How Kanye West’s ‘808s & Heartbreak’ Influenced A New Generation Of Rap | Genius News

Kanye West’s 2008 album, '808s & Heartbreak,' turns ten years old this week. Inspired by the death of his mother, Donda West, as well as the end of his engagement to Alexis Phifer, the album threw fans and critics for a loop with its radical departure from the sounds that made Kanye famous.
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[@maxxvii2037]

808s changed the whole game and people only realized it several years later.

[@ufeelme4638]

Zed whatsu doin were

[@Tbatbatba88]

facts!

[@GermanSerna]

Better late than ever

[@lz1860]

Gamechangers often recieve initial disapproval, 808s was and is hard af

[@iamhereblossom1588]

I'll admit when I first heard 808s I was like man Kanye is a sell out whats with this pop bullshit. Then I got it, once you get past the shutter shades and marketing of the album, it's s Great album

[@Rob-sg5rp]

Without kanye, we wouldn’t have Travis Scott, drake, uzi, post malone, and atleast 90% of the rappers nowadays.

[@user-qd6im2hp2e]

6ix9ine facts

[@succ6639]

So it would be much better without them

[@GodfatherTmas]

kanye a fucking genius. fuck im glad he excist

[@RealMailou]

@@succ6639 LOL, sure

[@hyunseoklee4027]

true, but post malone aint a rapper just sayin

[@leorezende8771]

Heartless straight up sounds like a 2019 song. Genius

[@hsvr]

Leo Rezende not really, it sounds like a song from its period

[@dallashanson_]

Eman M how? nothing sounded like that then

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Straight up. Unlike Graduation, which aged like milk.

[@meryemkbm]

CheesecakeLasagna damn. stronger too?

[@marwanitoh]

@@hsvr yeah thats why everyone was so pleased with the album when it dropped. You're really smart dude

[@theanswer1238]

2008:autotune is weak 2021:there is no rapper without autotune

[@deadchannel2876]

That's like, simply not the case though.

[@user-qd6im2hp2e]

Dead Channel majority

[@mihaiapostol9225]

There are a lot of rappers who don't rely on or completely don't use autotune, you are just being ignorant as hell

[@user-qd6im2hp2e]

Mihai Apostol obviously he was exaggerating, but there’s a whole generation that do.

[@paul1s1]

Mihai Apostol haha why you so butthurt

[@thegooseinator9614]

Kanye mom die. Kanye sad. Now other people sad too. Kanye sing. Now other people sing too.

[@atom0824]

A+ summary.

[@anthonysereno4799]

Fuck video essays

[@rocketlaunch99]

Wow

[@jamesniefer6702]

This is........ beautiful

[@jesustonche667]

nelly?

[@CreepsMcPasta]

It's almost sad how much Kanye is panned at the time for being too early to trends

[@16craigory2]

CREEPS

[@lollol-qf2ls]

Kanye makes trends

[@cirquedumaiquel]

Omg creeps

[@luisarmenta7458]

CreepsMcPasta what up creeps huge fan

[@470angel6]

😂😂🔥

[@OMIMmusic]

If 808s was released today it would still be the biggest album of the year.

[@themreyeballs]

it basically happened last year with igor

[@MyBihLuhCoco]

I disagree, a reason 808s is so big now is because people are just now realizing how ahead of its time it was, and seeing all the rappers it influenced.

[@mohamadmahmoud6926]

Z Zzz I was 8 when 808s came out and I remember falling in love with heartless and love lockdown in the radio.

[@MyBihLuhCoco]

Mohamad Mahmoud me too, but at the time a lot of older people hated it, because the sound was new to them

[@modernmichelangelo]

WAP would be an unknown song

[@GarethWareth]

This is why I call Kanye a genius. He's changed the entire game three times. I can't think of another artist ever who's done that. Hate on him all you want as a person. But as a musician he's undeniably a genius.

[@abrahampalmer8761]

Facts

[@yapha3284]

Facts 💯

[@dannyloosh4921]

he's the changing the game even today, thats funny how well this comment aged

[@mohdeepgill966]

make it 4 times now

[@waluigi521]

wait when was the third time?

[@edlegendtv]

I always say he changed the sound of rap....TWICE

[@jhxlxndfrxnraw]

EvansIsLegend I would even go as far as to say three times tbh.

[@karlitosway7474]

jhxlxndfrxnraw how did he do it da third time?

[@41000mf]

Karlito Sway yeezus

[@arael3028]

@@karlitosway7474 Yeezus is about to happen very soon trust

[@arael3028]

@@thehighground3212 Actually it did but in My comment I said it is about to happen but I won't elaborate cause that wave is gonna be huge and I wanna catch it first

[@baseddog2779]

Wtf Hip Hop would be without Kanye, this man add so much to the culture. He is one of the GOATS without any doubt.

