Kanye West "808s and Heartbreak"

The fourth studio album by American rapper Kanye West, called "808s & Heartbreak", was released on November 24, 2008 by Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. The album was produced by Kanye West, along with No I.D., Plain Pat, Jeff Bhasker, and Mr Hudson, and features guest vocalists such as Kid Cudi, Young Jeezy, and Lil Wayne.

The album is a departure from Kanye West's previous rap records, as it features a minimalist, electronic sound and vocals sung through an Auto-Tune processor. The album's lyrics explore themes of loss, fame, and heartache, inspired by personal events such as the death of Kanye West's mother and his breakup with his fiancée.

Following the release of his third album Graduation in 2007, Kanye West faced a series of life-changing events. These included the death of his mother due to complications from cosmetic surgery, the end of his long-term relationship with fiancée Alexis Phifer, and his struggles with adapting to his newfound pop stardom and the accompanying media attention. These experiences left Kanye West feeling lonely and in need of emotional expression, which he felt could not be fully achieved through rapping alone. He was inspired to create his fourth album, "808s & Heartbreak", which he described as therapeutic. Despite the backlash against pop music at the time, West wanted to create a pop album and even considered it a new genre that he called "pop art".

Despite mixed responses from listeners, the album received positive reviews from music critics and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling over 450,000 copies in its first week. The album has been credited with pioneering the emo rap and experimental R&B subgenres, and has influenced a new wave of rappers, singers, and producers. Rolling Stone included "808s & Heartbreak" in its list of "The 40 Most Groundbreaking Albums of All Time" and ranked it number 244 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.