Love Lockdown

File:Kanye At Westminster Central Hall 2007.jpg in August 2007|After the success of West's third studio album Graduation in 2007, he said that "Love Lockdown" was one of the first two tracks he crafted after entering "album mode".]]

Around the time of West's third studio album Graduation being released in September 2007, American record producer Jeff Bhasker started to play keyboards for West's band due to them needing someone to fill in. Originally, Bhasker met West through the rapper's DJ A-Trak and was trying to increase name recognition for himself as a producer by working with West; Bhasker called him "awesome". He contributed writing to multiple songs on 808s & Heartbreak, including "Love Lockdown", which was co-written by West, Esthero, Malik Yusef, and Starshell. Bhasker recalled that all of the songwriters "deciphered what" was being said on the song's demo, shortly after it had been freestyled in full by West.{{Cite web |title=Kanye West Interviewed |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/kanye-west-interviewed |website=Clash |date=December 4, 2008 |access-date=September 23, 2020 |archive-date=July 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701031737/https://www.clashmusic.com/features/kanye-west-interviewed |url-status=live }} According to Bhasker, the writers helped fill in the words when deciphering West's demo and he admitted collaborators are needed "that understand songwriting to make the song as good as it can be, even if its not like, 'Okay, let's try this melody or that melody.'"{{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Insanul |title=Superproducer Jeff Bhasker Reveals the Secrets of Working With Kanye West |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2013/03/jeff-bhasker-talks-about-working-with-kanye-west/ |website=Complex |date=March 8, 2013 |access-date=September 14, 2020 |archive-date=September 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927194240/http://www.complex.com/music/2013/03/jeff-bhasker-talks-about-working-with-kanye-west/ |url-status=live }} West produced the song, while co-production was handled by Bhasker. After she accidentally met West in the hallway of a recording studio, Starshell participated in a songwriting session. During the session, the track was written. Starshell later expressed feelings of gladness that she had worked with West, since gathering the experience early in her career helped her understand how the music business works. She explained, stating: "In this industry, it's about networking and relationships."{{Cite web |last=James |first=Nicole |title=Singer-Songwriter Starshell Accidentally Collaborated With Kanye West |url=https://www.fuse.tv/2012/07/starshell-kanye-west-love-lockdown |publisher=Fuse |date=July 30, 2012 |access-date=September 14, 2020 |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915102641/http://www.fuse.tv/2012/07/starshell-kanye-west-love-lockdown |url-status=live }}

Inspired by 1980s synthpop icons such as Phil Collins, Gary Numan and Boy George for the material on 808s & Heartbreak, West considered the tracks to be more minimal and functional due to him making usage of the Roland TR-808 drum machine.{{Cite news |title='I'm Just Getting More Polished' |url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/320022/im-just-getting-more-polished.jhtml#id=1599789 |publisher=MTV |date=November 19, 2008 |access-date=November 23, 2008 |archive-date=March 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302094928/http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/320022/im-just-getting-more-polished.jhtml#id=1599789 |url-status=dead }} West stated his intention was to juxtapose the mechanical sounds of the Auto-Tune and 808s with the more traditional sounds of taiko drums and choir monks.{{Cite news |title=Video: Kanye West Visits Conan O'Brien |url=http://www.rap-up.com/2008/11/26/video-kanye-west-visits-conan-obrien/ |website=Rap Up |date=November 26, 2008 |access-date=November 26, 2008 |archive-date=December 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217115243/http://www.rap-up.com/2008/11/26/video-kanye-west-visits-conan-obrien/ |url-status=live }} "Love Lockdown" was premiered live by West at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards on September 7.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/19721/kanye_west_debuts_love_lockdown_on_the_vmas/video/|title=Kanye West Premieres 'Love Lockdown' At The VMAs|author=Lapatine, Scott|date=September 7, 2008|access-date=September 25, 2020|website=Stereogum|archive-date=May 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503135737/http://www.stereogum.com/19721/kanye_west_debuts_love_lockdown_on_the_vmas/video/|url-status=live}} Two days later, West admitted via his blog that the song was his favorite to date at the time and had been written a week and a half before the premiere.{{Cite news |last=West |first=Kanye |title=Love Lockdown.... |url=http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/index.php?em3106=205666_-1__0_~0_-1_9_2008_0_0 |publisher=Kanye West Blog |date=September 9, 2008 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911151956/http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/index.php?em3106=205666_-1__0_~0_-1_9_2008_0_0 |archive-date=September 11, 2008 |url-status=dead }} In an interview with Kiss FM, West revealed that it was one of the first two tracks created by him once he went "into album mode" after the success of Graduation.{{cite magazine|author=Saponara, Michael|title=Kanye West's '808s & Heartbreak' Turns 9: Ranking the Album's Tracks|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8046306/kanye-west-808s-heartbreak-turns-9-ranking-the-albums-tracks|magazine=Billboard|date=November 24, 2017|access-date=May 5, 2021|archive-date=November 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123105455/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8046306/kanye-west-808s-heartbreak-turns-9-ranking-the-albums-tracks|url-status=live}} On September 10, 2008, West shared the song through his blog.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2008/09/10/freeload-kanye-west-love-lockdown|title=Freeload: Kanye West, 'Love Lockdown'|date=September 10, 2008|access-date=September 25, 2020|website=The Fader|archive-date=December 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228194743/http://www.thefader.com/2008/09/10/freeload-kanye-west-love-lockdown/|url-status=live}} The shared version was met with generally negative responses from fans of West, including an Underwriter blog critic that heavily appreciated his previous works.{{Cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Paul|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/30194-kanye-rerecords-love-lockdown-defends-auto-tune/|title=Kanye Rerecords 'Love Lockdown', Defends Auto-Tune|date=September 16, 2008|access-date=September 25, 2020|website=Pitchfork|archive-date=September 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908053304/http://pitchfork.com/news/30194-kanye-rerecords-love-lockdown-defends-auto-tune/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last1=Michaels|first1=Sean|author-link=Sean Michaels (writer)|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/sep/17/kanye.west.love.lockdown.criticism|title=Kanye has another crack at Love Lockdown|date=September 17, 2008|access-date=September 25, 2020|website=The Guardian|archive-date=March 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303002059/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/sep/17/kanye.west.love.lockdown.criticism|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-810-1324797|title=Kanye West alters new track after negative fan reaction|date=September 16, 2008|access-date=September 25, 2020|website=NME|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929112827/https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-810-1324797|url-status=live}} Replying to his fans, West confirmed via his blog that the song was being re-recorded: "Your prayers have been answered! There's a new version of 'Love Lockdown' coming." Simultaneously, West revealed that he "re-sung it" and the song was being mastered while telling those who do not like Auto-Tune it is "too bad" because he loves the effect and has been using it since his debut studio album The College Dropout (2004); "Love Lockdown" was ultimately released as a single on September 18, 2008. The cover art for the single features PostScript's Type 4 font, which West described as "perfected" to please all the "design snobs, lol".{{cite news |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |title=Kanye West Re-Records 'Love Lockdown' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-re-records-love-lockdown-with-new-vox-drums-255202/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |url-access=limited |date=September 16, 2008 |access-date=September 25, 2008 |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929112828/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-re-records-love-lockdown-with-new-vox-drums-255202/ |url-status=live }} On September 25, 2008, West posted six stems for the song to his blog, each featuring isolated song portions of "Love Lockdown", and the stems were used to enable fans to remix the song.{{cite news |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |title=Kanye West Lets Fans Remix 'Love Lockdown' For Free |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-lets-fans-remix-love-lockdown-for-free-178565/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |url-access=limited |date=September 25, 2008 |access-date=September 25, 2008 |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925141931/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-lets-fans-remix-love-lockdown-for-free-178565/ |url-status=live }} The stems included an a cappella, distorted vocals, the piano, and the outro synth-beat.{{Cite news |last=West |first=Kanye |title=Love Lock Down stems!!! |url=http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/?em3106=207109_-1__0_~0_-1_9_2008_0_0&em3281=&em3161= |publisher=Kanye West Blog |date=September 25, 2008 |access-date=September 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926213712/http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/?em3106=207109_-1__0_~0_-1_9_2008_0_0&em3281=&em3161= |archive-date=September 26, 2008 |url-status=dead }} West went on to name "Love Lockdown" as an example of him creating a track "that people never heard before".{{Cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/inside-kanye-west-vision-for-the-future-cover-may-2020|title=Kanye West on His Next Album, Designing Yeezy, and Kobe Bryant|author=Welch, Will|date=April 15, 2020|access-date=September 13, 2020|website=GQ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415223343/https://www.gq.com/story/inside-kanye-west-vision-for-the-future-cover-may-2020|archive-date=April 15, 2020}}