[@genericusername9551]

BasedDog it’s hard to say he the goat, go back and study the greats before him and see where it was at back then. Ye one of the best no doubt but many others to b mentioned

[@ViGuRouSTDE]

@@genericusername9551 he has the best discography hands down

[@useruseruser762]

THE

[@dtwallace2654]

BasedDog him and Lil Wayne

[@Iseeghostsnow]

Kanye is the best producer of all time

[@CT.ALEXX_]

808’s is basically the blueprint for all of juice wrld’s hit songs.

[@ArmandoSanchezOG]

he doesn’t deny it like others though

[@xavierd725]

juice wrld took alot of inspiration from 808s and he admits it

[@CT.ALEXX_]

@@xavierd725 I miss juice wrld

[@xavierd725]

@@CT.ALEXX_ me too bro

[@chad4698]

I hear yoy

[@jordanmensah3116]

Almost killed myself to Ye's music, now I'm praising God with it... Crazy

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Damn. Thank you for sharing your story though.

[@punani_slayer4209]

Tf

[@crys9879]

Jordan Mensah I wish you the best, continue improving and loving better, you got this!! Glad you’re still here with us

[@abbym3288]

Jordan Mensah god bless you I hope for nothing but great and positive things for you

[@mattchapman2054]

what song were u listening to?

[@LeBeautiful]

10 years later and it still holds to its own level of greatness. 808s in 2018...dam! #Yeezy

[@catwearingshades]

LeBeautiful i’m convinced there’s more than one of you

[@yadhavanselvaratnam2287]

Watch my evolution of kanye vid

[@niro710]

Seen you for years man

[@LeBeautiful]

@@niro710 help ya boy get 3k

[@ROCKfreakmetal90]

LeBeautiful the virgin

[@j-mac5062]

“I’m ahead of time, sometimes years out” Kanye is one of the greatest artist of our time.

[@stk931]

So the powers to be wont let me get my ideas out

[@brandonnaumann6058]

@@stk931 That makes me wanna get my advance out

[@Historicutuber]

Hell yeah he’s a legend

[@shuajoblake1166]

Greatest artist of all time

[@elekspricc104]

@Farhab Ali whos in the top 5 then?

[@keegangildea4988]

“I CREATED 808S ANE KANYE” -Soulja boy

[@maciolarose8928]

Bruh niggas was on 808’s way before Kanye. Rappers.

[@shankks813]

macio larose there were plenty of people who did it before him he just influenced to rappers now

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Soulja Boy invented music.

[@allahbless2278]

Big facts

[@jackabbott2335]

He plays too fucking much bruh fuck soulja boy

[@coolizh01]

808s made modern Hip-hop

[@esoj7162]

coolizh01 people forget Kanye still make beats Kanye be giving away beats and writing just to do it so a lot of people got they shit from yeezy at one point

[@gushernandez25]

Did it really?

[@gushernandez25]

@WaddleSenpai I did, but its Future who really influenced this era.

[@Sholuhu]

GnSt4vo who really influenced trap*

[@gushernandez25]

@@Sholuhu Lil John

[@neonsamurai4604]

808s and Yeezus were ahead of their time.

[@unclesam530]

u could say X's distorted sound was influenced by Yeezus

[@rexbeatz_]

Degenerate big faxx

[@rexbeatz_]

Big faxx

[@felizginato12]

Yeezus is an amazing synthesis of sounds and, yes, it's proven to be pretty influential, but I wouldn't say that it was ahead of its time. Death Grips is the obvious comparison here, but from what I remember there were plenty of artists during the time already moving into a more aggressive, industrial sound. Looking back I think Yeezus is largely responsible for a huge influx of younger fans, and as such it marks a period where Kanye was more so riding a wave than breaking entirely new ground himself. Not hating btw, Yeezus is still one of my favorites from Ye, and it has only sounded better with time.

[@MartynsSimpson]

@@unclesam530 definitely not

[@luizspindola]

When 808s came out I was 10 and didn't know shit about music. There was something about it though and I was always hoping for "Heartless" or "Love Lockdown" to come up on the TV

[@jaytc3613]

Luiz Spindola same here🤩

[@tinabeanie]

Yeah!!

[@zedmau5d947]

Luiz Spindola that is such facts

[@frankie2806]

Sameee bro

[@itsreallyover]

relatable

[@derrickcollier9098]

Kanye West is the Beatles of Hip Hop/Rap

[@AKIRABattlefront2]

Stop comparing

[@deppydepow5625]

You mean today's hip hop right? The trashest one

[@replayarchive8758]

What’s a black beatle anyway? A fucken roach?

