Take the brooding “Amazing”, for example, whose second verse encapsulates the past decade of Kanye:
Strangely enough, these polarizing misgivings were teased by the pain and alienation embedded within 808s. Adding to that frustration is his running list of associations with objectively terrible people, the likes of which include and is absolutely not limited to Bill Cosby, Louis CK, 6ix9ine, XXXTentacion, and Chris Brown. Today, even Kanye’s most staunch defenders can’t deny that his support for President Donald Trump was, at best, shamefully ignorant and selfish. In short, we’re still living in West-world.īut that world is also exhausted. Look no further than hits like Lil Uzi Vert’s “XO TOUR Llife”, XXXTentacion’s “Sad!”, or Drake’s “In My Feelings”, which spent a whopping 10 weeks atop the Billboard charts earlier this year. “Heartless”, in particular, exemplifies the way that 808s and its progeny can simultaneously inhabit the realms of club bangers and lonely bedroom anthems. The lyrics are a bit on-the-nose, even measured against Kanye’s usual blunt style, but this icy, whirlwind anti-tribute to Phifer laid the groundwork for rap’s emotional opening. It all goes back to Kanye’s torn-up love letters. One particular name is Drake, who’s gone on to perfect the blend through dozens of chart-topping singles that have more or less turned the “ 808s sound” into the epicenter of the pop music zeitgeist: catchy melodies crisp, methodical production and lyrics that either bleed sadness from an open wound or extol the hedonistic pursuits that cover up said bruises. This seemingly uncanny valley of humanity created a formula that has since opened the door for hordes of introspective young rappers. Whether it’s the arching melancholia of “Street Lights” or the pained wails of “Coldest Winter”, Kanye’s robotic detachment mirrors one’s futility in holding back raw emotion.
By funneling his angst through the computer, Kanye ironically made himself sound even more human, going from a god on the mic to a mortal in the machine. Yet, those Auto-Tuned vocals are what’s fueled 808s’ enduring relevance over the past decade. It was weird, it was cold, and it was incredibly divisive.īoth critics and fans were mixed on the new Kanye, but they were especially critical of his rough vocal delivery. Instead, we pushed back a half-open door to a multi-million-dollar Chicago high rise apartment, only to find an Auto-Tuned Yeezy, singing glum poetry over minimalist beats as a neon light flickered aimlessly in the corner. Gone was the bombast of 2007’s Graduation, the majesty of 2005’s Late Registration, and the jaunt of his 2004 debut, College Dropout. However, all of that loneliness and guilt, further amplified by West’s separation from his fiancee, Alexis Phifer, manifested into 808s & Heartbreak, which debuted 10 years ago today. When his mother Donda died in 2007, everything changed. Between each bar, he quietly teased an inner vulnerability that was rare among his peers, meditating on his faith, his family, and his racial consciousness. With his first three albums, Kanye rose to the top of the world, flaunting his fame with a critical eye over bouncy soul samples and synth-heavy arena rock. In 2008 - before the Kardashians, before the Twitter tirades, before the #MAGA bullshit - there was Kanye West, producer extraordinaire, brash Chicagoan, Back to the Future superfan.
0 kommentar(er)