{{Listen

|filename= Love Lockdown.ogg

|pos= right

|title= "Love Lockdown"

|description=A 28-second sample of "Love Lockdown", which features a synth pulse and West attempting to decide whether he should stay or go prior to drums coming in. The chorus is led by "thundering" tribal taiko drums, while it also contains hand claps and "a stampede" of percussion that Gibi Zé Bruno, Lula Almeida, and Rodney Dassis contributed. West uses the chorus to sing his exhortion to "keep your love locked down", representing a man leaving a love interest for protection of his heart.}}

Musically, "Love Lockdown" is an electropop song.{{Cite news|url=https://www.kcrw.com/music/articles/glass-animals-cover-kanye-west-love-lockdown|title=Glass Animals Cover Kanye West: 'Love Lockdown'|author=Reynolds, Rachel|date=October 16, 2014|access-date=September 14, 2020|publisher=KCRW|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929112828/https://www.kcrw.com/music/articles/glass-animals-cover-kanye-west-love-lockdown|url-status=live}} According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, the song is set in the time signature of common time.{{cite web | title=Kanye West 'Love Lockdown' Sheet Music | url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0070083 | publisher=Musicnotes.com | date=2008 | access-date=July 10, 2012 | archive-date=July 24, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724032911/http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=mn0070083 | url-status=live }} "Love Lockdown" is composed in the key of C{{sharp}} minor with a quick tempo of 120 beats per minute (BPM) and West's vocal range spans two octaves, going from a low of G (musical note) to a high of G (musical note). The song is written in a verse-chorus form that expresses quiet-loud dynamics, featuring verses delivered in a low, somber tone before shifting into loud, chanting choruses. The track is built around sharp piano and "harsh" Roland TR-808 drumbeats, the latter of which emulate a human heartbeat.{{cite web| title=808s & Heartbreak by Kanye West (Notes)| url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/808s-heartbreak/1441410287| publisher=Apple Music (US)| access-date=September 29, 2020| archive-date=September 11, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911170218/https://music.apple.com/us/album/808s-heartbreak/1441410287| url-status=live}}Bailey, 2014. p. 40 The song commences with a heartbeat-like low tone bass, which was described as "melodic".{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=August|title=Reexamined: Kanye West's game-changing '808s & Heartbreak'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-ca-ms-fall-arts-kanye-west-heartbreak-20150913-story.html|access-date=November 1, 2020|work=Los Angeles Times|url-access=subscription|date=September 25, 2015|archive-date=December 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231040615/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-ca-ms-fall-arts-kanye-west-heartbreak-20150913-story.html|url-status=live}} Prior to the drums of the song, a synth pulse is featured. For going against the typical sound of a hip hop beat, along with the Roland TR-808, the track instead makes use of "thundering" tribal taiko drums in its chorus' instrumentation that accompany West's vocals.{{Cite news |last=Shaheem |first=Reid |title=Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreak Album Preview: More Drums, More Singing, 'No Typical Hip-Hop Beats' |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597139/20081015/west_kanye.jhtml |publisher=MTV |date=October 15, 2008 |access-date=November 2, 2008 |archive-date=October 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020035949/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597139/20081015/west_kanye.jhtml |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=https://www.popmatters.com/144252-kanye-west-2495995084.html | access-date=November 1, 2020 | work=PopMatters | first=Colin | last=McGuire | title=Hip-Hop's Heartbreak: Kanye West 'Love Lockdown' | date=June 28, 2011 }} The chorus also contains hand claps and heavy percussion, the latter of which was contributed by Gibi Zé Bruno, Lula Almeida, and Rodney Dassis. Military drums are included in the song, accompanied by a house piano riff. West does not rap at all on the song, with him singing for the entirety of it. Auto-Tune is used on West's voice throughout, being accompanied by somber keys for much of the song.Bailey, 2014. p. 106 West sings through a voice synthesizer, while strangled squeals are also included in the song.