[@austinray1500]

Bro this is so on point. The Beatles caused a rift between rhythm driven and melody driven Rock & Roll, the way Kayne created that same rift in Hip Hop.

[@scissrface2182]

@@deppydepow5625 all u got to say, right

[@flynn5561]

808s and heartbreaks: sad and emotional rap Yezzus: aggressive rap banger Critics: ThIs iS sTuPId Every rap son nowadays: a sad and emotional rap song, or an aggressive rap banger

[@Adrian-gp7me]

Funny how 808s and Yeezus were hated but now are universally loved. Kanye's experimental music takes time to digest but once it does it's usually amazing.

[@hairylad6023]

critics loved yeezus tho

[@Good4Josh]

808s & Heartbreak birthed Drake

[@squeeeezeee]

Good4Josh that makes a whole lot of sense

[@ArioTheBum]

You got a point

[@Deadeyepull]

Faxxx

[@tupimpacaterpillar8420]

Kid cudi birthed 808s & heartbreak

[@Good4Josh]

Train Boxing at Home - Ty Thomas What I’m saying is that Drake’s signature style of singing wouldn’t exist without 808s. Totally inspired by it

[@381beatz4]

Kanye's discography is the greatest

[@pwesto2186]

Jose Chivo actually no one is close to him. Who can even touch him?

[@voiddroid.]

@@pwesto2186 Michael Jackson

[@SleevezGaming]

@@pwesto2186 lol he's had 3 back to back to back shit albums but carry on

[@381beatz4]

torren100brown We're talking about Hip-Hop here though.. Noone is fucking with Ye's discography within the hip hop realm.

[@abellambessa1216]

Easily.

[@urkelsaloneurkelbeatz5287]

0:47 - 808s & Loss 1:52 - 808s & Auto-Tune 3:39 - 808s & Production 6:16 - 808s & Influence & Legacy

[@mj_5278]

Thanks

[@derreckharold171]

Thank u

[@thySilence01]

W

[@Prod.luk3182]

@@thySilence01 quandarious??

[@bowlseedreal]

808s and | || || |_

[@johnlordan9187]

“The artists make culture, not the critics”. - David Bowie

[@Discokid9876]

One thing I will say, everything on 808's legit doesn't sound outdated. What I mean is, the sound he was going for legit is timeless, the melodic direction he went in was perfect. The direction he went in, has really influenced a whole genre and generation

[@samoandemigod1210]

welcome to heartbreak was really good

[@TheKondinho]

yep that album still holds up

[@beattheodds6219]

Yeah but t pain played a larger role in that in my opinion

[@savage7ecneek437]

@@beattheodds6219 *kid cudi*

[@luizspindola]

Definitely not outdated. That's the kind of album people who are not into hiphop can dig

[@heronlyson9919]

Yeezus Was Also Called Trash When It Dropped , Now Niggas Putting It In They Top 5 Ye Albums😯

[@kevinlaguna2023]

Still trash

[@marcusgodbee3574]

Yeezus is still so much ahead of its time. It's insane

[@279ft]

@@kevinlaguna2023 L

[@braindead5177]

@@marcusgodbee3574 he said so in the Charlemagne interview

[@oGTrillWave]

Top 2 and not 1

[@kevo6463]

If it wasn’t for 808s and heartbreak we literally won’t have like 90 percent of the rappers today

[@nope...........]

That wouldn't be too bad of a thing lol.

[@vanni8u]

Music is shit now

[@myjobistoshootfire7703]

That was the next album.

[@xEle360x]

How kid Cudi inspired 808 which inspired so many others.

[@EightyProd]

Thanks

[@TheSublimeLifestyle]

SoraLow360 did you even watch the video? They laid out every single inspiration and although Cudi was on four credits, you can clearly see these other artist and producers taking a heavy toll on the creative process.

[@ussr95]

Thankyou bro

[@Harly-qi5qi]

Thank you

[@hsn7018]

How kanye influenced kid cudi who influenced kanye to do 808

[@kanewill]

Mr west gave us such good music goat

[@suiuzi2054]

still*

[@reaper80808]

Gives*

[@rawnuhld]

WAKE UP MR WEST

[@thebootycheeks6230]

He’s alright now lmao

[@yadhavanselvaratnam2287]

Watch my producer tags video

[@emeraldskye4586]

4 more days till 808s was released TEN years ago, and two days until mbdtf came out 8 years agooo jeez

[@XxQueenChristinaxX]

Nice.

