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Unofficial rips often have low bitrates that ruin the intended production.

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is often cited as a precursor to the emo-rap and experimental hip-hop genres that have gained popularity in recent years. West's use of Auto-Tune and other digital effects to convey vulnerability and emotion paved the way for artists like Lil Uzi Vert, XXXTENTACION, and Juice WRLD to explore similar sounds. The album's influence can also be seen in the work of producers like Metro Boomin and Southside, who have incorporated elements of West's production style into their own music.

Before this album, mainstream rap was dominated by bravado and "gangster" narratives. Following the death of his mother, Donda West, and a high-profile breakup, Kanye channeled his grief into a raw, vulnerable project that used the drum machine and heavy Auto-Tune as emotional instruments. The impact of '808s & Heartbreak' on modern-day rap