808s & Heartbreak

808s & Heartbreak is the fourth studio album by the American rapper Kanye West. It was released through Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records on November 24, 2008. West recorded it between September and October 2008 at Glenwood Studios in Burbank, California and Avex Recording Studio in Honolulu, Hawaii, and produced it with assistance from No I.D., Plain Pat, Jeff Bhasker, and Mr Hudson. Guest appearances include Kid Cudi, Young Jeezy, Mr Hudson, and Lil Wayne. West conceived 808s & Heartbreak following the death of his mother Donda in November 2007 and his breakup with his then-fiancée Alexis Phifer in April 2008. It marked a major artistic departure from his previous hip-hop records; West mostly sings instead of rapping, with vocals processed through Auto-Tune against an electronic production and minimalist sonic palette, including prominent use of minor keys and the Roland TR-808 drum machine. Lyrical themes include loss, heartache, and West's struggles with pop stardom. 808s & Heartbreak's announcement bewildered audiences, who were taken aback by its departure from West's previous work, but it debuted atop the Billboard 200 and received positive reviews, with praise for West's experimentation. It was promoted with four singles, including "Love Lockdown", which became the highest Billboard Hot 100 debut of West's career, and "Heartless", which was certified septuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Numerous publications named 808s & Heartbreak one of the best albums of 2008, and its third single, "Amazing", was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 52nd Grammy Awards. Music journalists regard 808s & Heartbreak as one of West's most influential albums, as it had an immediate impact on hip-hop, pop, and R&B music; many rappers, singers, and producers adopted its stylistic and thematic elements. It has been credited with pioneering the...