[@yeezyxswish4566]

Ima be blasting 808s & Heartbreak

[@emeraldskye4586]

REDBED DEGREE that’s what I been doing !!

[@jayson7136]

Kanye and Cudi literally created emo rap, I wish I was older then so I could enjoy both types of it. I was 5 then but I still loved heartless

[@chaosinorderrr]

Atmosphere has been doing emo rap since late 90s

[@KubEntertainment69]

Nah cudi alone pioneered it Was just a phase for Kanye so he had one album like it I guess u can say he’s a poser

[@trill5792]

Alex Kub he still influenced an entire generation but okay buddy

[@aesie1229]

@@trill5792 what rappers now did he influence? Or are you talking about the listeners.

[@iknowthepeople]

@@aesie1229 I’m guessing you didn’t watch any of this video

[@whoareu-podcastaboutlifeat257]

RoboCop is mad underrated

[@evanabat410]

Ken Kernen Paranoid is hella underrated

[@aidansullivan3683]

Fax

[@nasirjones3589]

"Who knew she was a drama queen that'll turn my life into Stephen Kings"

[@zyxsuxbl9441]

heartless best on the album

[@Cameron-tl2ty]

Shawty kinda crazy but it turn me onn

[@nikhilrampal7488]

808s made me feel feelings for a girl I've never met

[@joseclaros9501]

All the pain and struggle that Kanye goes through makes the elements that makes him stronger

[@frkzhng]

n-now th-that that dont kill me, can only make me stronger

[@TheGodNC]

You are mistaken. It's literally all love now that is powering him.

[@dabuek6105]

Why is Cudi in the clip art? He influenced Kanye on this album

[@theanswer1238]

Yeah, he literally have wrote a half of album

[@r.i.petika829]

So did other artist and producers?

[@aiden_fenix]

@@theanswer1238 3 tracks

[@user-qd6im2hp2e]

@@theanswer1238 he co-wrote Paranoid, Welcome to heartbreak, Heartless and Robocop

[@theanswer1238]

@@user-qd6im2hp2e ok, he co-wrote 4 tracks of 12 tracks album, sorry for my overstatement

[@cmd93infinite11]

Went through a high school breakup when it came out. I was in the 10th grade. This album was the most beautifully put together raw emotional music I’ve heard. Instant Classic. In my Top 10 all time albums.

[@hectormorones8733]

Kanye, cudi and Pharrell are my favorite artist and are huge influencers to what music is today.

[@ezraprzytyk]

Yea same!! but add kendrick

[@ThirdeyeXo]

Ezra Przytyk and add xxxtentacion

[@Homeboy_Brando]

Adam Jr Cardoza Muro No

[@ThirdeyeXo]

Homeboy_Brando give me a good reason why this legend can’t be in this list

[@MYKECHEXX]

Don’t don’t forget Chad Hugo

[@kevinwu8275]

You just refereed to Kid Cudi as Lonely Stoner, lol respect that 5:55

[@Renzov12]

kevin wu that transition was great

[@Yumemaru.]

Cudi #1

[@googledofferhas]

you mean reeferred? ;)

[@Tayya100]

Cuz he got a song called lonely stoner

[@solodolotrevino]

That’s Mr Rager to you

[@rashoo62]

I mean Travis Scott is basically Kanye’s album in a nutshell

[@ussr95]

That and Man on the Moon changed everything for real. I swear a whole generation got thru depression and shit cuss of them. The growth is phenomenal and to grow up with them was inspiring. Always getting out our dreams

[@user-qd6im2hp2e]

Reefer Phoenix Kanye executive produced that album.

[@Hari-jb5hj]

Finally, genius drops something good in a while

[@ChromeTecNina]

Agreed. Remember when they broke down the Pokemon theme song?

[@yadhavanselvaratnam2287]

Watch m producer tags video

[@cootesmedia8005]

This is a reupload

[@DJAlicorn]

@@ChromeTecNina yeah that shit was fire.

[@DJAlicorn]

Genius been dropping good shit but y'all only care about Kanye.

[@2024vasco]

Same with Kids See Ghosts : it is some sort of Psychedelic-vibe rap many will remember in future years

[@joeconti7090]

Vasco2024 kids see ghosts was a top 3 Kanye album ❌🧢

[@adesolao.2585]

nah give credit where credit was due, travis did psychedelic rap better and made it mainstream way before . owls pharoah, days before rodeo, rodeo, and he perfected it with trap in astroworld

[@youhaveapetllama7232]

make fun of him all you want but when we did he changed the game silently.

