Why “808s & Heartbreak” is Kanye West’s “The Great Gatsby”

Chu
7 min readFeb 5, 2024

--

Ye’s “808s & Heartbreak” and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” are seminal works in their respective fields, each breaking new ground and leaving a lasting impact on culture. At first glance a modern hip-hop album and a classic novel from the Jazz Age might seem worlds apart. Yet, when delved into deeply, “808s & Heartbreak” emerges as Kanye West’s own version of “The Great Gatsby,” with both works exploring similar themes of love, loss, the pursuit of the unattainable, and the disillusionment of the American Dream.

Love and Loss

F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ye respectively use their mediums to portray the profound impact of love lost and the lengths to which individuals will go to either recapture it or cope with its absence.

In “The Great Gatsby,” Jay Gatsby’s love for Daisy Buchanan transcends mere infatuation; it becomes the driving force of his existence. His lavish parties are not just social gatherings but a beacon, hoping to draw Daisy back into his life. Gatsby’s entire persona, including his wealth and status, is carefully constructed to appeal to Daisy, to the dream of what they once had. Fitzgerald paints Gatsby’s efforts with a blend of admiration and pity, encapsulating the tragedy of his quest with the metaphor of the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. This light represents Gatsby’s unreachable, idealized vision of love and happiness, a symbol of his perpetual yearning for a past that can never be fully recaptured: “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us.”

“808s & Heartbreak” similarly navigates the terrain of emotional devastation following the end of a relationship and the death of his mother. In “Heartless,” Ye articulates the cold abandonment felt in the wake of a breakup employing auto-tune to underscore the dehumanizing effect of his grief. The digital distortion of his voice reflects the unnatural, jarring reality he must face — a life devoid of a once-integral love. This artistic choice amplifies the emotional distance Kanye feels from the world around him a sonic manifestation of heartbreak that resonates with Gatsby’s own disillusionment and isolation.

Both works explore the concept of loss not just as the absence of love but as a catalyst for self-destructive behavior. Gatsby’s fixation on Daisy leads him down a path of moral compromise and ultimately to his untimely death, underscoring the destructive power of an unattainable dream. Kanye’s album, through its melancholic beats and somber lyrics serves as a mourning process, a way to navigate through the pain and find a means to express the inexpressible. Songs like “Say You Will” and “Coldest Winter” extend beyond the narrative of lost romantic love to touch on themes of abandonment, longing, and the quest for emotional closure. In doing so they offer a poignant reflection on the human condition reminding us of the cost of clinging to the past and the heartbreak that comes when we reach for a love that has slipped through our fingers.

The Disillusionment of the American Dream

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” is set in the roaring twenties: a period marked by unprecedented economic prosperity and cultural shift in America. The novel delves into the lives of its characters, who are emblematic of the era’s affluent society to expose the decay underlying the glittering facade of the American Dream. Jay Gatsby the protagonist embodies the quintessential self-made man who amasses a fortune with the hope of winning over his long-lost love Daisy Buchanan. However, Gatsby’s belief that financial success can translate to personal happiness and fulfillment is ultimately his downfall. Fitzgerald uses Gatsby’s tragic story to critique the American Dream suggesting that it is based on a flawed premise that material success equates to happiness. The narrative reveals the emptiness and moral vacuity of a life focused solely on wealth as epitomized by Tom and Daisy Buchanan’s carelessness and indifference to the havoc they wreak on the lives around them. Nick Carraway’s observation, “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness,” underscores the destructive nature of their privilege and the superficiality of their existences.

“808s & Heartbreak” similarly explores the theme of disillusionment, but it does so through the lens of contemporary fame and success in the 21st century. The album is a departure from the braggadocio often associated with hip-hop by offering instead a vulnerable and introspective look at the cost of fame. In “Welcome to Heartbreak,” Ye contrasts his material success with the emotional emptiness he feels encapsulated in the lines, “My friend showed me pictures of his kids, And all I could show him was pictures of my cribs.” This juxtaposition highlights the isolation and disconnection from normalcy that can accompany fame and wealth, echoing Gatsby’s isolation in his opulent mansion surrounded by people yet profoundly alone. The lyric not only reflects Kanye’s personal journey through the perils of fame but also serves as a contemporary reflection on the American Dream’s promise versus its reality. Both narratives are set nearly a century apart and yet converge on the idea that true happiness and fulfillment cannot be found in materialism or the accolades of society, but rather in the connections we forge with others and the authenticity of our lives.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Both “The Great Gatsby” and “808s & Heartbreak” were initially met with mixed reviews, but have since been recognized as groundbreaking works that challenged and expanded the boundaries of their respective genres. Fitzgerald’s novel is now heralded as a masterpiece of American literature, while Kanye’s album is credited with influencing a new generation of hip-hop and pop artists to express vulnerability and emotional depth in their music.

