Cudi’s handprints are all over 808 s, as his tuneful sonic influence cuts through the electronic melancholy, even though he’s only officially featured on harrowing LP standout “Welcome to Heartbreak.” The most memorable guest appearance comes from a young Kid Cudi, who took full advantage of the opportunity provided. Music artist Consequence, Tony Williams and Canadian singer Esthero, who provided vocals on “Street Lights.” Elsewhere, others that lent their lethal pen for West to sing over included former G.O.O.D. Multi-faceted musician Jeff Bhasker is all over the project with writing credits on seven tracks.

There’s just something to do with that island that made great music,” Kilhoffer says.Ī talented group of writers helped bring West’s desolate story to life.

That same energy was brought to the studio every night, as Yeezy and his collaborators exchanged trailblazing ideas that would ram their head against the metaphorical brick walls of the genre. “Oahu set the precedent for this album and Dark Fantasy. Mornings were filled with competitive pickup basketball games, a favorite hobby of West’s.

The goldmine of creativity would also serve as the jumping off point for West’s decorated My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album, which would arrive two years later. Stumbling upon Oahu during the summer of 2008 provided West and his collaborators with a creative safe haven that allowed the Yeezus artist to hone in and flesh out his wrathful vision free of distractions. West would find peace and serenity on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, which happened to ironically fall under the area code of 808. It was the end of the Scott Storch era of hip-hop.” It’s either got to be in the song loud as s–t, or not in the song at all. “He was like, ‘We’re going to use this technique,’ which was no hi-hats, Taiko drums and no more than four to six elements in composition of a song. “I think this was the first time he decided beforehand the components of the project,” Killhofer tells Billboard.

Kanye west 808s and heartbreak tracks