Kanye West returns with his fourth studio album, 808s & HEARTBREAK on Monday, November 24th. The 10x Grammy Award® winning rapper, producer, (and now singer) takes listeners on a very different journey from his past albums and experiments with the ever popular auto-tune.
While in Los Angeles last month, I attended the 808s & Heartbreak listening party and joined the star in the studio as he finalized the album. And I have to be honest, I was only feeling like 4 songs then. With almost every song on the radio using auto-tune, I asked myself why Kanye jumped on this particular bandwagon. However, after hearing the final version and finding his reasoning behind this sound, I would have to say this is a great overall album. Not Graduation great, but great nonetheless.
Recorded on location in Hawaii, I initially thought the ’808′ stood for the area code of the Aloha state, but in all actuality it’s for the TR-808-generated drumming that was used in all the songs. Kanye insisted on having tribal drum sounds, instead of typical hip-hop beats and this is very evident on the first single “♫ Love Lockdown” and the dope second single, “Heartless.”
Being that this was a very hard year for the rapper (losing his mother, Dr. Donda West and breaking up with his fiance, Alexis Phifer), he himself stated that using auto-tune allowed him to have fun in the studio. During the L.A. listening party, West was dismayed that the term has been commonly associated with being “wack,” and with songs like Young Jeezy featured “Amazin’” and catchy “Robocop,” I would have to say I agree.
The song “Coldest Winter,” which is about his late mother, would have to be one of the most haunting songs on the album. With the raw sound of his voice and the subtle beats, you actually get a glimpse of what goes on in his head when he thinks of his mother. Another haunting and depressing song would have to be the Singapore freestyle, “Pinocchio Story” that was added last on the album.
Featuring additional vocals from Lil Wayne (“See You in My Nightmares”), Mr. Hudson (“Paranoid”) and up and coming rapper/singer Kid Cudi (“Welcome to Heartbreak”), the album has a very consistent sound and I would recommend it anyone who wants to take a peak inside real heartbreak.
MY FAVES: “Heartless”, “Street Lights”, “Amazin’”, “Robocop”, “Bad News”, “Coldest Winter” and “Pinocchio Story”…
808s & HEARTBREAK IN STORES NOW.
I love paranoid! Hot album altogether!
Say You Will is a revelation, taking the best of Liberian Girl-era MJ, Phil Collins, and hip-hop in one. Paranoid is pure Back to the Future, and Love Lockdown belongs in Zion, not on Earth. The Chicago Sun-Times review put it best: If he had interspersed some of the John Legend and Jon Brion melancholy that he’s certainly capable with, the sound wouldn’t have been so cloying, but fully haunting and brilliant. Still, though. Raw.
say you will is just sooooo deep also Amazing and street lights, The whole damn album is the shit make sure you all cop it!
Street lights- that song is some really deep ish… I saw it as something so metaphorical to my life right now that as corny as this may sound it brought tears to my eyes. I agree with #60 the album is somewhat depressing, but i’m feeling it because it sounds genuinely introspective.
DOWNLOAD PARANOID, ROBOCOP, SAY YOU WILL, AMAZING…AND GO BUY THE CD! THE WHOLE ALBUM IS TIGHT! KANYE MOMMA DIED AND HE WENT CRAZY! HE’S DEPRESSED AND STILL DROPPED A BETTER LP THAN BEYONCE AND LUDA!
“Not Graduation great, but great nonetheless.” thats sums it up for me
Ima cop the album. I love Kanye.
@65 I cosign with that. I also have Taylor Swifts album and I don’t even like country music but that album is hott. Kanye and Taylor were the only albums I was checkin for.
@ # 67 Can you tell me what does Taylor Swift sings? I’ve been hearing that name but hadn’t heard her music, at least I don’t think I have.
I haven’t heard Kanye album but will be getting the album anyway because he’s a creative artist and I’m open to whatever new sound he has to offer.
