It seems Kanye West is set on ending 2008 with a bang. Mr. West sent the industry into a stupor when he performed his quirky new single, “Love Lockdown,” at Sunday’s MTV VMAs. Fans, critics and bloggers quickly went crazy over the possibility that Kanye’s auto-tune-assisted love ballad might be the product of new album. Both Target and Amazon confirmed a December 16 release date for West’s fourth album, aptly titled 808’s and Heartbreak. Very little information has been given about the actual project, but we can assume that the self-proclaimed “biggest star in the universe,” is prepping the masses for something crazy. With that said, we decided to take the information we have about the album and forecast what to possibly expect come December.
The Title: What’s interesting about this title is that Kanye has finally dropped his whole college theme. In a reference to 808 bass and uh, well, heartbreak, one can only guess that he will be wearing his sensitive sweater a lot more on this album. Kanye, just don’t go all LL on us!
The First Single: Okay, it might not be the confirmed, official first single, but we’d be lying if we said people are feeling “Love Lockdown.” At first listen the track sounds like a leftover T-Pain track, but with worse singing, not to knock the man’s vocal chops (or lack thereof). Unfortunately, the dope production and heart-wrenched lyrics are lost in Kanye’s wailing. Either way, one thing is clear: we can expect to hear a side of Kanye we haven’t heard before, which is saying a lot for a man who already pushes himself to the musical limit on every release.
The Timing: Now that it is official, you can go ahead and call this one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Several industry pundits are tossing out the idea that 808’s and Heartbreak could match or even surpass by record numbers Lil’ Wayne’s Tha Carter III. Add to that to the fact that Kanye’s “Big Brother” Jay-Z is set to drop The Blueprint 3 in the same month, and you have enough drama and hype to buy the album off of general principle. – gavin philip godfrey