[@MostlyFish21]

Heartless and Coldest Winter are my two favorites off the album. Pretty good album but my beautiful dark twisted fantasy is my favorite Ye album

[@spa7us]

I like every album the same because each one has a different feel for however I’m feeling. The same goes for most songs on each album, but my fav rn is prob paranoid

[@marshallpo6414]

I always go back in forth between these 2 albums as the best Kanye album

[@cheesecakelasagna]

808s Yeezus TLOP Late Reg MBDTF Ye TCD Graduation JIK (Haven't heard it yet)

[@youngpoormillionaire]

CheesecakeLasagna how TF are you putting mbdtf 5th lmao

[@cheesecakelasagna]

YoungPoorMillionaire okay, now that I think of it, it’s above Late Reg.

[@tommyali1787]

no cap, this was one of the most INFLUENTIAL albums of this generation 💯

[@power_upxxx3913]

Tommmyyy L

[@rickygill661]

@@power_upxxx3913 your lifes an L

[@saucesensei4619]

@@power_upxxx3913 L you listen to a rapper that had one hit

[@AD-fi6em]

For real. This album shifted the entire genre. So ahead of its time.

[@rickygill661]

@@AD-fi6em yeah listen to it now still sounds like something that would come out today its its timeless

[@Yonverpage]

Such a great Album honestly. I forget about it sometimes but when i listen again, it'll be the only thing i'll listen to for weeks.

[@jimbo6519]

This album gave Cudi a huge platform which then allowed Travis to flourish

[@seabassurias]

Hey Mama is such a good song. it hits different sometimes and it can be a bit hard to listen to sometimes. thankful to still have my mom

[@lorandliszkai7084]

You can say anything you want about him, but the man is a musical genius and that's a fact.

[@cornbread4535]

Loránd Liszkai people get pissed when others call him a genius... Like bitch he’s literally a genius, by definition...

[@KaizerMan]

Genius is such a subjective term though. Many would argue if you’re only successful in pretty much the most accessible genres out with you being largely respected in popular cultures based on mass appeal, then it’s impossible to be a genius. Like a big fish in a small pond scenario I guess with how people regard genii as only existing in arts within high culture n shit. I’m a Kanye fan so I stay neutral really in the way that I’m a fan, but I also know there are more talented out there than Kanye so the argument of him not being a genius is a fair one. On one hand he’s a creative dude with great ideas & influence, on the other hand he can’t play any traditional instruments, doesn’t know any music theory or how to compose and he receives a lot of help for all the work he puts together. Like Ye’s talented but I’m not sure you & I are the right people to judge and decide who’s genius. The closest to genius I’d say within our mainstream pop culture would be Quincy Jones. He has both the creativity like Kanye that I speak of, but also crazy musical knowledge + success with hard bop jazz, longue music, film music, soul, funk (MJ’s trifecta of GOAT albums) & more. Kanye’s a creative mind & a visionary, but when people call him a genius or polymath I feel it’s a step too far.

[@KNGMO23]

stop trying to sound smart. he's a genius good bye@@KaizerMan

[@styl1ssttt]

@@cornbread4535 yeah

[@DynamicallyDC]

Facts! 💯

[@prod.drewuplife3575]

One of the greatest and most under appreciated albums of all time !!!

[@RetroEternal]

Kanye south it was only under appreciated at it’s time of release. That soon changed and is an undeniable classic

[@rickygill661]

@@RetroEternal i listened to it last week doesn't even sound from 2008 sounds like something you'd hear 2014-present

[@popsmokesintern6577]

Creative album. No where near top 50 though

[@jraymond1988]

lolololol that's the dumbest comment I've ever seen.

[@guxxihatpoe1748]

If I'm not mistaken, CuDi was actually influence for 808's...

[@adamhernandez7847]

Dark Caesar Cudi co-wrote every song and is the primary writer for half of it.... boy made the album lmfao

[@kefkapalazzo1]

Adam Daniel Hernandez nah thats The Weeknd and take care lmao

[@revertedrf978]

Adam Daniel Hernandez no Kanye made it

[@ISATGDuh]

Guxxi Hat & POE Ye should take credit cuz he popularized it

[@MrgoldenRose]

you are mistaken

[@johndiaz8080]

damn, RIP juice wrld.

[@GodfatherTmas]

:(

[@monomayabi]

i'm sorry i made ur likes 70 :(

[@cglample4066]

808's is a moment, a timeless classic. it birthed a new sub-genre of hip-hop. also, a *Kid* named *Cudi* produced & co-wrote 4 of its 12 tracks. Kanye & Cudi = 🐐 & 🐐

[@aaronrobymathew754]

Forever 🐐s KSG is a classic...

