Kanye West's New Album "808's & Heartbreak" In Stores TODAY!
Be warned that this is not the typical Kanye West Hip Hop album. Actually, there's really nothing Hip Hop about it at all. I would actually call this a Pop/Rock/Alternative album if I was going to put a label on it but I don't really like doing that. I would just call it a GOOD ALBUM. Period. If you don't like change from your favorite artists or don't like rappers experimenting then this might not be for you. If you're willing to free your mind a bit and be open to something new then it might be worth a listen.
Here are a few general details about this record that you need to know. Kanye uses the Auto-Tune/Vocoder effect A LOT. I mean like every single song. Surprisingly, it doesn't get that annoying. Some songs use the effect more aggressively than others but you know it's there every song since Kanye can't really sing without it. Somehow, it just works though. It's hard to explain but it actually made sense for the type of songs he was making this time around. It almost accentuated the pain and emotion that he was expressing in the lyrics. Does that even make sense? This album review actually describes that same thought in more detail. It's a really detailed read and it's worth reading as you are listening to the album to help you understand each song a little bit more.
Another major change is the lack of the typical Kanye beats. Although the album implies the 808 drum sound which is used in a ton of Hip Hop tracks, the album actually uses it in a very unique and different way. Although you can hear traces of a Kanye "beat" in a few uptempo tracks, there is something more creative and intense that keep it from being considered just "Hip Hop". There's just way more depth and emotion and you can FEEL what he is trying to express. It seems like he wants to be something bigger than being known as a rapper or producer. Dude is trying be a Pop Star in the biggest sense.
I still hope he makes the typical Kanye album once in awhile but I'm feeling what he was doing here. Nobody takes any risks these days so it's refreshing to hear something coming out of leftfield from one of the biggest artists today. Keep doing your thing, Yeezy. I'll keep listening and supporting the MUSIC.
Kanye performing Heartless at last night's AMA's:
