In contrast the lower vocal line sounds very dried out and downbeat, creating attractive contrast. His dry voice is given colourful contortions in the top-notes of his register, the digitalization very apparent. It is with no shame that he utilizes it on songs like Heartless. Yet the current trend lead by T-Pain is of much more consequence, and 808s and Heartbreak like a number of its contemporaries well and truly draws on the production styling and technique of T-Pain. Kanye is neither the originator nor the most significant user of the technology, being brought to prominence a couple of times, even by Cher in her very-dated album Believe in 1998. His music and production has evolved and developed on its roots rather than just soullessly keeping up with the freshest sounds and trends.Ī significant talking point surrounding the release of 808s and Heartbreakis Kanye West’s use of the audio processor auto-tune. Yet it is not fair to accuse him of milking the sound of the day.

In itself the heavy switch to auto-tune and vocoders isn’t in any way revolutionary, he is following the style not leading it. Regardless of all the fuss about auto-tune and West’s personal life the fact that the spotlight follows him as though he were a beatle is testament to a marvelously created marketing mix.

Even releasing an album next to Britney Spears and Guns N’ Roses, it seems he is able to keep the stage light directed at him.

It shouldn’t really come as a surprise, Kanye West’s celebrity status has grown immensely since his College Dropout debut. Prior to its release, much fuss had been made about 808s and Heartbreak.

Does 808s and heartbreak have swearing