Recording sessions took place at Glenwood Studios in Burbank, California and at Avex Recording Studio in Honolulu, Hawaii. The album was recorded over a span of approximately three weeks from September to October 2008. West (center) working on the album with producer and former mentor No I.D. "Either call it 'pop' or 'pop art,' either one I'm good with", he later stated. He later stated that he wished to present the music as a new genre called "pop art", clarifying that he was well-aware of the visual art movement of the same name and wished to present a musical equivalent. "What was in me I couldn't stop." Wanting to create a pop album, West dismissed the contemporary backlash to the concept of pop music and expressed admiration for what some pop stars had accomplished in their careers. There were "melodies that were in me", he explained. West felt that his emotions could not be fully expressed simply through rapping, which he said had limitations. West later said, "this album was therapeutic – it's lonely at the top." His feelings of loss, loneliness, and longing for companionship and a sense of normalcy inspired 808s & Heartbreak.
At the same time, West was struggling to adapt to a newfound pop stardom he had once wanted, often becoming the subject of media scrutiny. Months later, West and his fiancée Alexis Phifer ended their engagement and long-term relationship, which had begun in 2002. On November 10, his mother Donda West died due to complications from cosmetic surgery involving a tummy tuck and breast reduction. By 2013, the album had sold 1.7 million copies in the United States, and was certified triple platinum in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2020.Ĩ08s came from suffering multitude losses at the same time-it's like losing an arm and a leg and having to find a way to keep walking through it.Īfter the release of his third studio album Graduation in 2007, Kanye West experienced profoundly-affecting events in his personal life. Rolling Stone later included 808s & Heartbreak in its list of "The 40 Most Groundbreaking Albums of All Time" and ranked it number 244 on its revised list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It has been credited for pioneering the emo rap and experimental R&B subgenres in particular. Despite its positive critical reception, the album was largely overlooked as a contender for the 52nd Grammy Awards, although the single " Amazing" received a nomination in the category of Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.Īmong West's most influential records, 808s & Heartbreak made an immediate impact on hip hop, pop, and R&B music, as a new wave of rappers, singers, and producers adopted its stylistic and thematic elements. Four singles were released in its promotion, including the hit singles " Love Lockdown", which became the highest Billboard Hot 100 debut of West's career, and " Heartless". Despite varying responses from listeners, the album received positive reviews from most music critics, who generally commended West's experimentation, and was named one of 2008's best records in several year-end lists. West's lyrics on the album explore themes of loss, alienated fame, and heartache, inspired by the breakup with his fiancée, his struggles with pop stardom, and the death of his mother.Ĩ08s & Heartbreak debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling just over 450,000 copies in its first week.
The production also abandons conventional hip hop sounds in favor of a minimalist sonic palette, with prominent use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine. Dominating its production, West was assisted by fellow producers No I.D., Plain Pat, Jeff Bhasker, and Mr Hudson, while also utilizing guest vocalists for some tracks, including Kid Cudi, Young Jeezy, and Lil Wayne.Ĭonceived in the wake of several distressing personal events for West, 808s & Heartbreak marked a major musical departure from his previous rap records, instead featuring a sparse, electronic sound and vocals sung through an Auto-Tune processor. It was released by Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records on November 24, 2008, having been recorded earlier that year in September and October at Glenwood Studios in Burbank, California and Avex Recording Studio in Honolulu, Hawaii. 808s & Heartbreak is the fourth studio album by American rapper Kanye West.
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