The song contains introspective lyrics, in which West discusses the after effects of a failed romantic relationship. Before the chorus of the song, West demonstrates trying to make the decision between staying and going. In the chorus, West fully suggests to "keep your love locked down". The chorus' lyrics represent a man moving on from someone he loves, as this will protect his heart.{{Cite news |author=Touré |title=Kanye's Haunting New Love Song |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/kanyes-haunting-new-love-song |work=The Daily Beast |url-access=subscription |date=October 9, 2008 |access-date=November 1, 2020 |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813123530/https://www.thedailybeast.com/kanyes-haunting-new-love-song |url-status=live }} Certain lyrics of the song are used by West to portray a struggle to properly show love; the lyrics were described by PopMatters as "simplistic, succinct and powerful".

On September 18, 2008, "Love Lockdown" was released for digital download in various countries as the lead single from 808s & Heartbreak by West's record labels Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam. The song was serviced to US rhythmic contemporary radio stations on September 30, 2008. West blogged that he considered the song making it to radio to be a triumph.{{Cite web |title= Kanye Cries About His Weak Album Sales |date=December 10, 2008 |url=https://1039hiphop.com/193251/kanye-cries-about-his-weak-album-sales/ |publisher=Hip-Hop 103.9 |access-date=September 24, 2020}} On October 18, 2008, a CD single was released for the song in various countries.

A 12" vinyl was later released for the song across Europe on November 11, 2008. The vinyl features remixes by Aero Tronic, Chew Fu, and Flufftronix on the A-side, while the B-side includes the instrumental of the song, a remix by Jake Trothn, and the song's main mix. An Essential 5 EP for the song was released for digital download in Germany on November 18, 2008. Six days later, West's fourth studio album 808s & Heartbreak was released, including "Love Lockdown" as the fifth track on the album.{{cite web |last1=Kellman |first1=Andy |title=808s & Heartbreak – Kanye West |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/808s-heartbreak-mw0000802924 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=September 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326172545/https://www.allmusic.com/album/808s-heartbreak-mw0000802924 |archive-date=March 26, 2019 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

{{Single ratings

| rev1 = BBC

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev2 = Digital Spy

| rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Levine|first=Nick|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/single-reviews/a130988/kanye-west-love-lockdown/|title=Kanye West: 'Love Lockdown'|publisher=Digital Spy|date=September 24, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2020|archive-date=July 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715065313/https://www.digitalspy.com/music/single-reviews/a130988/kanye-west-love-lockdown/|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = The Observer

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Grundy|first=Gareth|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/oct/12/kanyewest-urban|title=Urban review: Kanye West, Love Lockdown|website=The Observer|date=October 12, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2020|archive-date=October 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002101004/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/oct/12/kanyewest-urban|url-status=live}}

}}

"Love Lockdown" was met with widely positive reviews from music critics, who generally praised the production and West's vocals. In his review of the song for BBC, Fraser McAlpine glorified the "remarkable" production that "would still be great" if "literally" any contemporary music artist was put over it, and he highlighted the "frantic martial drumming".{{cite web |last1=McAlpine |first1=Fraser |title=Kanye West – 'Love Lockdown' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chartblog/2008/09/kanye_west_love_lockdown.shtml |publisher=BBC |date=September 26, 2008 |access-date=September 26, 2020 |archive-date=December 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209101148/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chartblog/2008/09/kanye_west_love_lockdown.shtml |url-status=live }} McAlpine approved West "attempting to sing" despite being a rapper by calling his attempt "automatically impressive" and explained West "left his comfort zone" by doing so, with him concluding that West is "probably not as much of a genius as he thinks he is" but is "trying, and this should be applauded" despite West sounding somewhat similar to Jamaican-American rapper Sean Kingston. Comparing "Love Lockdown" to the version of the song West originally shared, Gareth Grundy of The Observer commented that the "synthesized vocal and shuffling drums" had been "quickly beefed up", which added "drama to what was previously a dirge". Writing for PopMatters, Dave Heaton analyzed the song as starting "with a heartbeat-like bass tone that manages to be melodic" despite not having a heavy presence and lauded West's vocals, noting that he "at one point goes into a brief robot scream".{{cite web | url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/66230-kanye-west-808s-and-heartbreak/ | access-date=September 26, 2020 | work=PopMatters | first=Dave | last=Heaton | title=Kanye West: 808s and Heartbreak | date=December 1, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202025919/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/66230-kanye-west-808s-and-heartbreak/ | archive-date=December 2, 2008 | url-status=live }} He continued, directing praise towards the song's piano melody and "high-powered drums", admitting that the latter "kick the song up a thousand notches".

Chris Richards from The Washington Post said that the rhythm of the track "feels particularly vivid", with him opining that West's "scorned" performance alongside "a stampede of percussion" is "as thrilling as it is melancholy".{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/23/AR2008112302506.html/ | access-date=September 26, 2020 | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Chris | last=Richards | title='808s & Heartbreak' by Kanye West | date=November 24, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109153334/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/23/AR2008112302506.html | archive-date=November 9, 2012 | url-status=dead }} The Sunday Times{{'}} Dan Cairns stated West shows "an emotional candour of such a personal nature" on the track that listening to it "can seem almost voyeuristic".{{cite web | url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/kanye-west-808s-and-heartbreak-the-sunday-times-review-5s3vlwcv3l8 | access-date=September 26, 2020 | location=London | work=The Sunday Times | url-access=subscription | first=Dan | last=Cairns | title=Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreak | date=November 23, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423034215/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kanye-west-808s-and-heartbreak-the-sunday-times-review-5s3vlwcv3l8 | archive-date=April 23, 2018 | url-status=live }} Jon Caramanica of The New York Times wrote that the track's "thunderous drums cut through an electro haze", which he viewed as suggesting West's "old, oversize sound".{{cite web|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Caramanica|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/arts/music/25kany.html|title=Kanye West's '808s and Heartbreak' Chills on the Frills|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|date=November 24, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617215225/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/arts/music/25kany.html|archive-date=June 17, 2011|url-status=live}} Jody Rosen from Rolling Stone highlighted the track for being "powered by thundering tribal drums", while describing West's vocals as sliding "from digitized trills into strangled squeals".{{cite magazine|last=Rosen|first=Jody|author-link=Jody Rosen|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/808s-heartbreak-20081211|title=808s & Heartbreak|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|date=December 11, 2008|access-date=August 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325104759/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/808s-heartbreak-20081211|archive-date=March 25, 2017|url-status=live}} Scott Plagenhoef was less positive in Pitchfork, citing "the clapping drums" of the track as being one of the album's sonic highlights and calling it a "very good" song that does "work surprisingly well on the car radio", though he pointed the track out as a "second-tier" single from West.{{cite web|last=Plagenhoef|first=Scott|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12498-808s-and-heartbreak/|title=Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreak|work=Pitchfork|date=December 2, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212004509/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12498-808s-and-heartbreak/|archive-date=February 12, 2015|url-status=live}} Reviewing for Digital Spy, Nick Levine praised the Taiko drums of the track and observed "a house piano riff" as well as "military-style drums", though called the result "unsettling" and "a little bit paranoid". He elaborated, branding the song "much less radio-friendly" in comparison to West's singles "Stronger" (2007) and "Homecoming" (2008); Levine concluded by labeling "Love Lockdown" an "interesting experiment" but wondered why West would "want to turn himself into a barely adequate singer?"

