Otis album art

Otis

Jay-Z
Watch the Throne (2011)
Moderate 84 BPM
AI-analyzed — check another song
Share on X Facebook

Song DNA

Dynamic Range6/10
Sudden Changesmild
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Styledynamic vocals
Notes: The song features a rich blend of samples and strong vocal delivery, creating an engaging auditory experience. The production is polished yet maintains a raw edge.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksmild
Breathing Soundsnone
Repetitive Micro-soundsmild

Otis is a collaboration between Jay-Z and Kanye West that showcases their lyrical prowess over a sample from Otis Redding, blending hip-hop with soulful elements.

affiliate links

Hear it the way it was made

The right gear changes everything.

Moods: confident, energetic

Traditions: hip-hop

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 6/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.

Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.

Vocal style: dynamic vocals.

Where this sits in Jay-Z's catalog

We have 12 songs from Jay-Z in the library. Of those, 0 are rated Safe, 9 Moderate, and 3 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 6/10 sits below the artist average of 6.7, making it the #12 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

2011 context

Released in 2011. We have 371 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.4/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 2010s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
confident · 1129energetic · 5426
Traditions
hip-hop · 800

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-17. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

Songs with the same DNA

layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.

Excursions
A Tribe Called Quest
moderate
DR 6
9 to 5
Dolly Parton
safe
DR 5
Retrograde
Pearl Jam
moderate
DR 7
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Arcade Fire
moderate
DR 7
Harold Weathervein
Cursive
moderate
DR 7
First It Giveth
Queens of the Stone Age
moderate
DR 7

Safer alternatives with a similar feel

These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

Toosie Slide
Drake safe
Head Over Heels
ABBA safe
Skateaway
Dire Straits safe
The Kids Don't Stand a Chance
Vampire Weekend safe
When Tomorrow Comes
Eurythmics safe

What this song means to people

No stories yet. Be the first.

Share what this song means to you

Keep exploring

99 Problems
Jay-Z moderate
Encore
Jay-Z moderate
Big Pimpin'
Jay-Z moderate
Breathe
Pink Floyd safe
Maria
Dua Lipa moderate
off the table
Ariana Grande feat. The Weeknd safe
← All Jay-Z songs    Check another song →