2011 single by Jay-Z and Kanye West
"H•A•M" is a song by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West from their collaborative studio album, Watch the Throne (2011). The song features additional vocals from Aude Cardona and Jacob Lewis Smith. It was produced by Lex Luger and co-produced by West, with additional production from Mike Dean and the three of them served as co-writers with Jay-Z. The song's beat was first provided to West by Lex Luger during the recording sessions for his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). West then added his production work up until the release and would not preview it to Lex Luger, who considered this was due to his perfectionist approach. It was released for digital download in the United States as the album's lead single on January 11, 2011, through Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam.
"H•A•M" received mixed reviews from music critics, who were divided towards Jay-Z and West's performance styles. Some highlighted their innovation and others found the music to be unsuitable for the two, while a few critics praised its elaborate production. The song has served as the opening track to the duo's Watch the Throne Tour. Various rap artists have remixed it, such as Busta Rhymes and Lupe Fiasco. The song was featured in the 2012 film Project X. It peaked at No. 23 on Billboard Hot 100.