"Love Lockdown" appeared on year-end lists for 2008 of multiple publications. The song was named the 41st best single of the year by laut.de, while Pitchfork listed it as the 39th best track and Mike Powell of the publication called the song West's "most deceptively ambitious" piece of music.{{cite web|url=https://www.laut.de/vorlaut/charts/redaktion/2008/songs.htm|title=Jahrescharts 2008|trans-title=Annual charts 2008|publisher=laut.de|language=de|access-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107043139/https://www.laut.de/vorlaut/charts/redaktion/2008/songs.htm|archive-date=January 7, 2009}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7572-the-100-best-tracks-of-2008/?page=7|title=The 100 Best Tracks of 2008|work=Pitchfork|date=December 15, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2020|archive-date=November 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123003528/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7572-the-100-best-tracks-of-2008/?page=7|url-status=live}} On Blender{{'}}s list of the top songs from 2008 to download, the track was ranked at number 21.{{cite web|url=http://www.blender.com/articles/default.aspx?key=45697&pg=8|title=1001 Downloads: The Top 144 Songs of 2008|work=Blender|date=November 11, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218233803/http://www.blender.com/articles/default.aspx?key=45697&pg=8|archive-date=December 18, 2008|url-status=dead}} PopMatters listed the track as the 10th best single of the year, with the magazine's Josh Timmermann admitting it "isn't quite a pop-cultural event" like other songs by rappers while calling the track "a weirder, moodier, more personal creation" and citing it as proof "that Kanye the AutoTune Soul Man is yet another force to reckon with, in addition to Kanye the Rapper and Kanye the Super-Producer".{{cite web | url=https://www.popmatters.com/66604-the-best-singles-of-2008-10-1-2496096640.html | access-date=September 26, 2020 | work=PopMatters | title=The Best Singles of 2008 | date=December 7, 2008 | archive-date=August 1, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801001819/https://www.popmatters.com/66604-the-best-singles-of-2008-10-1-2496096640.html | url-status=live }} "Love Lockdown" was voted 9th on The Village Voice{{'}}s Pazz & Jop poll for 2008 with 38 mentions; 37 of them were for the single version of it.{{cite web | url=http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2008/ | access-date=September 26, 2020 | location=New York City | work=The Village Voice | title=Pazz+Jop Poll | date=January 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201112814/http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2008/ | archive-date=February 1, 2009 | url-status=live }} The track's best achievement was being named by Time as the best song of the year.{{cite magazine |last1=Tyrangiel |first1=Josh |author-link=Josh Tyrangiel |title=The Top 10 Everything of 2008 |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1855948_1863440,00.html |magazine=Time |date=November 3, 2008 |access-date=January 30, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228131748/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1855948_1863440,00.html |archive-date=February 28, 2015}}

For the 2014 issue of XXL that was in celebration of 40 years of hip hop, the magazine selected the track as one of the five best singles of 2008.{{cite news|title=XXL Lists The Best Hip-Hop Songs And Albums Of The Last 40 Years|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/01/xxl-lists-best-hip-hop-songs-albums-last-40-years-xxl-issue-152/4/|work=XXL|date=January 9, 2014|access-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110004336/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/01/xxl-lists-best-hip-hop-songs-albums-last-40-years-xxl-issue-152/4/|archive-date=January 10, 2014}} The track is included in the 2015 edition of Robert Dimery's book 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die.{{cite book |last1=Dimery |first1=Robert |title=1001 Songs: You Must Hear Before You Die |publisher= Cassell Illustrated |date=October 1, 2015 |isbn=978-1844038800}} It was awarded Best Rap/Hip Hop Dance Track at the 2009 International Dance Music Awards, alongside receiving a nomination for Best R&B/Urban Dance Track at the ceremony.{{cite web|title=31st Annual International Dance Music Awards|url=http://wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2009|publisher=Winter Music Conference|access-date=February 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817204200/http://wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2009|archive-date=August 17, 2017}} The track was nominated for the Viewer's Choice Award at the 2009 BET Awards, ultimately losing to fellow rapper T.I.'s single "Live Your Life".{{cite web|title=BET Awards 2009 Winners & Nominees|url=https://www.bet.com/shows/bet-awards/2009/nominees.html|publisher=BET|access-date=February 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015151520/https://www.bet.com/shows/bet-awards/2009/nominees.html|archive-date=October 15, 2017|date=April 8, 2016}} At the 2009 Teen Choice Awards, "Love Lockdown" received a nomination for Choice Music: R&B Track.{{cite news|title=Teen Choice Awards 2009 nominees|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2009/06/teen-choice-awards-2009-nominees.html|access-date=February 3, 2019|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702014655/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2009/06/teen-choice-awards-2009-nominees.html|archive-date=July 2, 2017}}

File:Ellen_DeGeneres-2009.jpg in 2009|West debuted an accompanying music video on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in October 2008, detailing its inspiration from the 2000 film American Psycho to Ellen DeGeneres.]]

On October 7, 2008, the music video for "Love Lockdown" premiered exclusively on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.{{Cite news |title=Kanye West's World Premiere Video! |url=http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2008/10/kanye_wests_world_premiere_vid.php |website=The Ellen DeGeneres Show |date=October 7, 2008 |access-date=October 7, 2008 |url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008033647/http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2008/10/kanye_wests_world_premiere_vid.php |archive-date=October 8, 2008 }} West admitted to Ellen DeGeneres that he based parts of the video on actor Christian Bale's portrayal of the murderer character Patrick Bateman from the 2000 film adaptation of the novel American Psycho (1991), saying he does "kind of embody" Bateman.{{Cite news |title= Kanye West Inspired By Christian Bale's 'American Psycho' |url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/10/08/kanye_west_inspired_by_christian_bale_s_ |publisher= World Entertainment News Network |date=October 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002055349/http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/10/08/kanye_west_inspired_by_christian_bale_s_ |archive-date=October 2, 2012 |access-date=October 8, 2008}} Recalling the end of the film where Bateman "didn't really kill anyone", West expressed admiration for "the clean aesthetic and the way he was all about labels", concluding by stating that he "wanted to express all of that in the video". Following the premiere, DeGeneres deemed the visual "brilliant" and it was subsequently posted on her website.{{cite news|last1=Vena|first1=Jocelyn|title=Kanye West Says 'Love Lockdown' Video Was Inspired By 'American Psycho'|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1596504/kanye-west-says-love-lockdown-video-was-inspired-by-american-psycho/|publisher=MTV|date=October 7, 2008|access-date=November 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303002932/https://www.mtv.com/news/1596504/kanye-west-says-love-lockdown-video-was-inspired-by-american-psycho/|archive-date=March 3, 2020}}

