Why Didn't Kanye Stick to the School-Inspired Theme With 808's & Heartbreak?

With Kanye's new album 808's & Heartbreak, it seems that the multi-talented musician is embarking on new territory, so to speak. All of his subsequent albums have been related to the school-boy theme. The first album was titled The College Dropout. Then, he came with Late Registration, and his last album was titled, The Graduation. In a recent interview, Kanye explains why his album deviates from his usual theme. I can pretty much sum things up and remind you that Kanye has experienced a horrible loss this year with the death of his mother. And if you really think about the title of his new album, then it pretty much explains everything. 808's are basically drum kits that many producers use, including Kanye. "Heartbreak" is relatively self-explanatory. In that sense, it tells us that this album is personal in nature. Kanye recently stated:

"I'm at a listening session in the UK playing my joint right now. I love listening sessions, because it feels like Christmas Day when the parents get to see their kids open up the gifts. I feel like I try to give the gift of music. This album is based off the devastation and the hurt that I’ve felt the past year. All the hurt that I’ve felt within the past year from all the losses that I’ve endured, have sort of settled me into being this fucking super-famous alien, where everywhere I go, somebody wants a fucking photograph…it’s hard when you not really a celebrity, but you’re just a real person that ended up being famous for your craft."

He continues stating:

"What’s good is that this is therapeutic for me…it’s better than suicide to just keep on putting out music and art. I got a lot of backlash for the medium that I wanted to do this in. I created a thing I call ‘Heartbreak,’ that’s like a mixed drink. It’s Auto-Tune meets distortion, with a bit of delay on it and a whole bunch of fucked up life. And that’s what I call my ‘Heartbreak.’ And that’s what every record basically has. I’m delivering what I feel like is art, and that’s what I want to deliver from this point on. The records I’m doing right now might not have high hats and shit like everything else has. But when I go out and be listening to shit like Jimi Hendrix and The [Rolling] Stones and Lenny Kravitz, they wouldn’t play no Hip Hop records in the midst of that. I feel like niggas give up on trying to make music on the Quincy Jones level. On this record I’m trying to improve my craft and take it a level that no nigga ever made it to. No niggas are rocking 50,000 people and stadiums with 100,000 people 10 years after their records came out. Anybody that saw the tour knows my goal is to take it to a whole ‘nother level."

Reportedly, the album that was supposed to come after The Graduation was going to be titled, Good Ass Job. Will Kanye still go back to his school-inspired theme with his next album? From what I hear, Kanye is already getting pressure to release a new album next year.

"It’s rumors of another album coming soon. I’m not gonna put that pressure on myself. I’m probably coming with another tour in June though. But, that’s where I’m at with my life right now. I really wanted to release this music, and I forced L.A. [Reid] to give me this release date. I was like, 'Don’t fuckin’ wait months and months to set it up. Just give people the music!' I’m constantly making music."

Even though it looks like Kanye will not release another album next year, it remains to be seen if we will hear Good Ass Job. Regardless, if he using the school-boy theme or not, his fans are definitely excited to hear his new album.