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. RuneLanghoff
    Nov 30, 2008
    10
    only second to college dropout which scores 11 in my book
  2. JeffRicottone
    Nov 30, 2008
    10
    Heart breaking honesty and breath taking production. This album will never lose social relevance, while simultaneously putting a chink in the armor of the song wrighter/performer model. Ok ok ok, I didn't laugh, but it did make me cry.
  3. sergiodevcic
    Dec 5, 2008
    10
    this is future, this cd will change the music as the form we have been used to. i'm not surprised it was done by Kanye, the man simply has outgrown the rap...ps-i bet he listened to Burial while making Bad News :-) go, Kanye, go!
  4. FeipeLima
    Dec 5, 2008
    10
    Fantastic Album!!
  5. NamahotoRidajo
    Dec 6, 2008
    10
    Without a doubt one of the best albums of the year, up there with In Rainbows
  6. GB
    Feb 21, 2009
    10
    Absolutely listen to it several times. I promise if you like your music real and not paint-by numbers this one will sneak up on you. I have to put it as one of the best albums this year. I will be listening to this one for years.
  7. Armen
    Nov 25, 2008
    10
    An amazing album. There is emotional depth and artistic growth here. Indeed an excellent record.
  8. DeboA
    Nov 26, 2008
    10
    Surprisingly Brilliant! 808s and Heartbreak find Mr. West doing more soul-searching than ever before, a reflective well sequenced and still has enough beats to be a 'Kanye' album! Not many hip hop/rap artistes would even think to do what he's done with this album and those who would dare to maybe would not have succeeded like he has! Well done, again Kanye!
  9. JJBersch
    Dec 1, 2008
    10
    It's simple, what he needed to do, and beautiful. I can't ask for much more from my favorite artist, can I? We finally get to see Kanye more personally.
  10. MelesaWangerin
    Dec 15, 2008
    10
    Loved it because it's so different then what everyone else is doing, especially in hip-hop. Brilliant. Although, the lyrics lacked in some areas. The music and he's singing made up for it. Great job Kanye!
  11. samanthab
    Dec 17, 2008
    10
    he is awesome no matter what
  12. PeterF
    Jul 11, 2009
    10
    Best "hip-hop" album of the century. I don´t know if it is because of my feelings when I heard this, or just because it is really good. But one thing - Welcome To Heartbreak is genial track.. Love or hate Kanye, love or hate 808s, but I love them both.
  13. titusdemyers
    Nov 25, 2008
    10
    MASTERPIECE
  14. GerardoSánchez
    Nov 27, 2008
    10
    just perfect
  15. nataliedonald
    Dec 22, 2008
    10
    Listen to it 3 times over. Just sit down, close your eyes, and listen. I guarantee you will get over all the misconceptions about this album. Sure, he over uses the voice audacity machine. But this is an amazing album, truly heartfelt.
  16. jk
    Jan 26, 2009
    10
    All honesty and grit. Somebody tell Scott Plagenhoef and the copycats over on stereogum to shut it up.
  17. robh
    Sep 14, 2009
    10
    A masterpiece far above the intellect and musicianship of the average hip hop fan who will still believe that late registration is his masterpiece.
  18. DAVIDCarrillo
    Nov 25, 2008
    10
    He took a gamble with this album and hit the jack pot.
  19. Ryan
    Nov 25, 2008
    10
    Kanye steps outside of his comfort zone and actually sings with the aid of Auto-Tune. Kanye addresses all of his problems that he has been faced with in the past year. Breaking up with his girlfriend and the death of his mother are central points of his album. Kanye even gives a tribute to his mother on Coldest Winter. All in all Kanye's experimental album actually works very well Kanye steps outside of his comfort zone and actually sings with the aid of Auto-Tune. Kanye addresses all of his problems that he has been faced with in the past year. Breaking up with his girlfriend and the death of his mother are central points of his album. Kanye even gives a tribute to his mother on Coldest Winter. All in all Kanye's experimental album actually works very well and those that were disappointed with this album should not dispair because next Kanye is releasing an album which he raps on.… Expand
  20. ww@ww.ww
    Nov 26, 2008
    10
    w
  21. SeanSmith
    Nov 27, 2008
    10
    With his 4th album Kanye manages to deliver a piece of music that will be able to stand the test of time. Kanye perfectly captures the feeling of "Heartbreak". The cold emptiness that is inside of everyone when a person that you love leaves you. Through the use of 808 drums in combination with auto-tune and distortion effects he creates exactly this atmosphere. The album is perfect from With his 4th album Kanye manages to deliver a piece of music that will be able to stand the test of time. Kanye perfectly captures the feeling of "Heartbreak". The cold emptiness that is inside of everyone when a person that you love leaves you. Through the use of 808 drums in combination with auto-tune and distortion effects he creates exactly this atmosphere. The album is perfect from beginning to end. It just sucks you in and doesn't let you out until it's over. This is Kanye's Thriller, Joshua Tree or Nevermind. He's now in one league with the greatest artists in the world. Maybe he's even one step ahead of them.… Expand
  22. danielw
    Dec 11, 2008
    10
    Album of the year, IMHO. In time, this will come to be seen as hip hop's Sargent Pepper, an album that extends the range of an entire musical idiom. This is a hip hop album, to be sure, but one that seems to have breathed in elements of myriad other musical styles and integrated them into its DNA. I can't stop listening to it.
  23. thatguynamed20r
    Jun 12, 2011
    10
    Perfect album, I feel like Kanye is going on a journey, that is relatable and compassionate, I feel like I am following in his footsteps through his albums, Street lights is basic, yet the way he sings with so much emotion, it makes it meaningful and important and seem so deep.
  24. mattnog11
    Nov 9, 2010
    10
    although many people will disagree i thought that this album was amazing. every song had a great meaning i love every song except for the last one for obvious reasons but this album still deserves a 10. kanye has always been amazing and he has not disappointed with this album.
  25. le_one
    Jul 22, 2013
    10
    Kanye was ahead of his time when making this masterpiece. That's why most people can't understand it. It's the most emotional and honest work he's ever done. His challenge of using only 808s to make the beats was daring and he accomplished, but people don't give him credit. His attempts of trying to express his feelings through the vocal melody with the help of auto-tune were accomplished,Kanye was ahead of his time when making this masterpiece. That's why most people can't understand it. It's the most emotional and honest work he's ever done. His challenge of using only 808s to make the beats was daring and he accomplished, but people don't give him credit. His attempts of trying to express his feelings through the vocal melody with the help of auto-tune were accomplished, but people don't give him credit. The goal of creating beautiful instrumentation with memorable pianos and strings was accomplished, but... guess what? No one gives him credit. This should be the future of music. It's a shame most people just "don't get it".… Expand
  26. AD421
    Aug 23, 2011
    10
    808s is a musical risk and a musical masterpiece. it's ahead of it's time and I feel it's greatness will be recognized as time passes. Kanye encapsulates his sorrow into one of the most somber records I've ever heard. I feel it has more relevance to post-punk and goth than it does to hip hop. Auto-tune was used to give Kanye a dead emotionless tone to his voice as if he was trying to808s is a musical risk and a musical masterpiece. it's ahead of it's time and I feel it's greatness will be recognized as time passes. Kanye encapsulates his sorrow into one of the most somber records I've ever heard. I feel it has more relevance to post-punk and goth than it does to hip hop. Auto-tune was used to give Kanye a dead emotionless tone to his voice as if he was trying to revive Ian Curtis from Joy Division and the "drum" sound on "Welcome to Heartbreak" and "Coldest Winter" are reminiscent of early Cure records. While sounding emotionless he still manages to make you feel his pain throughout the record. I can't see how people were disappointed or let down because this goes beyond hip-hop and genres. Its a mans musical exploration and it definitely paid off.… Expand
  27. PenellParis
    Sep 29, 2011
    10
    I feel like this is one of Kanye's strongest albums and in it he really lets you know what his life is going through or what position he was in at the time but not only that, i felt like i got to know him or understand him more by listening to those powerful songs. I actually think he should do another vocal album and strengthen his self in that area.
  28. kidwithopinions
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    Its simple science. He was clear with the title of what the mood was. He created multiple ways of making us feel what the theme was. Regardless if you enjoy Kanye or not, its hard to dispute that.
  29. TwistedFantasy
    Aug 1, 2012
    10
    "808s & HB" is what happened when a temporarily-depressed Hip-hop artist made a pop album... and it worked.