The music video is mostly set in West's real life apartment, with him being dressed in white while appearing in the apartment.{{cite web |title=Ranking All 43 of Kanye West's Music Videos |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/06/ranking-all-42-of-kanye-wests-music-videos/ |website=Complex |date=June 8, 2018 |access-date=November 2, 2020 |archive-date=April 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419080823/https://www.complex.com/music/2018/06/ranking-all-42-of-kanye-wests-music-videos/ |url-status=live }} For paying homage to Bale's role in American Psycho, the rooms were treated to remove all colour. West unhappily moves around the apartment, not looking into the camera until two minutes into the video. During the song's choruses, African dancers and drummers appear, beating on djembe drums to the Roland TR-808 drumbeats of song. Simultaneously, African tribe members are present, who run wildly and head into battle. Two women eventually increase their vividness, becoming some of the dominant characters. West later sits against the wall as the camera starts shaking.

Time named the music video as their Video of the Year for 2008.{{cite web |last1=Macleod |first1=Duncan |title=Kanye West Love Lockdown |url=http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2009/kanye-west-love-lockdown/ |website=The Inspiration Room |access-date=February 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314045214/http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2009/kanye-west-love-lockdown/ |archive-date=March 14, 2017 |date=August 8, 2008}} At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, the visual received nominations for the awards of Video of the Year, Best Male Video and Best Hip-Hop Video.{{cite news|last1=Anital|first1=Tamar|title=VMAs 2009: The Nominations Have Been Announced|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2294168/vmas-2009-the-nominations-have-been-announced-lady-gaga-beyonce-9-nominations-trump-britneys-7/|publisher=MTV|date=August 4, 2009|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928064236/http://www.mtv.com/news/2294168/vmas-2009-the-nominations-have-been-announced-lady-gaga-beyonce-9-nominations-trump-britneys-7/|archive-date=September 28, 2017}}

Credits adapted from The Inspiration Room.

Filming

• Produced by HSI London
• Edited at The Whitehouse Post, London
• Post-production by Prime Focus London

Personnel

{{Div col}}

• Simon Henwood{{spaced ndash}} director
• Hagai Shaham{{spaced ndash}} director
• Jonathan Sela{{spaced ndash}} director of photography
• Richard LaSelle{{spaced ndash}} production designer
• Nicki Allix{{spaced ndash}} editor
• Josephine Simon-Mogensen{{spaced ndash}} post-production
• Dan Lorenzini{{spaced ndash}} post-production
• James Maclachlan{{spaced ndash}} post-production
• Chris Chitty{{spaced ndash}} post-production
• Adam Crocker{{spaced ndash}} post-production
• Richard Watson{{spaced ndash}} post-production
• Duncan Russell{{spaced ndash}} post-production
• Tom Russell{{spaced ndash}} post-production

{{Div col end}}

File:Kanyewestdec2008.jpg broke the previous record for West's highest entry on the chart, set by the single "Swagga Like Us" earlier in 2008.]]

On the US Billboard Hot 100, the song opened at number three for the issue date of September 29, 2008, with first-week digital sales of 213,000.{{Cite magazine|last=Cohen |first=Jonathan |title=Kanye Bumps Album Up, Single Debuts At No. 3 |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003854860 |magazine=Billboard |location=New York City |date=September 24, 2008 |access-date=September 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028180710/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003854860 |archive-date=October 28, 2008 }} The song became West's highest debuting single on the chart, surpassing his previous record of entering at number five with "Swagga Like Us" one week prior. "Love Lockdown" also became West's sixth entry as a solo artist on the Hot 100 and his third highest charting single as a lead artist, behind "Gold Digger" (2005) and "Stronger.{{cite news|last1=Jenison|first1=David|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/30965/kanye-brings-big-love-next-up-a-speedy-heartbreak|title=Kanye Brings Big 'Love'; Next Up a Speedy Heartbreak|work=E! Online|date=September 25, 2008|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929112828/https://www.eonline.com/news/30965/kanye-brings-big-love-next-up-a-speedy-heartbreak|url-status=live}} The song experienced the second highest debut of 2008 on the chart, tying with David Cook's "The Time of My Life". On the Hot 100, "Love Lockdown" also became the 10th song of the 2000s decade to debut in the top three. However, the song was the second entry in the top three of the chart by any artist unaffiliated with American Idol.{{Cite magazine|last=Bonson |first=Fred |title=Chart Beat |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart_beat/bonus_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003855128&inp=true |magazine=Billboard |date=September 25, 2008 |access-date=September 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926105007/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart_beat/bonus_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003855128 |archive-date=September 26, 2008 }} As of May 31, 2018, the song stands as West's ninth biggest hit of all time on the Hot 100.{{Cite magazine |last=Zellner |first=Xander |title=Kanye West's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7825442/kanye-west-biggest-billboard-hot-100-hits |magazine=Billboard |date=May 31, 2018 |access-date=September 22, 2020 |archive-date=October 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015134902/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7825442/kanye-west-biggest-billboard-hot-100-hits |url-status=live }}

