The release of a Kanye West album is always met with eager anticipation. Witty rhymes, classic production, and an over the top ego are what cult fans have come to expect from this complex Chi Town rapper.

Not unlike his previous releases, 808's and Heartbreak did not escape finicky fan criticism. In fact, most fans regarded the album as a bit of a let down in comparison to Yeezy's prior work. They cried fowl at his singing and repetitious emo verses and longed for the return of the old Kanye.

However, in light of all the man has gone through over the past year I appreciated the singles I heard off the album before it came out and respected the whole album once I gave it a few spins. In my opinion it's easy to pass judgement on any given artist's work when they fall out of sync with their trademark style. Don't get me wrong this album is way out there even for Mr. West, but I understand where he's coming from.

He lost his mom, his girl, and some would even argue, his mind. Personally I wouldn't go that far. As an artist myself I know that sometimes the rhymes or poems we craft for the world to contemplate aren't for the world at all.

"Do you really have the stamina for everybody sees you crying and say you oughta laugh?"

Sometimes the album isn't necessarily for the fans. Sometimes a poem isn't for the reader. Sometimes you just need to purge your thoughts without crafting every line and tightening up every rhyme for someone else's listening pleasure. My point is that as artists we aren't always looking to please an audience, sometimes we give ourselves by pushing words out of our hearts and minds so they don't eat us alive inside."

I'm sure Kanye shocked a lot of people with 808's and Heartbreak, and I'm just as sure that he doesn't care. He needed to get the words out, however he could, droning out "don't say you will unless you will", or "how could you be so heartless." He needed to cry even though everyone told him he ought to laugh.