"Why is 'Watch the Throne' so expensive on vinyl?" is a real thing I had to google recently.
In the midst of recent album drops from rap moguls Jay Z and Kanye West, the anticipation for a vinyl release has been nothing short of palpable. This summer, we've been graced with the aural masterpieces of 'Yeezus' and 'Magna Carta Holy Grail'. Undeniably, both albums are shining contributions to the genre, but months have passed since their releases, and the silence on their vinyl edition is deafening. There's been rumblings about Third Man Records planning to release MCHG on vinyl, yet no tangible evidence of that plan has surfaced. While I'm eager for these latest works to join my vinyl collection, it had me pondering a glaring omission from my records - why don't I own 'Watch the Throne', a favorite of mine from the very artists in question?
I then realized the reason behind my hesitation - the steep price tag.
After a brief contemplation of my life priorities and assessing the value I place on my cherished vinyl, an opportunity emerged. A new and discounted 'Watch the Throne' vinyl was within my grasp. Weighing the worth of one of my favorite albums, I took the plunge. And now, I can proudly say that 'Watch the Throne' has found its rightful place in my vinyl collection. This prized possession secured for $92 from Amazon.
So, can I answer my original question now? I don't know. It does have some pretty impressive packaging... I don't even know what you call the gatefold design. The vinyl is clearly heavyweight, and the pictures of Jay Z and Kanye printed onto the vinyl is pretty cool, albeit a little bit weird, but I don't know what part of that launches it into the $100+ category. It is JUST one album.
But again, when I considered the fact that I was being obsessed about not being able to buy Yeezus or MCHG on vinyl, but I didn't own the one album from both artists that I still love more than the new stuff, I just went for it.
Now when someone asks "why is 'Watch the Throne' so expensive on vinyl" you can just say, "because some people are willing to pay for it."
There's probably a better answer.
As an update to this original post, you can now buy Magna Carta Holy Grail on vinyl, and you can still buy My Dark Beautiful Twisted Fantasy on vinyl from Amazon for super cheap.