The song entered at number 13 on the US Pop 100 for the issue dated October 4, 2008 and remained at the same position the following week.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?f=Pop+100&pageNumber=Top+11-50&g=Singles |title=Pop 100 Singles – October 11, 2008 – Page 2 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005075106/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?f=Pop+100&pageNumber=Top+11-50&g=Singles |archive-date=October 5, 2008}} For the issue date of December 20, 2008, the song reached the top 10 at the closing position, rising from number 12 the previous week.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Singles&f=Pop+100 |title=Pop 100 Singles – December 20, 2008 – Page 1 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217003024/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Singles&f=Pop+100 |archive-date=December 17, 2008}} It eventually peaked at number eight on the Pop 100 on the chart issue dated January 10, 2009. The song was the 24th most downloaded single of 2008 in the United States, with digital sales of 1,863,000.{{cite web |last1=Grein |first1=Paul |title=Chart Watch Extra: The Year That Songs Overtook Albums |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-the-year-that-songs-overtook-albums.html |publisher=Yahoo! Music |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219211720/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-the-year-that-songs-overtook-albums.html |archive-date=February 19, 2012 |date=December 30, 2008 |access-date=September 29, 2020 |url-status=dead}} By July 2011, the song had surpassed digital sales of 3,000,000 in the US. This made it the fifth track to do so that includes West, while the song became his fourth track as a lead artist to surpass the sales amount in the country.{{cite web |last1=Grein |first1=Paul |title=Week Ending July 3, 2011. Songs: Sons Of A Legend {{!}} Chart Watch |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-july-3-2011-songs-sons-of-a-legend.html |publisher=Yahoo! Music |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007014624/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-july-3-2011-songs-sons-of-a-legend.html |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |date=July 6, 2011 |access-date=September 29, 2020 |url-status=dead}} On September 23, 2020, "Love Lockdown" was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for pushing 4,000,000 certified units in the US.

On the Canadian Hot 100, "Love Lockdown" debuted and peaked at number five.{{Cite magazine |title=Canadian Hot 100 Songs – September 29, 2008 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2008-09-29 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 13, 2020 }} The song debuted at number 30 on the New Zealand Singles Chart for the issue dated September 29, 2008, though departed the chart for a week before re-entering at number 29. It climbed the New Zealand Singles Chart during the succeeding four weeks, going on to peak at number 11 on the November 10, 2008 chart issue. On January 12, 2009, "Love Lockdown" was certified gold by Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ) in its 15th week on the chart for sales of over 7,500 units in the country.{{cite web |url=http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp |title=Chart #1651: Love Lockdown Gold certification |publisher=RIANZ |date=January 12, 2009 |access-date=January 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119141842/http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp |archive-date=January 19, 2009}} In Australia, the song opened at number 37 on the ARIA Singles Chart dated October 5, 2008. Later that same month, it reached number 39 on the chart and remained in the top 40 for 13 consecutive weeks prior to peaking at number 18 for the week of January 25, 2009. The song lasted for 23 weeks on the ARIA Singles Chart. By February 16, 2009, the song had been certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for exceeding 35,000 shipped copies in Australia.{{cite web |url=http://ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_urban.asp?chart=1Q40RB&chart2=1R40RB |title=Top 40 Urban Albums & Singles Chart |publisher=ARIA Charts |date=February 16, 2009 |access-date=May 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218175151/http://ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_urban.asp?chart=1Q40RB&chart2=1R40RB |archive-date=February 18, 2009}}

The song peaked at number four in Denmark and Ireland on the Danish Top 40 and Irish Singles Chart, respectively.{{cite web|url=http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=1&search_type=title&placement=Love+Lockdown|title=Search: Love Lockdown|publisher=The Irish Charts|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929112857/http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=1&search_type=title&placement=Love+Lockdown|url-status=live}} On the German Singles Chart, "Love Lockdown" debuted at number eight, becoming West's first top 10 single in Germany as a lead artist. In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 84 on the UK Singles Chart for the issue dated September 21, 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20080921/7501/|title=Official Singles Chart Top 100|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=July 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720175626/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20080921/7501/|url-status=live}} The following week, the song rose 68 places to number 16 on the chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20080928/7501/|title=Official Singles Chart Top 100|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328194058/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20080928/7501/|url-status=live}} It later peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart for the issue date of October 26, 2008. The song remained at the same position for two consecutive weeks and lasted for a total of 26 weeks on the chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/14958/kanye-west/|title=Kanye West {{!}} full Official Chart History|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806063217/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/14958/kanye-west/|archive-date=August 6, 2020|url-status=live}} As of April 17, 2017, "Love Lockdown" stands as the 90th biggest hip-hop song of all time in the UK.{{cite news|last=Copsey|first=Rob|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-100-biggest-hip-hop-songs-of-all-time__18789/|title=The Official Top 100 biggest Hip-Hop Songs of all time|publisher=Official Charts|date=April 17, 2017|access-date=March 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419053839/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-100-biggest-hip-hop-songs-of-all-time__18789/|archive-date=2017-04-19|url-status=live}} It ranks as West's 19th most successful track of all time on the UK Singles Chart up to August 5, 2021.{{cite news|last=White|first=Jack|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/kanye-wests-official-top-40-biggest-songs-in-the-uk__27335/|title=Kanye West's Official Top 40 biggest songs in the UK|publisher=Official Charts|date=August 5, 2021|access-date=March 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119224317/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/kanye-wests-official-top-40-biggest-songs-in-the-uk__27335/|archive-date=November 19, 2023|url-status=live}} On October 18, 2024, the song was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for selling 600,000 units in the UK. It further charted at number 10 and 11 in the Netherlands and Sweden on the Dutch Single Top 100 and Sverigetopplistan charts, respectively. The song also reached the top 20 on Norway's Topp 20 Singles chart, the Billboard European Hot 100 Singles chart, Austria's Ö3 Austria Top 40, the Switzerland Singles Top 75, and the Official Finnish Singles Chart.

File:Kanye West Coachella 2011 7.jpg.|West performed the song live with an instrumental intro at the 2011 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.]]