I’m feelin’ th new Kanye to a certain extent but I miss hearing him rap. He is one of the sickest lyricists out there so I hope this change isn’t permanent… leave that to T-pain
…I’m bumpin the album right now in my ride, cant even get passed #6 ive been bumpin it all morning cant wait untill tues.(shhh i cant wait till im off to get back in the car) this album though takes some1 w/an open mind to understand its just soooo AMAZIN that WesT is able to flow…rap…”la..la..la..la..and now sing “808…”-is my new ipod soulmate!!!!KAYNE is really proving that his talent comes in so many varieties…many ways!!!
68 Taylor Swift sang “Our Song” and “Teardrops on My Guitar.”
I can’t stop listening to this album. OMG it’s so deep, introspective, and artistic. And it’s also very different. Why can’t some of you embrace an artist when he/she goes in a new direction? I’ve already pre-ordered, this album is phenomenal. Best songs: “Say You Will,” “Welcome to Heartbreak,” ” See You In My Nightmares,” “Street Lights,” “Coldest Winter….” well damn near all of them lol.
Love the songs! But it just seems like everybody’s tryna go pop nowadays..why?? But Kanye really is a creative genius..he knows what he’s doin..i just wish a lot of these artists would stop trying to crossover
I have to agree w/Angel — I’m only really feel’n…like…4 songs on this album. Conceptually, this album is a classic: from the album art to the naming sequence, the thematics are on-point. But as a big fan of ‘Yae [& his artistic capabilities], I’m really disappointed in him for jumping on a trend. The auto-tune aspect really makes this album sound like a collection of cheesy 80′s infomercials music [i.e. Robocop & Paranoid].
One of my fav’rt songs, Coldest Winter, was a major disappointment when I realized I’d heard that song before a looooonnnngggg time ago. I went digg’n through my music collection & found ‘Memories Fade’ by the 80′s pop/synth-rock group Tears for Fears. The song is basically a slightly changed version of the original hit. Kummon ‘Yae…I’m all for sampling IF you can successfully pull off your own creative take to the original. But this shit is really the same song — w/an additional 808, synth, & oh yea…Kanye.
I’ont know what the hell is up w/our generation. This chopped&screwed 80′s shit has got to die! I was born in the latter part of ’86 & can barely remember anything about that decade. It’s coo to be inspired by the past, but jock’n the entire decade’s style is really gonna make our generation look like a bunch of posers in the future [hmmph, too late].
With all that said, I expected much more from ‘Yae. Someone of his artistic caliber shouldn’t make themselves susceptible to trendz ‘n gimmicks like this. Fortunately, the auto-tune doesn’t COMPLETELY drown-out the emotion he’s bringing thru on this album — my 4 fav’rt songs being:
1) See You in My Nightmares [lyrics are ingenious & Lil' Wayne was actually hot]
2) Coldest Winter [uggghhh...basically, the SAME as the original...but its still hot]
3) Street Lights [very inspirational]
4) Say You Will [auto-tune actually works well with this one]
hopefully he got most of his pain out through this album cuz it was real emo.. i really appreciate the creativity but i didn’t enjoy the album
I really love the album, i have been all over youtube listening to it all weekend! And i feel exactly where he is coming from on this cd! With relationships and friendships! good review angel! you gave an honest opinion…brian doesn’t always seem to give an opinion with his reviews…and doesnt always to the truth or tell it like it is! concreteloop…keep it up!
I definately will be coping this. I’m not afraid to see my fave artists taking risks, it’s all good.
everbody here are all dunbasses, the direction he is going in is putting hip-hop into new terrirory, this is a great idea for a musical genuies and his new genra- popart he is exploring his past and puttin is into something he loves………music. and if you cant see that go fuck yourself……………………..jump on the lil wayne bandwagon then.
WACK
I’ve had a chance to listen to the album and I gotta say I love it. Why is it that it’s so difficult to embrace some new shit?! Yes, he’s using autotune, but at least he’s not using it to spit shit like “She’s got those apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur…”
It’s not a “hip hop” record. Just categorize it as Music and give it a shot.
Im Sorry but i dont like kanye. i dont know what it is but he was just never as great as he thinks he is….i dont mean to be hating…now he coming out with some techno…..and whats up with tha peewee herman get up??? i think he should stick to producing…
Just listened to the whole album and its horrible. This is a bunch of crap and it shows how quickly this was put together. I feel bad for anyone that actually pays this garbage.
