Take arguably the best emcee and strip him down of his grandiose beats, and what do you get?

Well, in a lot of cases, that scenario would be the end of his career.

Kanye West, however, is an exception.

He always has been the exception, and now he has proof. On his newest record, the hypnotizing “808s & Heartbreak,” West sounds reborn.

First, the music is dramatically different from the rapper’s previous works.

West went from over-the-top samples and beats to what could easily be described as a “minimalist” approach.

The Chicago native’s use of pulses and blips, however, work perfectly with West’s auto-tuned voice.

Instead of creating a bunch of “classic” Kanye West songs, he has instead put together a full album, linked both by style and theme.

That is not to say that some of the songs do not standout. Even though “Love Lockdown” was the first single, it isn’t even close to being the best song on the record.

Lil Wayne’s contribution to “See You in My Nightmares” is great, but doesn’t match up to West’s impassioned voice as he growls with a fury that we haven’t ever heard before.

I will be the first to admit that the auto-tune vocal effects will play themselves out faster than backward red Yankees baseball caps, but not because of West.

This album uses the effect to achieve an atmosphere that is much more personal than most hip-hop albums get these days.

Yes, it’s true that an album like this takes a lot out of the listener.

It’s quite a bit emotional, and that may weigh down a lot of listeners, but that is the point.

Good art does not change itself to appeal to a bigger audience, and though “808s & Heartbreaks” is a mixed bag for some, it will one day stand alone as Kanye West’s best album.