West first performed "Love Lockdown" live at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, with the performance closing the show. The performance was noted for taking influence from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics and saw West singing a version of the song through Auto-Tune that featured a deep bassline, a simple piano riff used to emphasize his vocal melody, and a beat delivered for the chorus by a series of marching drummers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2008/9/8/video-kanye-west-love-lockdown-live-on-mtv-vmas|title=Video: Kanye West, 'Love Lockdown' (Live on MTV VMAs)|date=September 8, 2008|access-date=September 29, 2020|website=The Fader|archive-date=February 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209044849/http://www.thefader.com/2008/9/8/video-kanye-west-love-lockdown-live-on-mtv-vmas/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last1=Lindsay|first1=Cam|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/kanye_west-love_lockdown|title=Kanye West 'Love Lockdown'|date=September 8, 2008|access-date=September 29, 2020|website=Exclaim!|archive-date=July 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729155918/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/kanye_west-love_lockdown|url-status=live}} On October 14, 2008, West performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! while wearing a Sonny Crockett outfit and sang off-key at points.{{cite web | author=Scott | title=Kanye Hits LA For Jimmy Kimmel, 808's Listening Party | url=https://www.stereogum.com/archives/video/kanye-west-visits-jimmy-kimmel_028221.html | date=October 15, 2008 | work=Stereogum | access-date=September 29, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217211315/https://www.stereogum.com/archives/video/kanye-west-visits-jimmy-kimmel_028221.html | archive-date=February 17, 2009 | url-status=dead }} West started his appearance at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards with a performance of the song.{{cite news |url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/5v7zv4/kanye-west-wins-at-last |title=Kanye Westfrf Wins At Last! |access-date=August 1, 2021 |date=November 6, 2008 |publisher=MTV UK |archive-date=February 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220025350/http://www.mtv.co.uk/ema/news/kanye-west-wins-at-last |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Video: Kanye West Performs at the MTV EMAs |url=https://www.rap-up.com/2008/11/07/video-kanye-west-performs-at-the-mtv-emas/ |website=Rap Up |date=November 7, 2008 |access-date=August 1, 2021 |archive-date=November 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081110072132/https://www.rap-up.com/2008/11/07/video-kanye-west-performs-at-the-mtv-emas/ |url-status=live }} He performed it for the Late Show with David Letterman on November 24 of that year, being accompanied by drummers and lights.{{Cite web |last1=Servantes |first1=Ian |title=Best Hip-Hop Performances on 'The Late Show With David Letterman' |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2015/05/best-hip-hop-music-performances-david-letterman/ |website=Complex |date=May 19, 2015 |access-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202122225/http://www.complex.com/music/2015/05/best-hip-hop-music-performances-david-letterman/ |url-status=live }} In 2015, Complex ranked the performance as the 17th best hip hop performance on the show. On December 13, 2008, West performed the song live on Saturday Night Live (SNL) but went silent for the high notes, which were delivered by a piped-in female backup singer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/41281/kanyes_love_letdown_on_snl/video/|title=Kanye's 'Love' Letdown On SNL|author=Lapatine, Scott|date=December 14, 2008|access-date=September 29, 2020|website=Stereogum|archive-date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507232203/https://www.stereogum.com/41281/kanyes_love_letdown_on_snl/video/|url-status=live}}

A rearranged version of "Love Lockdown" was performed by West for his 2010 live album VH1 Storytellers in February 2009, though the performance had not been included for broadcast and was solely made available online.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/55751/highlights_from_kanyes_storytellers_and_an_unaired/video/|title=Highlights From Kanye's Storytellers And An Unaired, Rearranged 'Love Lockdown'|author=Singh, Amrit|date=March 2, 2009|access-date=September 28, 2020|website=Stereogum|archive-date=October 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009053337/https://www.stereogum.com/55751/highlights_from_kanyes_storytellers_and_an_unaired/video/|url-status=live}}{{cite web | last=Young | first=Alex | title=Kanye West {{!}} VH1 Storytellers {{!}} Album Reviews | url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2010/01/album-review-kanye-west-vh1-storytellers/ | date=January 20, 2010 | work=Consequence | access-date=September 28, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330205239/https://consequenceofsound.net/2010/01/album-review-kanye-west-vh1-storytellers/ | archive-date=March 30, 2019 | url-status=live }} West delivered a performance of the song at the 2011 Coachella Festival, using the Alan Parsons Project's instrumental "Sirius" (1982) as an intro for it.{{cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/5852951/listen-to-kanye-wests-full-set-from-coachella|title=Listen To Kanye West's Full Set From Coachella|work=Idolator|date=May 9, 2011|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211114172938/https://www.idolator.com/5852951/listen-to-kanye-wests-full-set-from-coachella?chrome=1|url-status=dead}} For West's two night concert of 808s in Heartbreak in full at the 2015 Hollywood Bowl, he performed the song as the set's fifth number.{{cite magazine|last1=Lee|first1=Chris|url=https://ew.com/article/2015/09/26/kanye-west-808s-heartbreak-hollywood-bowl/|title=Kanye West 808s & Heartbreak at Hollywood Bowl: The most surprising moments|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=September 26, 2015|access-date=September 29, 2020|archive-date=January 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130233715/https://ew.com/article/2015/09/26/kanye-west-808s-heartbreak-hollywood-bowl/|url-status=live}}{{cite news | author=Hendicott, James | title=Kanye West performs 808s & Heartbreak in full for the first time – watch | url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-255-1222730 | work=NME | date=September 26, 2015 | access-date=August 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927165111/https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-255-1222730 |archive-date=September 27, 2018 }} This marked West's first time performing the song since October 26, 2013, and saw him wearing loose garments in white and off-white shades.{{cite web | author=Caramanica, Jon | title=Review: Kanye West Shines Light on His Darkest Hour | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/arts/music/review-kanye-west-shines-light-on-his-darkest-hour.html | work=The New York Times | url-access=limited | date=September 28, 2015 | access-date=August 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108131140/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/arts/music/review-kanye-west-shines-light-on-his-darkest-hour.html |archive-date=November 8, 2020 }} The performance started with a monolithic white background wall that went on to be turned into a two-story-high stairwell by "Broadway-like stagecraft", filled with numerous muscular African-American men who were stripped up to their waists. The men wore white jeans and had chalky white makeup on; they moved from the stage to the crowd for taking strategic positions in the aisles there during the final chorus, after fireworks went off above.{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2283318/kanye-west-808s-heartbreak-live/ |title=I Saw Kanye West Perform 808s Live And The Only Heartbreak Is That It's Over |access-date=August 1, 2021 |author=Roth, Madeline |date=September 27, 2015 |publisher=MTV |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414204934/http://www.mtv.com/news/2283318/kanye-west-808s-heartbreak-live/ |url-status=dead }}