“808s & Heartbreak” is Ye’s “The Great Gatsby” in the way it delves into the complexities of love, loss, and the disillusionment of the American Dream. Both works serve as poignant reminders that wealth and the past cannot secure happiness or replace genuine human connections. Through their exploration of these universal themes, Kanye and Fitzgerald offer a critical look at the pursuit of unattainable ideals and the inevitable heartbreak that follows, making “808s & Heartbreak” a modern musical counterpart to “The Great Gatsby’s” literary critique of American society.

Through the lens of Ye’s lyrics with Fitzgerald’s narrative we uncover a shared exploration of the human condition each work resonating with themes of love, loss, and the pursuit of an elusive happiness within the framework of the American Dream.

“Say You Will” finds its echo in Gatsby’s unyielding hope for Daisy, his longing captured by the green light — a beacon of his unattainable dream, much like Kanye’s lyrics which speak to a deep emotional connection and the chaos of lost love.

“Welcome to Heartbreak” reveals the contrast between material wealth and emotional poverty. Kanye’s lament over his hollow achievements mirrors Gatsby’s lavish existence devoid of true companionship, highlighting the loneliness that often accompanies affluence.

In “Heartless,” the pain of abandonment is palpable, paralleling Daisy’s indifference towards Gatsby with Kanye’s portrayal of a cold-hearted departure, underscoring the cruelty of unreciprocated love and the agony it inflicts.

“Amazing” reflects Gatsby’s indomitable spirit in the face of societal barriers, his dream tainted by the harsh realities of his quest — a sentiment mirrored in Kanye’s acknowledgment of his flawed, yet unstoppable pursuit of his own ideals.

“Love Lockdown” captures the essence of Gatsby’s realization that Daisy was not the sanctuary he sought but rather a prison of his own making, a theme of entrapment and disillusionment that resonates deeply with Kanye’s narrative of a conflicted heart.

The theme of “Paranoid” aligns with Gatsby’s fears and suspicions regarding Daisy’s affections, encapsulating the destructive nature of jealousy and the toll it takes on one’s peace of mind, mirroring Kanye’s portrayal of a relationship riddled with doubts.

“RoboCop” and its critique of a controlling relationship reflect Gatsby’s futile attempts to curate his love with Daisy, only to face rejection and disappointment, highlighting the futility of trying to manipulate emotions or outcomes.

“Street Lights” symbolizes the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life and dreams. Nick’s contemplation of Gatsby’s unfulfilled aspirations finds a counterpart in Kanye’s reflection on life’s transient moments, emphasizing the ephemeral quality of our pursuits.

“Bad News” speaks to the harsh acceptance of a dream deferred, paralleling Gatsby’s refusal to see the impossibility of his aspirations with Kanye’s realization of a future that cannot be, underscoring the pain of unmet expectations.

“See You in My Nightmares” explores the haunting nature of lost love, mirroring Gatsby’s tragic end following Daisy’s final rejection. Both narratives convey the torment of love lost and the shadow it casts over one’s life.

In “Coldest Winter,” the theme of mourning and loss is vividly captured, echoing Gatsby’s solitary death with Kanye’s lamentation for his mother. Both convey the profound sorrow of saying goodbye without closure, leaving a lingering chill of loneliness.

Finally, “Pinocchio Story” delves into the desire for authenticity in a world overshadowed by superficiality. Nick’s disillusionment and retreat from the East mirror Kanye’s plea for genuine connection and escape from the facade of fame, encapsulating a yearning for something real beyond material success.

--

--

Chu

I write sometimes...... U.S. Navy Vet|🚀Entrepreneur|💻Tech & AI Enthusiast|⚓️USN Vet|✈️World Traveler(28/195 countries)|📚 Novice Writer| Opinions Are My Own.