Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak Review
Written By: Samir Siddiqui
Kanye West
808s & Heartbreak
Roc-a-Fella/Island Def Jam
4/5
True to form, Kanye West pushes forward in his quest for creative greatness by doing what he’s done throughout his career -the unexpected. Pulling further away from the sound of contemporary hip-hop than even his euro-pop-influenced last album Graduation did, 808s & Heartbreak contains eleven songs in which Kanye laments the recent losses of his deceased mother, and his ex-fiancé. While much has been made about how drastically different 808s is from West’s previous three offerings, there are some signs of musical continuity. The LP is far from a two-headed monster (though the influence of the auto-tune technique and the use of the TR-808 drum machine dominate the sound) – unlike Graduation, the synths no longer serve as the primary element of the album’s production, but instead beep over and prod at the layers of instrumentation underneath. The sonic arrangements, most notably those of “Bad News” and “Coldest Winter,” recreate the dramatic feel of Late Registration’s more touching moments, and the overall soulful nature of the album harkens back to the sentimentality of The College Dropout.
An aura of gospel enlaps the introductory “Say You Will,” while “Welcome to Heartbreak” features one of Kanye’s simplest, yet most effective allusions to his feelings of despair: “My god sister gettin’ married by the lake…but I couldn’t figure out who I wanna’ take/ Bad enough that I showed up late…I had to leave ‘fore they even cut the cake, welcome to heartbreak.” “Heartless” features the most T-Pain-esque usage of the auto-tune, as Kanye builds around the immediately catchy, dominating chorus with stabbing drums and a striking piano loop. However, the rest of the album sees Kanye finding new and more interesting uses for the device, as he tampers with the auto-tune effects to churn out echoing choruses, dreary, low-register tones, and static-filtrated verses.
Sounding muffled and trapped on its original inception, the much reworked version of “Love Lockdown” transforms the initially head-scratching lead single into one of the album’s finest tracks. The vocals are notably cleaned up, and the knocking tribal drums play triumphantly over a infectious blend of keys and synths. While the album-wide use of the auto-tune certainly helps mask some of West’s shortcomings as a singer, he consistently displays a penchant for carving out great melodies. Kanye’s minimal vocal inflections throughout “Streetlights” allow the melody to rise and fall at his will, creating an almost lullaby-esque charm that compliments the poetic imagery evoked by the lyrics.
Despite Kanye’s ability to transcend the lack of rapping on the album (Young Jeezy drops the only true 16 on the swagger-heavy, and epically sombre “Amazing”), there are certain moments which stand-out in a negative light. The up-tempo groove of the almost dance-pop “Paranoid” is a stark contrast to the overall tone of the album, and is hampered by a show-tune-like hook. On the lyrical side, Kanye’s not-so-subtle descriptions of his ex-girl, as an overbearing “Robocop,” and a “spoiled little L.A. girl,” among others, makes the dedication of almost an entire album to her somewhat peculiar. Worse, the endless tales of heartbreak rob Kanye of his natural ability to cover vast thematic ground, best evident from his first two LP’s.
In the end, 808s & Heartbreak serves as another example of Kanye playing to his strengths. The precise, sweeping production serves as the highlight, with the individual songs working off anthem-worthy hooks and generally straight-forward lyricism. However, whereas ‘Ye armed his earlier albums with guest features to hide what some felt were mediocre rap skills, he overcomes his lack of singing talent by his own merits as a superior artist. He may never become the best rapper or the best singer, but there aren’t many of his peers matching his ability to consistently put out great music.
Tags: Kanye West
November 24th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Album Is Ass..
The Reviewer Is An Ass..
This Is RNB Not Hip-Hop..
SMH..
November 24th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Wow, I guess if its not 50s diarrhea of the mouth or an article about how Wayne brushes his teeth in the morning, nobody’s interested. Nevertheless, I haven’t heard the album, but once again, creativity and a willingness to push the envelope breaths life into hip-hop. Whether hit or miss, any true hip hop fan should appreciate anybody willing to take risks, and as much as this auto-tune is played out, Ye puts his heart in the music. Ego aside, Ye gives you something new each time he drops. Some of u finnecky rap fans should pay attention. Ohh, and I forgot. First, fcukas.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Oops, 2nd and 3rd fcukas!!!!
November 24th, 2008 at 10:14 am
dumb review reviewer couldn’t differentiate an R&B album 4rm a hip hop album obviously another kanyeezy cockblower
November 24th, 2008 at 10:16 am
reviewer couldn’t differentiate an r&B album 4rm a hip hop album sad
November 24th, 2008 at 10:23 am
I kid you not, listening to this shit in public is humiliating. The songs are slow, boring and droning. There are some great songs on there, and there is some artistic, creative music on there. BUT, Kanye set the bar SO high with what he’s done to this point that I cant say a boring album where he “sings” over “good beats” is anything higher that a 5 out of 10…
The effort put into this record was so clearly nothing. These songs don’t feel well crafted, they feel thrown together.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:27 am
I think this album is one of the toughest to rate for any critic. Album definitely grows on you, first day I listened I thought it was whatever, now i only skip like 2 songs.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:43 am
agreed.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:46 am
kinda funny how kanye is being hate for being a hip hop artist that tried something different, rather than being critiqued as an artist on the quality of his songs.
He cant sing, He’s not that great of a rapper. But the genius in his songs is better than what some “singers” can produce.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I think hip-hop is at it’s best the more personal it is. Songs like Jay-Z “Can’t Be Life”, Nas “One Mic”, Common “Respect For Life”. And that’s what Kanye did with this project on almost every song which is what makes the album ground breaking.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:15 am
THE ALBUM IS FIIRE HANDS DOWN
TRULY THE GREATEST PERFORMER OF ARE GENERATION!!
STREET LIGHTS IS AN AMAZING SONG
if you dont like this album your a complete hater.str8 up
kayne has to be one of the most creative rappers/pop stars/musician there is…
SACRAMENTO STAND UP!!!!
November 24th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Great album ALL AROUND…”Bad News” is nasty…
November 24th, 2008 at 11:36 am
If this was Wack Wayne’s album all his stans would be slobbin on him. Kanye is a musical genius.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Streetlights is my shit. Love lockdown is nice. Theses kids now a days think lil wayne is “actually good music” lmao.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:47 am
wow.. some of u niggas comprehension level’s are thru the roof..
where in the hell did he say this was a Hip Hop album.. ?? roffle
November 24th, 2008 at 11:48 am
this album is sick, its good to see a artist be this creative and be able to do anything they want and express it in any shape or form
November 24th, 2008 at 11:49 am
review = right on point
November 24th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Ok people who keep sayin this ain’t hip hop this is rnb. First off its not rap and its not rnb. Just because he’s a rapper and is so called “singing” on the album doesn’t make it rnb. Its a combonation of so many genres of music. And the album is well put together. I think every song has its place in it. Except for the pinochio story freestyle. As far as lyrics go and theme it fits but the sound of the song is off. And his use of auto tune sounds nowhere near what tpain and the rest of rap niggas is usin. Plus hey….the american dollar ain’t worth shit right now and a album like this is gonna sell globally. Kanye wants those euros and duetchmarks and other currencies u can’t pronounce. If your a fan of more than just hip hop and have a open mind this album is a classic.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Just Got The Album, It Sounds Amazing.
Peace.
November 24th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
better than expected, but not a 4/5 album…
November 24th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
i dont give a mothaffuuhhh,,, 4/5 4.5/5 this album is the shit lol