808s & Heartbreak
Kanye West · 2008
52 min · 12 tracks · contemporary R&B · hip-hop · soul
A haunting blend of auto-tuned vocals and minimalist beats that redefine hip-hop's emotional landscape.
Why listen to this
- Best for
- steady emotional exploration throughout haunting introspection in each track late-night solitary listening experience
- Context
- Released on November 24, 2008, '808s & Heartbreak' marked a significant departure for Kanye West, following his critically acclaimed album 'Graduation'. At this point in his career, West was navigating personal turmoil, including the loss of his mother, which deeply influenced the album's introspective themes and innovative sound.
- If you like
- contemporary R&B, hip-hop, soul
808s & Heartbreak is an album by Kanye West, released in 2008. A haunting blend of auto-tuned vocals and minimalist beats that redefine hip-hop's emotional landscape. This album is notable for its pioneering use of auto-tune and emotional vulnerability in hip-hop, impacting artists across genres. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and has been recognized as a major influence on contemporary rap and pop music, heralding a shift toward more melodic approaches in the genre. Here's what makes it worth your time and what to listen to next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 808s & Heartbreak sound like?
A haunting blend of auto-tuned vocals and minimalist beats that redefine hip-hop's emotional landscape. Rooted in contemporary R&B and hip-hop.
What makes 808s & Heartbreak by Kanye West notable?
This album is notable for its pioneering use of auto-tune and emotional vulnerability in hip-hop, impacting artists across genres. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and has been recognized as a major influence on contemporary rap and pop music, heralding a shift toward more melodic approaches in the genre. Released on November 24, 2008, '808s & Heartbreak' marked a significant departure for Kanye West, following his critically acclaimed album 'Graduation'. At this point in his career, West was navigating personal turmoil, including the loss of his mother, which deeply influenced the album's introspective themes and innovative sound.
Who is 808s & Heartbreak for?
808s & Heartbreak works well if you're into steady emotional exploration throughout, haunting introspection in each track and late-night solitary listening experience.
How many songs are on 808s & Heartbreak?
808s & Heartbreak has 12 tracks, running approximately 52 minutes.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Say You Will 6:17
- 2 Welcome to Heartbreak 4:23
- 3 Heartless Standout 3:31
- 4 Amazing 3:58
- 5 Love Lockdown Standout 4:30
- 6 Paranoid 4:37
- 7 RoboCop 4:34
- 8 Street Lights 3:09
- 9 Bad News 3:58
- 10 See You in My Nightmares 4:18
- 11 Coldest Winter Standout 2:45
- 12 Pinocchio Story (freestyle live from Singapore) 6:01
Release Date
November 24, 2008
Artist Origin
United States
Runtime
52 min 7 sec
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