Kanye West and Jay-Z Earned Guitarist More Money From One Song Than He’s Made in 50 Years
In a surprising turn of events, ex-Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera discloses that a guitar riff of his sampled by Jay-Z and Kanye West in their collaborative project, “Watch the Throne,” has yielded more financial gain than his entire tenure with the famed English collective.
Manzanera’s revelation comes from his newly published memoir, “Revolución to Roxy,” where he recounts how a snippet of his 1978 solo track, “K-Scope,” was incorporated by producer 88-Keys into the opening track of “Watch the Throne,” titled “No Church in the Wild.”
The guitarist explains that he received one-third of the song’s recording royalties and publishing revenue, catapulting his earnings beyond anything he had amassed during his 50-year career with Roxy Music, which included luminaries like Brian Eno.
Reflecting on the unexpected windfall, Manzanera expresses gratitude to Kanye West, Jay-Z, as well as record labels Virgin and Universal, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of the music industry.
This financial boon is not the only success story stemming from “Watch the Throne.” Last year, Jay-Z and Kanye West achieved diamond certification for their track “N-ggas In Paris,” a monumental feat marking Jay-Z’s first diamond record and Kanye’s second, following “Stronger” from the album “Graduation.”
Kanye West previously shared the inspiration behind “N-ggas In Paris,” emphasizing the convergence of art and commercialism and the juxtaposition of different worlds encountered during his European travels.
The track, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, features production from Hit-Boy, Mike Dean, and Anthony Kilhoffer, underscoring its cultural impact and enduring popularity more than a decade after its initial release.
