9 years ago, Kanye took his fans on an emotional and different journey to explore the layers of heartbreak through the singing and melodies of '808s & Heartbreak'. It soon shifted the landscape of Hip-Hop as we know it today. The 12 track album was given to us after Kanye experienced the loss of his mother and the end of a six-year relationship with then-fiancée Alexis Phifer. The 12 track album was said to be completed in 3 weeks while in Hawaii. Many people weren’t too blown by it 9 years ago when it originally released.
After releasing 'Graduation', which was the trilogy of education-themed albums, and arguably Kanye’s top 3 albums, how does this 4th studio album rank against his other albums? 9 years ago it wasn’t seen as Kanye's caliber of music. However, with 808s he changed the dialogue. Rather than being a celebration of life’s excesses, the album was built off projecting a sense of loss, despair, and vulnerability. Being a big Kanye fan through the first 3 albums, I initially hated '808s & Heartbreak'. At a young age, not understanding the lyrics and emotions, it didn’t appeal to me. Now after going back and listening to it, I can connect with it.
My favorite track on '808s & Heartbreak' is the opening track “Say You Will”. The synths, background vocals, and 808s was something different that Hip-Hop had yet to hear. The song was a great beginning to an emotion felt album. West claimed this record is about that “ex-girlfriend you call on Friday nights just to have sex.” Recently, two years ago he did an updated studio version featuring violinist, Caroline Shaw. The same hard-hitting beat was personified even more. My second favorite track on the album will have to be “Heartless”. The hit single of the album, which made it to number 2 on the Billboard 100, was a song I listened to after experiencing what I thought was heartbreak at a young age. The animated music video played a huge part in the success of the video.
After so many subpar reviews on the album when it initially came out, '808s & Heartbreak' is one of the most influential albums in Hip-Hop history. The hard synths, auto-tune, and emotional lyrics have inspired and paved the way for many rappers in today’s rap game. '808s & Heartbreak' was an album ahead of its time.