He’s wonderful and I love all of his insight and the way his music makes me feel. However, I think that Kanye needs time away for the lime light. He needs to figure out what’s real and what can keep him sane. I can’t wait for the album to drop!
I was thinking that this album is very emotional, and I LOVE IT! now this is an album that really makes you think and just feel Kanye as a person, very real album. Sometimes pain equals greatness.
I also really love the song he has with John Legend it’s over!!! hot.
OMG!!!!! Kanye West is coming hard on these tracks are you guys kiddin me? No one can know his pain or what he is goin thru. I hate the fact tht his so called fans are not standing behind him in this difficult time. Well some of you are. But saying I know his mama just died but… How could u even compare tht with what he is doing with his music. I feel Kanye has been affected from whats going on in his life and wants to make some changes with his music. Hes not gay, he is not goin “mental”, he is merely expressing himself a different way. I commend him for his ability to think outside the box, take the chance to try something new with his music. Yeah T-Pain murdered that auto-tune but I love it. And just like T-Pain, and I dnt care how much yall talk about it, has sold millions of copies of his records and many other singles with various artists so whats wrong with Kanye givin it a shot? Yall need to just sit back and enjoy the show!
BTW: Robocop, Heartless, Coldest Winter and Love Lockdown are my jams!!!!!
Ok Ok Ok…
to be continued!!!
as much as I wanna like the new cd..I cant lord knows Ive tried!
ive tried listening to it working out
ive tried listening to it at work
ive tried the traffic thing..
I cant get with it..Ill have stick to graduation =(
and kanye u my boy but i wont be buying the new cd..
p.s. I think he has to many “yes” ppl around him
TEAM SAVE KANYE!!!
this album will make kanye west a true legend. he talks about real stuff and not money, cars and shit. I like the album. its phi…
I dig what he’s trying to do as a artist,
It’s a new world, maybe it’s time to
switch things up?
check out this remake of Good Life
by Brooklyn “indietronica” band nite club
I think they hit it right on the money.
http://www.myspace.com/niteclubmusic
he looks like a black sylar from Heros o_O i just bought the album tho its hot something new
Album was TRASH. I COPPED it and TOOK IT BACK AS MOST PEOPLE I KNOW DID.
DUDE IS WACK AND LOSING IT. NEEDS TO GO BACK TO PRODUCING.
I think the album is cool depite what other people say. I mean its not the AVERAGE ALBUM but if you consider what he has gone through in the past year loosing his mothe an remamber she was really all he had anb loosing his fiance that would have somthing to do with your music to.
wonderful album…i looked forward to his brilliance and i am very pleased. I see Kanye’s intellect very clear…even in his heartbroken and Soul-less feeling state. He has been through a lot with loosing his mother. He is a true poet/lyricist/rapper/hip-hop. He is so amazing. I look forward to his albums because he pushes the envelope everytime. He is wearing his feelings not on his sleeve but in his work of art (his album) Only a true artist can see the art in this album.
An evolving artist can get up on stage and not have to thank anyone for his award ….just get up there and hit ppl with a speech to drive not just hip hop but all genres in the direct it needs to take to survive the corporate killers of music. Music artist aren’t much til they strive to be more than a “Music Artist” …until they strive to become something like/or Straight up a LEGEND….Most of you who can’t relate to Kanye’s album or see the art in it ” will never never never know enough until its over” til music is dead. Kanye wont keep Music LOCKDOWN…He wont Loose. SO dont worry about the wrong things….Hip HOp is Alive.
“Mayonnaise colored Benz, I push Miracle Whips”
I was a bit apprehensive at first, hearing the entire album was done in autotune..BUT after listening to the CD in its entirety..I can say that I LOVE this album. I think people just need to be a bit more open-minded and more accepting to change. I love the direction that he went with this album, he’s growing as an artist and I’m going along with him for the ride. Kanye, if your reading this..JOB WELL DONE, I LOVE THE ALBUM AND I LOVE YOU. That is all.
Kanye is that dude. Almost everything that he gets his hands on is great. The album is def different but what if Wayne made it? Everybody would be on his nuts.
