Complex called the minimal approach ‘groundbreaking at the time’. The cover itself was also a departure from the usual ‘loud’ covers Kanye used in his previous albums. The original cover features nothing but a deflated balloon in the shape of a heart with a subdued strip of swatches, photographed by Kristen Yiengst, and designed by Virgil Abloh (creative director of the Off-White and Louis Vuitton brands) West said that he wished to classify the album in a genre called ‘pop art’, stating that it was the musical equivalent of the visual art movement. West described this album as ‘therapeutic’. These things occured whilst he was still adapting to his pop star status. Months later, his fiancee Alexis Phifer ended their relationship. In 2007, Kanye lost his mother after complications during cosmetic surgery. It is also said to influence a new wave of rappers and singers who adopted 808’s style. It was very different from his previous albums, using sparse electronic sounds and auto-tune instead of conventional hip-hop sounds. The album was created in a difficult time in Kanye’s life, and featured lyrics exploring themes of loss, alienated fame and heartbreak. 808’s & Heartbreak was Kanye’s forth studio album, recorded between September and October of 2008 and released November 24th 2008.

Kanye west 808s and heartbreak cover