Kanye West-808s and Heartbreak
Roc-A-fella/Island Def Jam
Rating: 2.5/4
By: Preach Jacobs

Everyone has gone through a bad break-up and lost a loved one. So, when listening to Kanye’s latest effort, I do have that in the back of my mind. After losing his mother to cosmetic surgery and having his engagement defunct, I actually felt pain for someone whose cockiness would convince a young Ali to be more humble. Well, introducing Kanye’s ’808s and Heartbreak,’ the album with the potential to humble him.

Let me start off with the positive: The production is pretty damn fly. Heavy in synths and of course 808 baselines, the backdrops could have been supplied for your favorite ’80s r&b/rock group. Also, the writing on the ballad filled opus isn’t bad. Songs like “Heartless” and “Love Lockdown” shows great writing on Kanye’s behalf, but the use of auto-tuner throughout the entire album is just too much to bare.

Even with guest slots by Young Jeezy on “Amazing” and Lil’ Wayne on “See You In My Nightmares,” aren’t enough to keep the album from jumping the shark.

I’m a fan of West and believe that true greatness of an artist is measured by failures even more so than victories. I can only imagine the emotions needed to garner such a project, and even though I’m not a fan of the album, I do commend him for using the music as an outlet as well and staying away from more harmful alternatives. Will this album still win a Grammy? Possibly, but hopefully his next official hip-hop album “Good Ass Job” will redeem ’808s’ with flying colors. Until then, I’ll get my ‘Ye fix with his previous three albums.