808s & Heartbreak
by Kanye West
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1156 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 966 out of 1156
  2. Mixed: 74 out of 1156
  3. Negative: 116 out of 1156

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  1. NateP.
    Nov 26, 2008
    5
    The first half of the album is quite nice, especially "Welcome to Heartbreak." The rest of the album, however, fades into a string of songs that are extremely bland, whiny, and just not amusing.
  2. BenBacon
    Dec 1, 2008
    4
    I hate 50 Cent. Let me "say it twice" (thanks, Sway Dasafo): I hate 50 Cent. But 'twas Curtis who summed it up best, "It sounds like T-Pain's album. I would rather buy T-Pain's album from T-Pain." I am well on my way to an ulcer from T-Pain's incestuous use of the auto-tune function. And now Kanye's a biter (even though he claims to have created it on his first I hate 50 Cent. Let me "say it twice" (thanks, Sway Dasafo): I hate 50 Cent. But 'twas Curtis who summed it up best, "It sounds like T-Pain's album. I would rather buy T-Pain's album from T-Pain." I am well on my way to an ulcer from T-Pain's incestuous use of the auto-tune function. And now Kanye's a biter (even though he claims to have created it on his first commercial drop)? Blerg! Now, I must quote the brilliant Tina Fey, for only her words will suffice: WHAT the WHAT?!… Expand
  3. NicoMontuoro
    Jul 8, 2013
    5
    Inconsistent album. There are a lot of unnecessary autotune and vocoder. Yeah, that was the Kanye's idea to write the songs, but sometimes the autotune hits your ears and that's horrible. The album has a good part around the middle(Amazing, Love Lockdown, Paranoid, RoboCop) but it has terrible songs later like Bad News or See You In My Nightmares. Not good at all.
  4. Urbanlistener
    Apr 28, 2015
    6
    Strange, but not bad, 8o8s & Heartbreak his Kanye's weakest effort to date by relying way too much on auto-tune and commercial club pop songs and not enough on his hip-hop genius.
  5. garfield7081
    Mar 25, 2022
    6
    one of kanye's weaker albums, each song is really hit or miss.

    best song: see you in my nightmares

    worst song: pinocchio story
  6. Recon97
    Oct 4, 2017
    6
    I honestly like this album more than dislike, but some of the songs on it are AWFUL. With only half-decent production, really hit-or-miss autotuned singing, and really lackluster lyrics, this is one of Kanyes worst. Still not as bad as Yeezus, tho! 6/10
  7. Atum_
    Jun 8, 2020
    4
    I don't care. I don't like this album. The autotune is just annoying and some of the beats are just bad. I get that he was in a very dark place while recording this, but it doesn't mean that the music is any good. What's even worse is how influencial this record is. It spawned a generation of immitarors, doing an even worse jon than Kanye on this moody auotuney sub-genre. I wish this albumI don't care. I don't like this album. The autotune is just annoying and some of the beats are just bad. I get that he was in a very dark place while recording this, but it doesn't mean that the music is any good. What's even worse is how influencial this record is. It spawned a generation of immitarors, doing an even worse jon than Kanye on this moody auotuney sub-genre. I wish this album never was. That being said, favorite track: Heartless and Amazing… Expand
  8. clem666
    Mar 30, 2021
    6
    Only a year after the great 'Graduation' Kanye goes back to work to produce '808s Heartbreak' which totally varies by its style, the themes adressed and its structure. No doubt that the overly famous 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' already was in gestation as it was meant to come out two years later.

    As its title suggests this project significantly gravitate around the concepts of    Only a year after the great 'Graduation' Kanye goes back to work to produce '808s Heartbreak' which totally varies by its style, the themes adressed and its structure. No doubt that the overly famous 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' already was in gestation as it was meant to come out two years later.

    As its title suggests this project significantly gravitate around the concepts of love, rupture and loss. Anyway Kanye surprisingly made the choice to rap and sing less in order to let even more place to the music itself. This choice make the production appear to the fore. And this one is particular as it often sounds repetitive, overly simple and sometimes looking effortless. The first track 'Say You Will' is a perfect example as it simply consists in 6 minutes of the same repetitive monotone beat. And it goes the same way for the second half on 'Bad News'. If it can contribute to the charm of the project it surely also makes it seem more shallow and superficial than it is as it underlines Kanye's lack of artistic and content ideas. It reduces this album replayability. The track 'Robocop' is really weird as I find its production both deep and original and dull with its robotic useless repetitve sounds. 'Pinocchio Story' also made me cring a bit. What idea is this to put a 6 minute-long live track as outro of such an album ?

    The presence of Kid Cudi is a miracle since him and Kanye are meant to work in duo in order to craft some of the most powerful songs and albums (like 'Kids See Ghosts' to only cite one). Their symbiosis is truly impressive. Excepted him the other guests also bring more versatility to the whole content and deliver some interesting verses.    … Expand
  9. andyn823
    Jun 6, 2020
    6
    "808s and Heartbreak" is Kanye's experience of pop music. I think this album is an OK album. Catchy beats, clean contents. One thing that I don't like of this album... repetitive lyrics. For example, ("Goodbye my friend will I ever love again" x3 times in "Coldest Winter") This album, I think, is emotional and a little bit of creative. My favorites on this album are "Coldest Winter","808s and Heartbreak" is Kanye's experience of pop music. I think this album is an OK album. Catchy beats, clean contents. One thing that I don't like of this album... repetitive lyrics. For example, ("Goodbye my friend will I ever love again" x3 times in "Coldest Winter") This album, I think, is emotional and a little bit of creative. My favorites on this album are "Coldest Winter", "Welcome to Heartbreak", "Paranoid", "Street Lights", 'See You In My Nightmare".… Expand
  10. Wowisawow
    Apr 16, 2021
    6
    I don't really like this album that much. It's just not my style. But I can respect that it's shaped this decade's music for the good

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Most Discussed Album of 2008
2
#2 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. Sputnikmusic
    70
    Kanye West’s fourth album 808s and Heartbreak follows the crowd rather than leads it. Where he steps, the footprints of T-Pain are readily visible. His use of auto-tune throughout the album is heavy, and in songs like Heartless and Love Lockdown its use is appealing.
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  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    The resounding verdict is that it’s a surprising, but bold and brave progression from last year’s confused "Graduation."
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  3. Observer Music Monthly
    80
    It might seem harsh but let's hope he doesn't find too much happiness in the meantime. Loneliness is proving quite the muse.
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