Symbolyc One aka S1 was among the chosen ones who made the prestigious lineup on Watch the Throne. The producer behind Beyoncé’s “Best Thing I Never Had” and Kanye West’s “POWER” shares how his contribution “Excellence” (the latter half of “Murder to Excellence”) ended up on the historic album. He recalls meeting up with Jay-Z and Kanye West overseas and hearing Jay’s initial reaction to the “African tribal” beat.

“When Jay first heard the track, all I can remember is him looking at me like, ‘What the heck is this?'” he explains. “So 10, 15 minutes later, he’s at the mic knocking his verse out and Kanye immediately follows.”