[@jeebs621]

808’s is so damn good

[@yadhavanselvaratnam2287]

Watch my producer tags video

[@jordanb3120]

It actually sucked. Kanye a legend tho

[@rara5x]

Facts

[@ZanzibarWizard]

Jordan B your opinion

[@AA-qb7ni]

Honestly, 808s & Heartbreak is one of the greatest album of all time.

[@IfuAintCrocin]

Streetlights was a song that got me through some rough moments. I have some memories of high school aged me crying in my car to that song while dealing with mental illness

[@joan3422]

"haters saying you changed. Now you doing your thang" He said that on graduation 11 years ago hahahaha and now everyone talking about we miss the old kanye. ironic he still the same kanye

[@Chaviero71]

"as soon as they like you, make them unlike you" from Yeezus deep inside, he's never changed

[@LTCAproductions]

Good morning

[@javianjohnson8746]

Remember when 808s and Heatbreaks was getting so much overwhelming hate when it first dropped? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

[@danielbenitez4120]

I remember hearing that peeps in high school said he fell off. more respect to my homies who didnt follow trends

[@desean3402]

Javian Johnson it’s still wack

[@superzrod7723]

its my favorite album since day one

[@lucascongdon309]

Javian Johnson I was 5 when it dropped so I don’t, wonder if Drake’s newer work will improve over time.

[@allahbless2278]

Real talk. Everyone was saying it was trash but me and my brother loved the shit out of it

[@jennyneon]

808's is one of the most underrated albums that Kanye has ever made. Overhated for nothing when it gave birth to most of artists now.

[@janez9932]

It's backkkk, I've been looking for this vid

[@cheesecakelasagna]

thank goodness you added one more k.

[@mrs.versailles5961]

My favorite song off this album is Paranoid. This album is classic for sure.

[@414riley]

Jessie Scott and Robocop

[@laurentulis4129]

Mrs. Versailles street lights is so underrated. My second favorite is Paranoid tho :)

[@nicholaswolfe1991]

@@laurentulis4129 FACTS 👌

[@kschumi]

No one can deny it. Ye is a genius.

[@yadhavanselvaratnam2287]

Watch my evolution of kanye vud

[@giorway9153]

Yall call him narcissist for saying it but he really is the most influential

[@sainteagle4426]

It's crazy how the mainstream doesn't credit or realize how much Kanye has influenced music. Without him, the music scene would be completely different right now. Man is 44 years old, started making music 20 years ago and is still relevant to this day. Few artists have been able to do that, and that alone is a testament to his genius.

[@jehovanahblahoua771]

His musical genius

[@Dc-tz7os]

808 & Heartbreak is an essential album. I don’t go a week without listening to it at least once

[@Dc-tz7os]

No not everything. Only MBDTF and back are essentials

[@henryjacobs1715]

Look I like 808s and Heartbreak but once a week is a LOT

[@tkhannibal2476]

Kanye is deff one of the best artists/creative of all time he's had a huge impact that can't be denied. Put him #1 Or 10 don't matter he's there. GOAT

[@user-qd6im2hp2e]

People need to stop saying Cudi made this album. He definitely helped, don’t get me wrong. But Cudi has writing credits on ONLY 4 out of 12 songs on the album; Welcome to heartbreak, Paranoid, Heartless and Robocop. That’s it. Ye has writing credits on every single song and produced the whole album, Cudi has 0 production credits. Those 808s and synths were Ye’s production.

[@mattb121395]

You just named the 4 biggest songs from that album. I get what you’re saying. But Cudi’s credits on those songs is what made this album so huge

[@user-qd6im2hp2e]

@@mattb121395 Say You Will, Street Lights, Amazing, Coldest Winter are great songs that Cudi has nothing to do with

[@zBaoyyyPvP]

He made 808's so he's everyone dad

[@Will-og9gv]

Kanye the goat period

[@ballislife6483]

vanilla ice would like to have a word with you

[@Lil-sv3ci]

@@ballislife6483 are you playing

[@vnthony2439]

Na fam Ja Rule the goat

[@raulh5457]

@@vnthony2439 lmao

[@dynamix_9568]

I'm sorry yes not Tupac

[@hugoduzit]

I know it’s an unpopular opinion but 808s & Heartbreak is my favorite Kanye album

[@2010sangreal]

Got the cover on my chest big dog

[@steelersfan419]

I'm with you bro. That's the shit that made me start listening to music in the first place wayyyy back in middle school. When I think of Kanye I don't think of the college dropout, I think of him with the long "mullet" style hair and the grey suit with the broken heart pin.

