One of the few tracks on the album that is actually from a female’s perspective. “Pinocchio Story” was most recently performed during Yeezy’s two-night Hollywood Bowl cinematic expression with a 10-minute extended version. There was never a studio version recorded because it would’ve taken away from the realness of the song, where Kanye touches on his imperfections and disconnect from the real world, which coincided with the LP’s theme. It wasn’t planned to be a part of the album until Beyonce fell in love with the raw recording of the track, which really made it special, audience shrieks included. Lil Wayne delivers a growly verse on “See You In My Nightmare” that suggests genuine hurt over a breakup: “Baby girl I’m finished / I thought we were committed / I thought we were cemented / I really thought we meant it.” It is strange indeed, even in the context of a record with “heartbreak” in the title, to hear so many swaggering rappers sound so wounded.The cathartic “Pinocchio Story” was first performed in Singapore as a freestyle before 808s & Heartbreak was even released. “Amazing” grinds to a halt with a scream, and then Jeezy starts rapping about his sodium intake and cardiovascular health.

And he’s brought his pals along for the ride. First came the conflicted “Diamonds From Sierra Leone,” then came his guest verse on Young Jeezy’s “Put On,” and now we get “Welcome To Heartbreak,” which begins like so: “My friend showed me pictures of his kids / And all I could show him was pictures of my cribs / He said his daughter got a brand new report card / And all I got was a brand new sports car.”įor whatever reason-grief, boredom, curiosity-West has apparently entered his dark experimental period. Lyric nerds might also note that this album continues the trend of West railing against materialism. Armchair pop psychiatrists will surely attribute the somber vibe to the death of West’s mother, Donda, who is pictured in a six-panel photograph inside 808 ’s liner notes. 808s, as much as anything, is a meditation on anxiety. Then again, the sense of melancholy that hangs over this record might have existed regardless of whether he decided to rap.

Ye 808s and heartbreak