We have all experienced a heartbreak. If you haven't then please stop reading and live a little.
Kanye West just released his latest album 808s & Heartbreak. I love Kanye. Some people say he is an arrogant asshole. That may be. Who cares. So was Muhammad Ali and everyone loves him now. Anywho...I had heard that this Kanye album was ALL Autotune. What is autotune? Listen to T-Pain and you will find out. Essentially autotune is an electronic vocalizer - it makes everyone sound like a computerized version of themselves. I like T-Pain and his autotune creations but it can be a bit much after a song or two. So I wasn't too excited to hear 808s. Plus it got so-so reviews. I heard the first single Love Lockdown and I loved it - the beats went straight to my soul. No lie.
I got 808's and I hated it the moment I first heard it. I was extremely disappointed. Listening to Kanye on my iPod gets me through the grueling work day and I was sad that I despised 808s. BUT THEN I said to myself, "Kanye deserves a second chance." So I played it all over again on my crappy computer speakers and I fell in love.
Seriously 808s & Heartbreak is pure genius. It takes a lot for anyone to expand outside of their comfort zone. This is NOT a feel good - get out of your chair and dance album. I appreciate that this is not the same ol' Kanye (even though it's the best). This album is like the new kid in school - at first you are leary and then you become the best of friends. Most Kanye songs make me want to run 100 miles or punch someone in the throat (in a good way). 808's makes me calm down and think about my life and what I want to be and who I have been.
Kanye seems vulnerable and a bit sad on this album. If I were him I would be too. His Mom died this year and the long relationship with fiancee Alexis ended. I would be suicidal, but Kanye was in the studio giving birth to this masterpiece. I couldn't have done it. Perspective makes me appreciate this music even more.
Remember when The Source was credible? Well 808s & Heartbreak definitely deserves 5 Mics. It's HOT LIKE FIYYYYAH!
