Your Favorite White Boy

HE GOOD: Innovative mixture of sounds; raw subject matter; its still a Kanye production.

THE BAD: Simplistic lyrics; none of Kanye’s signature swag; some sounds were never meant to be together.

BOTTOM LINE: Heartbreak stretches even the broadest definition of what hip-hop is.

YFWB RATING: 2.5 out of 5

Admittedly, one of the most challenging aspects of being a serious fan and listener of hip-hop is that many within that same community have very defined ideas on what exactly constitutes “hip-hop.” Some feel that it should be limited to its roots: hard beats, unique samples and lyrical braggadocio interlaced with images about poverty and urban life. Others believe that hip-hop is whatever a hip-hop artist wants it to be. Those who fall in the latter category enthusiastically support artists that push the creative envelope and broaden the soundscape of rap music.

I am, for the most part, between the two islands. I grew up on rap that falls into the more traditional definition, but I have come to enjoy hip-hop that is defined by new sounds, creativity and most importantly, originality. With that, despite my general misgivings of the well-publicized new direction Kanye has embarked on, I decided to listen to Heartbreak with a decidedly open mind.

In many respects, Heartbreak is a detour from Kanye’s previous albums – but not in the way one would think. In many ways, Heartbreak continues down the path West has established: autotune, sing-song verses and unconventional instrumentation can be found throughout The College Dropout , Late Registration and Graduation . The detour is largely found in the degree in which those elements make up the foundation of West’s latest offering. The other notable detour is the narrow subject matter. Kanye has forgone his typical rhymes about politics, swag, culture and his lyrical and sexual prowess to focus almost exclusively on heartbreak, pain, sadness, loneliness and relationships.

But have no doubt – this is not your typical Kanye West album. It is even debatable whether Heartbreak is a rap album at all. With its off-tempo beat backdrops, its heavy reliance on singing and in an era where lyrics aren’t everything – they’re the only thing – Kanye has chosen an interesting time to take it back to basics. Those who are hoping to catch a glimpse of the Louis Vuitton Don in all his egomaniacal glory will be disappointed. No mayonnaise-colored Benz; no miracle whips.

For me, the further West deviates from this previously established formula, the less I enjoy the track. While I can appreciate songs like “Robocop”, “Street Lights” and “Paranoid” for their innovative sound, the simplistic singing style and obvious attempt to be as experimental as possible test even the most open-minded rap fan. Let’s be honest – many of the songs on Heartbreak aren’t rap joints in any discernible way. It is extremely difficult to judge much of the album within even a broad hip-hop paradigm.

But despite this, Kanye West’s genius is unmistakable. West is now on par with legendary producers Dr. Dre and Timbaland in terms of boundless creativity, innovative use of live instruments and the relentless pursuit of perfection in the final product. Songs like “Welcome To My Heartbreak” and “Say You Will” change forever what exactly a rap song is. Win, lose or draw, only these three individuals could even pull off Heartbreak . That in and of itself deserves credit regardless of whether you feel Heartbreak is a creative masterpiece or an affront to hip-hop.

Originality is Heartbreak’s single biggest asset. Songs like “Coldest Winter”, “Bad News” “See You In My Nightmares” deal with strong personal issues rarely seen in rap today. When Kanye stated “We’re all self-conscious/I’m just the first to admit it” on Dropout , he wasn’t kidding. West brings that same originality to the the album’s sonic foundations. Only Kanye could bring together tribal drums, classic keyboards circa 1984 and violins on one track.

Nevertheless, with tracks like “Amazing”, “Heartless” and the aforementioned “Welcome”, Kanye successfully bridges his visionary sound with more traditional rap music. These songs are the natural extension of the Kanye West we know and love. They are the easiest for the typical rap fan to digest. Unfortunately for fans of Kanye’s previous musical incarnations, these type of cuts are decidedly in the minority.

Ultimately, this is the criteria on which Heartbreak will be judged. Undoubtedly, 808s and Heartbreak will appeal to a broader segment of music fans. But as a rap fan, you either you accept Kanye West’s new direction or you don’t. In order to even have a chance of enjoying Kanye’s new album, you will need to leave your rap sensibilities at the door. Many will take that leap; others cannot be blamed for skipping Heartbreak to wait for Kanye’s next album in June, which promises the return of our favorite College Dropout.

Tags: 808s And Heartbreak, Kanye West