15 Times Kanye West broke the internet (With Pictures)

12. 808s and Heartbreak – 2008

This might have been one of the weirdest moments of his career, and while there were controversies before, it’s arguably the defining point where he slipped into the crazy side of the spectrum. After the death of his mother, Kanye released his next album, 808s and Heartbreak. The sound was very different to previous albums, featuring a heavy use of autotune and introspective themes. It certainly wasn’t what anyone was expecting, and when he previewed the lead single at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, the internet exploded with reactions – both negative and positive. The lasting effect on the hip-hop industry has been a significant one, with many other artists taking his lead.