Hip-hop's greatest (and only?) breakup record has been written.
Aided by an overabundance of auto-tune, Kanye West's latest album, 808's and Heartbreak, is a lesson in artistic freedom.
Speculated to be about West's recent breakup with fianc?(c)e Alexis Phifer, the record is a 12-track departure from any of his previous releases.
Opening the album with the slow-moving "Say You Will," West lays his emotions out on the table, revealing a troubling tale of sadness and broken heart syndrome.
His new vocal style is sure to catch older fans by surprise, but it quickly becomes a smooth transition of robotic melodies during tracks such as "Robocop" and "Heartless."
With as many as three different versions of the track leaked online by West himself, "Robocop" is one of the many standouts on the album.
Verses layered with symphonies, and the inclusion of an uplifting bridge, his self-proclaimed "disaster of a track" might be the best pop song West has ever written.
The second single off the album, "Heartless," features a more typical rhyme style from the hip-hop heavyweight opposed to the melodies drafted on nearly all of the album.
Using auto-tune to express the feeling of heartbreak, the lyrics reflect a more vulnerable West than listeners have heard.
"In the night, I hear 'em talk/ The coldest story ever told/ Somewhere far along this road, he lost his soul to a woman so heartless/ How could you be so heartless?" West sings.
On "Amazing," one of the few songs that Yeezy expresses confidence, his attempt falls flat and Young Jeezy's verses are all for naught.
While the beat is solid, the lyrics are incredibly repetitive and they come across more as West telling himself how great he is just so he might believe it.
"Streetlights" and "Bad News" are drab and forgettable, providing filler that would have been better left on West's cutting room floor.
While "Paranoid" is reminiscent of an 80's dance party, "Welcome to Heartbreak" is lyrical gem showcasing his fears of being left behind.
"My friend showed me pictures of his kids/ And all I could show him were pictures of my cribs/ He said his daughter got a brand-new report card/ And all I got was a brand-new sports car." West sings.
808's and Heartbreak is a departure from the hip-hop norm and credit has to be given to West, as he has created a wonderful mix of classic pop melodies and rap beats.
Looking 10 years into the future, 808's and Heartbreak may become the quintessential hip-pop record.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