[@scumfccflower7742]

ZOMBiĖ SAME

[@theoriginalrhythm]

Mine too

[@DudeImWayBetter]

Number 4 for me

[@1stMarDiv4341]

808's & Heartbreak is a perfect example of why music is so highly subjective and often depenedent upon life experience. I was a sophomore in college when the album dropped and I loved it. Thought it was bold, unconventional, but could understand why people didn't like it. A decade of growth and experiencing success mixed with a few traumatic events/losses has completely changed the way I listen to it. It's one of the most important albums I've ever heard (for me), and has gotten me through some dark times.

[@InfamousKalen]

Everything Kanye does is laughed at or mocked at first by a naive generation of old dogs and later picked up as the current big thing by the next generation. Kanye literally paves the way and makes it come to life. He's something else.

[@yae7467]

Just did an essay on him and talked about all this

[@luisfersa6]

Can I read it?

[@blonded1787]

This was my first album ive ever owned. I didnt understood the lyrics but I felt the pain in the music. Still listening to this day.

[@ferrellssales180]

808s came out 15 years ago. Go back and listen to it. This man was lightyears ahead of his time.

[@JdL1495]

The fact that it was a raw, unpolished version of a sound that would become ubiquitous is part of the charm. I don't think that 100% of that project was executed flawlessly. Sometimes the vocal melodies didn't hit, sometimes the autotune was grating, but he took huge risks, committed to a vision and to an idea and explored all of its cracks and crevices. An astoundingly brave record that was willing to trade critical success for artistic integrity and aesthetic commitment.

[@Kushi2482]

808s has some of my favorite kanye songs. Paranoid, Street Lights, Heartless, Love Lockdown

[@gemsound]

Kanye West is the sole reason why I create music to this day...Late Registration is my favorite album of all time, but 808s & heartbreak is such an influential classic, it definitely still resonates 2day. I was sad when I heard that shit, so that lets u know that it was and still is such a beautiful piece of art.

[@Dougsheehan95]

808's was the first album I ever pre-ordered on iTunes and I'll never regret it. Love this album.

[@tylermahoney6280]

Kanye has made some of the coolest songs ever and on top of that he always says what he believes and doesn't give a fuck about what people say. Badass

[@jasongames11]

Greatest artist of all time.

[@FortHYPEZONE]

artist? lmao

[@ctylshi595]

Fort2312 HYPE ZONE what’s so funny?

[@vektorog]

@@FortHYPEZONE yup, artist.

[@papakrabz1926]

Fort2312 HYPE ZONE yes artist

[@megagravas]

No cap

[@jaydee2847]

Wonder if this means a psychedelic rock-rap wave is imminent following Kids See Ghosts?

[@lucascongdon309]

Iliketoplaygamez2847 should

[@anthonyespino7478]

Pusher Terrence I mean Travis helped with skeletons on astroworld so I wouldn’t be surprised

[@iamvain]

Pusher Terrence and here we are 8 months later with some pretty heavily inspired rock rap albums

[@yusufomar4086]

Travis been doing that since 14'

[@lorenzofiaccadori1041]

They are still catchin'up with Yeezus

[@SPIIIVA]

I remember graduation is when i fell in love with ye’s music so at the time of 808’s i had already heard all the albums front to back and i was expecting a similar album.. instead I got one of the most eye opening experiences ever in this amazing record

[@Chukaye1]

This video made me cry. Those songs were so raw

[@KaustubhMisraV_for_theJoker]

Welcome to heartbreak doesn't get the credit it deserves

[@dubbcee1000]

Kaustubh Misra shit I think it’s the realest song Kanye ever made.

[@GeorgioArmoni]

my fav song off the album

[@jackmoody235]

still not sure why its the second track, at the end Ye dramatically says "Welcome to heartbreaaaaak" like that shouldve been the first track

[@destroytmusicagan2476]

So he started today's emo rap along with Kid Cudi.

[@flamela284]

ILLESTR8 BEETS and Travis

[@destroytmusicagan2476]

Right so that's where Travis Scott, Suzi Hurt, Water WRLD, X, Trippie Redd and Post Malone getting that sound from.

[@ididgt4259]

I'd say Tyler's first couple of albums were emo.

[@lfcforever1482]

ILLESTR8 BEETS not Post Malone

[@destroytmusicagan2476]

lfcforever I don't know what about Psycho and Better Now those have an emo sound and feel to them.

