Kanye West's 808s & Hearbreak

808s & Heartbreak - Finally the album I have been yearning to listen to this year. In the midst of the financial meltdown and post depression felt with all the terrorist attack, meshed together with your own personal issues in work, school or family, I think this album is rather therapeutic in helping one through such difficult moments. The concept of 808s & Heartbreak came from the loss, loneliness and loaning houses for companionship and a sense of normalcy. Not your typical hip hop album because West did more melodies than rapping with the help of the Roland TR-808 drum machine, something which he felt that can be used to evoke emotion. Another highlight in the album is the heavy reliance on the voice audio processor technology of Auto-Tune. Its true that if he didn't use Auto-Tune, he might not be able to push this album to another level but somehow the effect of the Auto-Tune is a true representation of the effects of desperation and heartbreak. I wouldn't say this album is a redefinition of hip hop but definitely a different sort of hip hop album with a heavy theme being injected into it and its a permanent keeper in my play list.

01. Say You Will
02. Welcome to Heartbreak (Featuring Kid Cudi)
03. Heartless
04. Amazing (Featuring Young Jeezy)
05. Love Lockdown
06. Paranoid (Featuring Mr Hudson)
07. RoboCop
08. Street Lights
09. Bad News
10. See You in My Nightmares (Featuring Lil Wayne)
11. Coldest Winter
12. Pinocchio Story (Freestyle Live from Singapore)