Release and Success of “Heartless”

This Is the Second Single from Kanye West’s “808S & Heartbreak” Album, Being Released as Such on 4 November 2008. Said Project Alienated Many of Yeezy’s Diehard Hip-Hop Fans and Also Received Plenty of Negative Criticism Due to His Reliance on Auto-Tune, with Songs Such as Heartless Being Experimental as Far as He Was Concerned (Belonging to a Genre West Referred to as “Pop Art”). This Was Around the Same Time Kanye Came to the Conclusion That He No Longer Wanted to Be a Rapper per Se but Rather a Rock Legend in General.

“Heartless” Has Also Been Covered by a Few Other Artists to Notable Success. for Instance, a Rock Band Called the Fray Made It onto the Hot 100 with Their Rendition in 2009. That Same Year an American Idol Contestant Named Kris Allen Made It All the Way to Number 16 of the Hot 100 with His Version, in Addition to It Appearing on the Canadian Hot 100. and Another Reality Talent Show Contestant, Dia Frampton from the Voice, Managed to Make It onto the Hot 100 with This Song in 2011.

Creation of “Heartless”

The Instrumental to This Track, Which Was Produced by Kanye West, Is Based on a Sample from a Song Entitled “Ammonia Avenue” (1984) by the Alan Parson Project.

As with “Love Lockdown”, the Lead Single from “808S & Heartbreak”, Kanye Employed Hype Williams to Direct the Music Video to “Heartless”. and This Time Around the Inspiration Was a 1981 Animated Featured Entitled “American Pop”. the Video Also Features References to the Classic Jetsons Cartoon and Depicts Yeezy Himself as a Cartoon Character.

Are There Any Official Remixes of “Heartless”?

Reportedly “Heartless” Was Only Officially Remixed Once, with That Particular Outing Featuring Fellow Rap Superstar Rick Ross.

“Heartless” by Kanye West

By James H. Sterling

• Oct 8, 2026 • 5 min read

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

By Amanda London ·

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.

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