The truth is that his mom died first, and then the engagement was broken off, which was then followed by the 808s album, six months later.

When people think of 808s and Heartbreak, they credit the “heartbreak” in the title to Kanye's relationship with his then-fiancé ending, which is why it has been called one of the best breakup albums.

West’s two recent landmark concerts of the entire 808s and Heartbreak album, I grew a newfound sense of respect and a complex understanding for the album that birthed “Love Lockdown.” At her funeral, as a way to explain the hurt that was to come, someone said to me, “In the wraps of the universe nothing is stronger than a mother and son relationship.” She died seven months ago, and in the midst of Mr. įast forward seven years later and my biggest heartbreak is now my mother’s death. The image of Kanye in the “Love Lockdown” music video helplessly singing in that all-white house and the African tribal dancers with their bodies painted beautifully haunted me and touched me so poignantly even though the biggest heartbreak I had experienced at that ripe age was Lil Saint dying in U Got Served.

I begged my mom for the sheet music, and that was exactly what I found in my stocking that year. The only thing I wanted for Christmas 2008 was the piano sheet music for Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown.” I was 11 and had been taking piano lessons religiously at that time, and I think my parents were secretly hoping I was going to come out of this a child prodigy.

808s and heartbreak metacritic