    Kanye uses auto-tune in an artistic way rather than an excuse for lack of talent. The auto-tune mixes well with the cold, electronic-influenced production and lyrics, which revolve around different types of heartbreak.
  30. Smellis
    Jun 21, 2013
    10
    Kanye's most underrated album. Period. Yeezus might possibly challenge it in years to come but right now, this is it. The songwriting, sample choices and subject matter are on point for me. I know that this album gets a lot of hate, but it's for the wrong reasons. I think that people hate it not because it was a bad album, but because it was a lane change and the fact that it wasKanye's most underrated album. Period. Yeezus might possibly challenge it in years to come but right now, this is it. The songwriting, sample choices and subject matter are on point for me. I know that this album gets a lot of hate, but it's for the wrong reasons. I think that people hate it not because it was a bad album, but because it was a lane change and the fact that it was inconsistent with his previous 3 efforts and the beast of an album that followed. But that does not take away from the brilliance of it. However, that's a small portion of why this album deserves a 10.

    This album has had such a profound effect on Hip-Hop and R'n'B, it's unreal. It's because of 808s that rappers have become more emotional with their lyrics. Some artists this album influenced includes but is not restricted to:
    Frank Ocean
    The Weeknd
    B.o.B
    Kid Cudi
    DRAKE. BIG TIME. So Far Gone and Take Care are oozing with 808s influence!
    Another small portion of why this album deserves a 10.

    The biggest reason this album ranks so high for me is because it's a huge turning point in Kanye's career. He made an album as to how he FELT at the time and alienated a large portion of his audience in a potential career killing move and made it out alive. Not many artists can not only come back after such an experiment, but produce such a magnificent Opus in it's wake.

    This album will get the praise and recognition it truly deserves in due time.    … Expand
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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.
    Read full review
  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."
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »