"Welcome To Heartbreak" by Kanye West

By far, this is my favorite song on the freshly leaked "808s and Heartbreak." It sounds like Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight," which I'm guessing is the obvious point of it all. The lyrics are also by far the best out of any of these songs. Doesn't mean they're amazing lyrics, but I think a celebrity saying their monetary success and fame came at the cost of having a family is somewhat virgin territory for a aught-era "hip-hop" song.

Now, I'm not sure that if an artist I really, truly respected put "My friend showed me pictures of his kids, / And all I could show him were pictures of my cribs. / He said his daughter got a brand-new report card, / And all I got was a brand-new sportscar" in his or her song, I'd let it slide. Most likely, I'd laugh and there's a strong possibility I'd get mad. Because even though the topic shows some depth, that's some uncreative writing right there.

I really don't know what's going on with Kanye right now. That song he did with Jeezy, for instance, sounds like some kid found a Kanye West drum loop and played some elementary piano chords over it. The piano sound itself is fucking awful. Does the obvious low level of craftsmanship mean anything? Are the lazy lyrics and simplistic vocal melodies important? Or is it just bad music?

I really can't tell. But it's a mind fuck either way.

I've heard people compare the songs off of "808s and Heartbreak" to the "Purple Rain" soundtrack. Those people are wrong. Prince is a monster on every instrument he's ever touched and when he did minimal, he earned it. Kanye sounds like he's recording his Suzuki Method piano lessons and releasing them as "beats."

Man, do some hot shit, please.