Does 808s and Heartbreak need a sequel?

Credit: Glass Eyes on KanyeToThe.com

I personally think My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is the most coherent, solid, and overall best album released by Kanye West. However, his release previous to MBDTF, titled 808s and Heartbreak, is the most unique of all his releases. It has no rapping from Kanye on it- only from Jeezy and Lil Dwayne. It has lots of autotune and smooth synthetic instrumentals. There are relatively few samples on the album, only 4 songs include samples as opposed to 10 out of MDBTF's 11 songs having samples. (All of the Lights is the exception.) There are no swear words on 808s. It is in no way similar to any of his other albums.

808s is also a very good album. From Welcome to Heartbreak's welcoming beat and great melody, to Coldest Winter's great setup, this album is really fun. Love Lockdown makes great use of autotune and vocal effects mixed with a down-to-earth piano riff. Not to mention Heartless, which is perfect in every way.


And last but not least, 808s is a short album. It only clocks in at 52 minutes. While this is a lot compared to Yeezus's 40 minutes and Ye (2018)'s 24 minutes, it's nothing compared to The Life of Pablo's 66 minutes or The College Dropout's 76 minutes. I'm sure I wouldn't be mad if the album were longer.

But does the world really need another 808s and Heartbreak?

Like I said earlier, all of Kanye's releases are different from each other. Ye and KIDS SEE GHOSTS may have been released just a week apart, but GHOSTS has a much more enthusiastic, happy vibe than Ye does, and it shows in the album art. College Dropout has a much more classic sound, Late Registration has a more jazzy sound, Graduation is an album of happy tunes and celebration, MBDTF is very heavy in its instrumentals, Yeezus is futuristic and scary, and Pablo is off the wall insanity that blends together nicely. 808s represents sadness, and it shows in its slower melodies and humble production.

TLDR, wouldn't another 808s release go against what Kanye does and what Kanye stands for?

808s was released at a very low point in Kanye's life. His fiancee broke up with him and his mother had just died. This depression fueled a lot of the content on 808s, like in the song Bad News for example.


Kanye isn't out of his troubles yet, but he's doing better now than he was before. He realizes that he has a family that loves him, and he knows they'll be with him through anything, even when he makes mistakes that could ruin them.



Without the energy surrounding 808s, it wouldn't be as good as it is. The emotions Kanye held back in 08 are very different from the emotions he holds now. An 808s sequel would be a very strange product, and I can't say I'd like it. I think it would be best to just leave 808s and Heartbreak's legacy alone.

TL;DR- 808's and Heartbreak does not need a sequel.