye West

Shawn Corey Carter is a rapper and record producer who goes by the name Jay-Z. He has thirteen Grammys and is considered one of the most successful artists of hip hop in the world, with more than fifty million albums sold. MTV ranks him among the Greatest MCs of All Time. "Reasonable Doubt" from 1996 and "The Blueprint" released in 2001 are ranked in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Kanye Omari West is also a successful rapper and record producer. First he was a producer before his singing career got off the ground. He also worked with Jay-Z on his album "The Blueprint," and has done lyrics for Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys among others. His style has grown from a one-dimensional model to encompassing several different music styles. Duos are a popular item in rap and hip-hop, which probably led to the formation of The Throne, the collaboration of Jay-Z and Kanye West.

Those expecting something new and unique weren't surprised with the first video of the matchup. "Otis" features some extensive body work to a new Maybach, a car with a sticker price of more than $370,000. The vehicle was totally butchered with saws and torches, becoming a basic wreck with no roof or doors. The video was directed by Spike Jonze. Reviewers are mixed on the joint work of the two vaunted rappers, some believing it to be the best they have ever heard and others considering it disappointing.