全新絕版藝術家 Kaws x Virgil Abloh 設計黑膠唱片豪華組 Kanye West (Ye) 未拆封膠膜還在(村上隆,草間彌生,LV,OFF-WHITE,Dior)  

808’s & Heartbreak was Kanye’s forth studio album, recorded between September and October of 2008 and released November 24th 2008. The album was created in a difficult time in Kanye’s life, and featured lyrics exploring themes of loss, alienated fame and heartbreak. It was very different from his previous albums, using sparse electronic sounds and auto-tune instead of conventional hip-hop sounds. It is also said to influence a new wave of rappers and singers who adopted 808’s style.

In 2007, Kanye lost his mother after complications during cosmetic surgery. Months later, his fiancee Alexis Phifer ended their relationship. These things occured whilst he was still adapting to his pop star status. West described this album as ‘therapeutic’.

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.

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)

The cover itself was also a departure from the usual ‘loud’ covers Kanye used in his previous albums. Complex called the minimal approach ‘groundbreaking at the time’. They go on to say ‘This stripped down look may not have been entirely new, but Kanye was the first artist to successfully pull off and popularize such an aesthetic’, after placing it #1 on the 50 best rap album covers of the past 5 years.

The deflated heart is composed in the center of the cover, although not taking up a large portion of it, leaving the surrounding area empty. I see the deflated heart itself being a clear metaphor for the emptiness and vulnerability Kanye was feeling, due to the events that had occurred. The strong red is the only colour that really stands out on the cover, suggesting that Kanye has a strong heart, but has been hurt and emotionally damaged, causing everything else to turn sombre.

Artist KAWS redesigned the cover for the deluxe edition of the album. ‘KAWS began as a graffiti artist, moving on to subvertising, and now makes sculpture, acrylic paintings on canvas and screen prints. He also collaborates commercially, predominantly on limited edition toys, and also clothing, skate decks and other products’. He is one of my favourite artists because of his unique and distinct characters, style of art, and collaborations with some of my favourite artists and brands.

The redesigned cover features the signature KAWS style hands ripping the deflated heart into two. The strip of swatches is much more vivid. I believe there is a contrast between the hands ripping the heart apart and the more vivid colours, suggesting the even during the darkest period in his life, Kanye can still produce an honest, inspirational album.