[@michal2680]

8:00 damn

[@roadhouse8887]

Kanye, T-Pain, Wayne & Cudi started a whole new movement in the latter half of the 2000s that I honestly think we're just seeing the start of. A lot of rappers and singers today are blurring the lines between rapping, singing and sometimes just completely incoherent vocal melodies and humming. It's hard to even call a lot of the songs by artists like Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Rod Wave, Post Malone, Morray and Yung Bleu "rap." A lot of artists in this lane of hip hop (and r&b) seem to be moving away from "rapping" and are instead moving to something completely new that is much more focused on melody and the sonic landscape of the music rather than wordplay and flow etc. The influence of autotune on rap kind reminds me of the electric guitar's influence on the blues in the late 30s and 40s, which along with the jump blues movement would lead to a new sound that would eventually become known as rock'n'roll in the 50s. I almost wonder if this is what we're seeing today with these melodic & acoustic rappers as well as certain r&b artists like 6Lack, Frank Ocean, Sza etc. A whole new style of music. *Road House*

[@Born2EditHD]

You're actually comparing electric guitars to autotune? That's some BS

[@ojvic7297]

Shut up

[@MCSndrs]

For decade people have been afraid of what they dont understand

[@alancotter4825]

Kanye has a way bigger influence on today’s rappers than Biggie or 2Pac

[@ryrocmusic3974]

Your Friendly Neighborhood Koala BIG FAX NO PRINTER

[@emiliocabeza2697]

Your Friendly Neighborhood Koala Kanye’s reach is closer due to time kids now a day don’t wanna hear 90’s hip hop influences like they only care about partying and fucking and doing drugs. Kanye is probably the last most influential Artists of our time who has given rap its last Jems because I don’t see anybody else up to take the plate or willing to change the sound to something new for a while.

[@VitruvianVictor]

i mean that’s pretty obvious tho. a better take would be saying Kanye is more influential period

[@MartynsSimpson]

@@emiliocabeza2697 come on dude... you sound like an oldhead.

[@Tbatbatba88]

absolutely Big and Pacs influence died when Soulja boy debuted.

[@vfordyslexia]

I genuinely pressed play to see what I was missing about Kanye's music but now it finally dawned to me. Kanye West is respected and revered as one of the precursors to today's state of music.

[@phoenixmoon5203]

im 19 the FIRST kanye album i remember finding is 808s & heartbreak ! i would always hope love lockdown would play on the radio & i was in the 8th grade when YEEZUS came out & it changed my life

[@DVRKSTXR]

Kanye West, Kid Cudi, and Lil Wayne birthed the new generation of rappers that we have today. #MADFAX 💯

[@dtwallace3017]

PHXNTXM It Tupac Biggie Jay Z Eminem Kayne West T.I Lil Wayne kid cudi pusha T J cole and Kendrick Lamar are the best artists 🙏🏽

[@khalidmuhidinhagi8173]

PHXNTXM How can u forget the goat chief keef

[@carolinabertolini6928]

So true!!!

[@HotBoii91]

Kid cudi?? Lol.

[@DylD20]

@@HotBoii91 cudi is literally the reason why we have Travis Scott and everybody has been copying Trav of the last 4 years

[@killakam123321]

Wasnt cudi a major part of 808s?

[@shadanr9]

You are correct

[@DarkStarEdd]

Yeah he has like vocals on every song

[@bbernal18_]

he was part inspiration to make 808s

[@user-qd6im2hp2e]

Like 4 songs

[@sherwintavarez8539]

I mean yeah, they say it in the video

[@keaqan]

i love the depth that goes into the making a music nobody was expecting to ever hear

[@louwaars]

Welcome to heartbreak gives me goosebumps. And i can't even relate, thats how strong the production is.

[@PieterSirks]

facts

[@WhosBreezyUK]

808s has started to grow on me so much. First I only liked Heartless and Love Lockdown. Now I also like Welcome To Heartbreak, Amazing, Robocop & of course Street Lights. Paranoid is also starting to grow on me a little bit. This album was really ahead of its time, Kanye West is a musical genius.

[@che24vy]

Those earrings😂 he looks like a supreme kai 😂😂😂

[@marcell7406]

Laquisha Wilks 😂😂😂

[@waheebulla5003]

I was around 15 back in 2008 and Kanye's Heartless had newly dropped and was always played on one channel on our Network. I was glued to the TV and only kept mumbling the tune. My mother who doesn't speak English, later admitted that she started liking that song and felt the singer (Kanye) was in pain. This shows how transient of a music artist Ye is and the impact his music has even on people who don't speak English. Fun Fact: It played on shuffle once it brought flashbacks to my mum. She reminded me of the times when I'd finish school and watch this one song on repeat that had a cartoon music video of a guy saying things like Heartless..

[@doctorustrollinski8186]

been bangin 808s since its release, and been called crazy idk how many times for being absolutely in love with it. im really happy that people may start looking back on this album more gloriously