Voltage Creative

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Hip Hop Design Trends for 2009: 808s and Heartbreak is Pop Art

808s and Heartbreak

In his latest masterpiece, 808s and Heartbreak, Kanye West turns away from hip hop to make pop music “in an artistic way.” He calls it Pop Art.

“This is not hip-hop music. Taking a sample, looping it and doing all that ‘throw your hands up in the sky’ thing has become such a cliche. Hip-hop is over for me. I sing, not rap, on this album. I now want to be grouped among those musicians you see in those old black-and-white photos – the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles. And I’m not going to get there by doing just another rap album full of samples.

“I’ve had to create a whole new musical genre to describe what I’m doing now and I’m calling it ‘pop-art’ – which is not to be confused with the visual art movement.”

Voltage Super Designer, Geoff P, noticed the subtle use of these trendy colors on the album cover art. It appears that each of the eleven tracks is represented by a stripe of color. If you’re digging this style, stay tuned for Kanye’s fresh new clothing line Pastelle. Loves it!

kanye pastelle

There are 2 Comments   Leave A Comment

  1. I looove this album! I hope that Geoff has been playing it for you all on the days that he “dj’s”!! (A little Kanye funfact: Supposedly he is going to be taking a break to intern at Louis Vuitton in London…he says he will fetch coffee if he has to. Exciting!)

    Merry Christmas!

    -Beth

    • 09:12 PM 12.23.08 by Beth R.
  2. Geoff P is so insightful.






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