This has to be a black site because they always associate “being gay” or “looking gay” in a negative way. I dont care that you dislike his music but come on. Its a shame how some people can be so prejudice when they know good and well that they have a gay brother, uncle, cousin, father and sometimes friend. Grow up black people expand your mind its almost 2009.
The album is not that bad as people say..Definitely not the old Kanye we used to know but still lovable.. Check out my review here..
http://tshirtjunkieindian...8s-heartbreak-review.html
Stop Hating on Kanye Tudda. U dont gotta cop his album, he AiNt gonna cop yours neither…OooOps! My bad,,, You don’t have one to COP!!!
Here’s my Theory from greatest to least…..
GRADUATION>College Dropout> 808′S> Late Registration
liked your blog very much……… can we share links……….????
http://www.jdodyssey.blogspot.com
I LOVE every single song on that album. His lyrics are so unique and original. GENIUS!!!! sums it up 4 me.
Ye is the truth
I LOVE THE ALBUM..AT FIRST I WAS SKEPTICAL ABOTU THE NEW SOUND BUT HE KNOWS WHAT HES DOING & IT SOUNDS GREAT ON ALL THE SONGS
HE ALWAYS BRINGS SUTTIN NEW TO THE TABLE I RESPECT HIM FOR IT!!\\
idk but A lot of u ppl on here just don’t know how to admire creativity… this album is more then words can put together… but anyways if you heard kanYe west & richie rich – class in sesion (idk this dude is A new artist from the west and already being compared to weezy and jay z) kanye is still the same kanye from his last albums he is killin a lot of ppl out
I absolutely love this album! This is Kanye’s best work since College Dropout. Only since that album have I been able to instantly connect with his work. His other two CDs, while excellent, took a listen or two to really feel. This album is all about Kanye’s raw emotion. He lays it all out there. I like music that makes me feel something, and this album does that as soon as the first beat drops.
What’s so great about Kanye, and this work in particular, is that it’s great on many levels. It’s sonically fascinating and powerful (the autotune actually adds to the effect) but it’s also meaningul by being both symbolic and a representation of his real life crisis.
It’s symbolic because of what he uses to express his feelings. One with the drums. As I listened to the whole CD (and to really crtique the album you’ve gotta hear the whole thing; it makes no sense to judge something based on one or two songs), I kept thinking about how much the drums reminded me of a heart beating–changing pace with whatever emotion was being expressed in the song, and I have no doubt this is the effect Kanye was going for. The auto tune also resonates symbolically. It really highlights the loneliness he’s expressing in his lyrics. And I might add he doesn’t sound off key or awkward by singing. It works very well the album.
Also, if you have an ecclectic taste in music, you won’t be turned off by this creative turn. I like everything from alterantive to Latin jazz, as well as electronica/techno, so I really dig this album. It kind of reminds me of modern-day Simon and Garfunkel because it’s melancholic but pleasing to listen to.
If you look at Kanye as an ARTIST, first, and a rapper second, you will no doubt like, if not love, this album. As an artist, he uses atypical and creative production, takes risks, has meaningful and symbolic lyrics, freely expresses his emotion and successfully does so in his music, and on top of that, it all sounds great together.
The man, quite simply, is a genius. But he’s a genius you can connect with. Which makes this album that more valuable.
hmm… a love-hate relationship has been simmering for some time… but Kanye is officially a bird. I feel bad for him, but he needs to take a break to contemplate, reflect, and recover (to whatever extent that is possible); then introduce something worthy to be purchased. The only thing I commend is his bravery–but every one is already familiar with his risky (excessive) brazenness. He was hasty with this album…needed to double check some of the concepts, i.e. singing…
I dont usually post but after reading some of this mess i just have to say something. i know im late but i just got the album and i love it. for people who dont like the singing there is something you can do. try listening to the lyrics instead. try to open your mind for once in your life. i mean you should really be applauding kanye for putting something fresh on the radio instead of the same bs we are use to listening to from rap artists. if you dont like his album after listening to the lyrics then fine, but dont judge someones artistic ability just by there singing voice alone. try listening to what he is really saying, imagine how he must feel. take it as one whole thing not just bits and pieces.
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Thanks for sharing your work with us! Your theme is just awesome!
[...]Thanks for sharing your work with us! Your theme is just awesome![...]