His feelings of loss, loneliness, and longing for companionship and a sense of normalcy inspired 808s & Heartbreak. At the same time, West was struggling to adapt to a newfound pop stardom he had once wanted, often becoming the subject of media scrutiny. Months later, West and his fiancée Alexis Phifer ended their engagement and long-term relationship, which had begun in 2002. On November 10, his mother Donda West died due to complications from cosmetic surgery involving a tummy tuck and breast reduction. By 2013, the album had sold 1.7 million copies in the United States, and was certified triple platinum in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2020.Ĩ08s came from suffering multitude losses at the same time-it’s like losing an arm and a leg and having to find a way to keep walking through it.Īfter the release of his third studio album Graduation in 2007, Kanye West experienced profoundly-affecting events in his personal life. Rolling Stone included 808s & Heartbreak in its list of 'The 40 Most Groundbreaking Albums of All Time' and ranked it number 244 on its revision to the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. This was due to a new wave of rappers, singers, and producers coming to adopt aspects of its style and thematic content. In the years since its release, 808s & Heartbreak has since been cited as a prominent influence on subsequent hip hop, pop, and R&B music, pioneering emo rap and experimental R&B developments in particular.

Despite its positive critical reception, the album was largely overlooked as a contender for the 52nd Grammy Awards, although the single ' Amazing' received a nomination in the category of Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

Four singles were released in promotion, including the hit singles ' Love Lockdown', which became West's highest Billboard Hot 100 debut of his career, and ' Heartless'. Despite varying responses from listeners, the album received positive reviews from most music critics, who generally commended West's experimentation, and was named one of 2008's best records in several year-end lists. West's lyrics on the album explore themes of loss, alienated fame, and heartache, inspired by the breakup with his fiancée, his struggles with pop stardom, and the death of his mother.Ĩ08s & Heartbreak debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling just over 450,000 copies in its first week. The production also abandons conventional hip hop sounds in favor of a minimalist sonic palette, with prominent use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine. The sessions also featured guest appearances by vocalists such as Kid Cudi, Young Jeezy, Mr Hudson, and Lil Wayne.Ĭonceived in the wake of several distressing personal events for West, 808s & Heartbreak marked a major musical departure from his previous rap records, instead featuring a sparse, electronic sound and vocals sung through an Auto-Tune processor.

West recorded the album during September and October 2008 at Glenwood Studios in Burbank, California and Avex Recording Studio in Honolulu, Hawaii, with the help of producers No I.D., Jeff Bhasker, and others. It was released on November 24, 2008, by Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. 808s & Heartbreak is the fourth studio album by American vocalist and record producer Kanye West.

Kanye 808s and heartbreak back cover