Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreak
For many years now Kanye West has been right at the forefront of rap.. His new album is no exception, apart from the fact it’s now at the forefront of something completely different and wonderfully fresh. With previous albums often characterised by brash attitude and a sizeable ego, '808s & Heartbreak' strips away all of this to reveal another, supremely talented, side to Mr West that many must have not thought possible.
Opening track 'Say You Will' sets off the transformation perfectly, with ghostly synths echoing gently as Kanye spreads his vocal wings to great effect. Although his voice itself has indeed been synthesised, his dexterity and pure tone shine through well. With the last few minutes of the track fading out to just the beat, it almost appears as if a moment is being afforded to allow this transition of styles to sink in…and it works, it’s simply stunning. Stunning could quite easily be over used in an assessment of '808s & Heartbreak', as each track moves from fanciful beat to synthesised melody with such affect that the listener is left dumbfounded. Single 'Love Lockdown' is a stomping triumph, with blends of synth and more recognisable Kanye-like beats, reminiscent of 'Jesus Walks'. As if to cement Mr West’s newfound diversity, 'Robo Cop' even features orchestral sounds in amongst the crisp beats, something that produces a wholly pleasing result. Staccato strings and sirens are not something one would usually put in the same musical basket, but it appears to be par for the course on 808s…
As would be expected there are a few minor hiccups in this all new transitional journey. 'Amazing' grates on the ears after a while with a slightly bland vocal melody complimented by repetition of “so/it’s amazing” far exceeding the recommended amount. An appearance from rapper Young Jeezy feels lazily tacked on and disrupts the song’s flow, although I’m sure many would have skipped on to the next track well before his arrival. 'Bad News' also lacks the drive of other songs, and is carried simply by the intrigue of its lyrics and yet another appearance of the strings. However when these fade out sadly so does the track, leaving no lasting impression. But frankly, these blips can easily be forgiven on an album of such overall majesty and quality.
Although clearly pursing a different direction, West has by no means ignored his roots. 'Heartless' starts in the nouveau style, electronic beats and synthesised voices abundant, only for him to break into a delightfully crisp trademark rap. West has always had an undeniable rapping voice - effortlessly resonate with divine richness - and its presence here, given the previous tracks, is an unexpected joy. 'See You In My Nightmares', although devoid of rapping, contains a much more hip hop feel with its melody reminiscent of The College Dropout. Lil Wayne also lends vocals to compliment the beats, making it a rather nostalgic track. Although West’s new direction is delightfully fresh, it is pleasing to see that he has not altogether altered a style that made him such a household name.
The most striking fact about 808s…is undoubtedly its honesty. 2008 proved to be a difficult year for West, losing his mother after complications during cosmetic surgery, splitting from his long term fiancé and struggling to deal with the fame he had coveted for so long. As the title suggests the album deals with these issues head on and for the first time fans bare witness to a vulnerable side. In 'Heartless', the line “I did some things but that’s the old me” acknowledges his change in attitude and thinking, whilst “goodbye my friend, will I ever love again?” taken from 'Coldest Winter' shows the extent of his pain. Not only has Kanye West managed to produce an album of staggering quality whilst clearly in turmoil, he has used it to exorcise his demons. 808s & Heartbreak marks a maturity in West that has undoubtedly taken his music the next level, it is simply a shame and something of a paradox that such an achievement must be born out of such pain.
Words: Dan Grose
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