For episode eight of competitive dance reality TV series America's Best Dance Crew{{'}}s sixth season, a dance challenge set to the music of West used "Love Lockdown", "All of the Lights" (2010), "Touch the Sky" (2006) and "Gold Digger".{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/randy-jackson-presents-americas-best-dance-crew-2011/episode-8-season-6/kanye-west/292224/|title=Watch Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew Season 6 Episode 8: Kanye West Online (2011)|publisher=TV Guide|access-date=September 27, 2020|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306093222/http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/randy-jackson-presents-americas-best-dance-crew-2011/episode-8-season-6/kanye-west/292224/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Reynolds|first1=Mike|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/mtv-scores-season-demo-best-americas-best-dance-crew-290535|title=MTV Scores Season Demo Best With 'America's Best Dance Crew'|publisher=Nexttv|date=May 20, 2011|access-date=September 27, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929112856/https://www.nexttv.com/news/mtv-scores-season-demo-best-americas-best-dance-crew-290535|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/dance_crew/season_6/episode_music.jhtml?episodeID=180013|title=America's Best Dance Crew (Season 6) {{!}} Ep. 608|publisher=MTV|access-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102234630/http://www.mtv.com/shows/dance_crew/season_6/episode_music.jhtml?episodeID=180013|archive-date=November 2, 2011}} I.aM.mE, ICONic Boyz and Phunk Phenomenon, who were the remaining three crews for the episode, performed dances to the singles for the challenge. The episode first aired on May 26, 2011. For the 2009 episodic expansion pack Lost and Damned of the action-adventure game Grand Theft Auto IV (2008), the song was one of the new tracks to be added to the fictional hip hop radio station The Beat 102.7. It is the 14th track on the radio station, with the song being among the tracks presented by DJ Funkmaster Flex for his radio show.{{cite web|url=https://www.rockstargames.com/thelostanddamned/music|title=Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned|publisher=Rockstar Games|access-date=September 27, 2020|archive-date=June 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629142012/http://www.rockstargames.com/thelostanddamned/music/|url-status=live}} The song was featured in the video game compilation Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City later in 2009, which contains The Lost and Damned alongside fellow Grand Theft Auto IV episodic expansion pack The Ballad of Gay Tony (2009).{{cite web |title=Liberty City Underground – Issue #12 |url=https://media-rockstargames-com.akamaized.net/rockstargames-newsite/img/manuals/en_us/GTAIV_EFLC_PC_Manual_M01.pdf |publisher=Games for Windows – Live |access-date=September 27, 2020 |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212013011/https://media-rockstargames-com.akamaized.net/rockstargames-newsite/img/manuals/en_us/GTAIV_EFLC_PC_Manual_M01.pdf |url-status=live}} A mashup of the song with Metallica's "The Day That Never Comes" (2008) was used for the soundtrack of rhythm video game DJ Hero 2 (2010), with the track listing being revealed on September 22 of that year.{{cite news|last1=Dombal|first1=Ryan|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/40130-dj-shadow-rza-diplo-a-trak-mix-for-dj-hero-2/|title=DJ Shadow, RZA, Diplo, A-Trak Mix for DJ Hero 2|work=Pitchfork|date=September 22, 2010|access-date=September 27, 2020|archive-date=September 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927204523/https://pitchfork.com/news/40130-dj-shadow-rza-diplo-a-trak-mix-for-dj-hero-2/|url-status=live}} The New York compilation album for annual promotional event the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was released in 2018, featuring "Love Lockdown".{{cite web |title=Victoria's Secret Fashion Show by Victoria's Secret |url=https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/victorias-secret-fashion-show/pl.5c28a3c08341431fa24dd627421a77e8 |publisher=Apple Music (US) |access-date=September 27, 2020 |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929112857/https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/victorias-secret-fashion-show/pl.5c28a3c08341431fa24dd627421a77e8 |url-status=live}}

A re-imagined version of the song, titled "Warden", was shared by American rapper Tonedeff on September 29, 2008.{{cite web|url=https://player.fm/series/wqn5-podtalk/tonedeff-warden-love-lockdown-re-imagined-092908|title=Tonedeff – 'Warden' [Love Lockdown Re-Imagined] (09.29.08)|date=September 30, 2008 |publisher=Player FM|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929112855/https://player.fm/series/wqn5-podtalk/tonedeff-warden-love-lockdown-re-imagined-092908|url-status=live}} On June 24, 2015, American record producer Y2K released his remix of "Love Lockdown" through SoundCloud.{{cite web|last1=Cheung|first1=HP|url=https://hypebeast.com/2015/6/kanye-west-love-lockdown-y2k-remix|title=Kanye West – Love Lockdown (Y//2//K Remix)|work=Hypebeast|date=June 24, 2015|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929112856/https://hypebeast.com/2015/6/kanye-west-love-lockdown-y2k-remix|url-status=live}} The remix features an edited version of West's vocals, which are in a slightly lower pitch compared to the original. It is an upbeat remix, with the beat being prominent.

The song was covered by English post-punk band White Lies for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge segment on January 22, 2009.{{Cite web |author=Confusion |title=White Lies – 'Love Lockdown' (Kanye West Cover) (Video) |url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2009/01/white-lies-love-lockdown-kanye-west-cover-video |website=Complex |date=January 22, 2009 |access-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929112856/https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2009/01/white-lies-love-lockdown-kanye-west-cover-video |url-status=live }} On April 3, 2014, psychedelic pop band Glass Animals performed a cover version of the song for Australian radio station Triple J's Like A Version series.{{cite web|last1=Geslani|first1=Michelle|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2014/04/watch-glass-animals-cover-kanye-wests-love-lockdown/|title=Watch: Glass Animals cover Kanye West's 'Love Lockdown'|work=Consequence|date=April 4, 2014|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918130437/https://consequenceofsound.net/2014/04/watch-glass-animals-cover-kanye-wests-love-lockdown/|url-status=live}} The cover maintained the same melody as the original, though featured the band's trademark sound. Glass Animals later performed the cover at other live sets throughout 2014 and also recorded a studio version, which premiered via the Billboard website on July 15.{{cite magazine|last1=Brown|first1=Harley|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6157594/glass-animals-covers-kanye-wests-love-lockdown-exclusive-stream|title=Glass Animals Covers Kanye West's 'Love Lockdown': Exclusive Stream|magazine=Billboard|date=July 15, 2014|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-date=February 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228172118/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6157594/glass-animals-covers-kanye-wests-love-lockdown-exclusive-stream|url-status=live}} Explaining the cover version, the band's frontman Dave Bayley called the original "so well-written" and highlighted the "incredible" work West did for the song, though recalled that they "thought it could be cool to push it in a different direction". The cover includes Bayley's throat vibrato over moans and handclap, both of which are looped, and was ultimately included on the EP for Glass Animals' single Pools (2014). During New Zealand singer Lorde's concert in West's hometown of Chicago on March 27, 2018 for her Melodrama World Tour (2017–18), she performed an a cappella rendition of the song.{{cite magazine|last1=Weatherby|first1=Taylor|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8264644/lorde-covers-kanye-west-love-lockdown-runaway-chicago-show-melodrama-tour-video|title=Lorde Covers Kanye West's 'Love Lockdown' & 'Runaway' at Chicago Show: Watch|magazine=Billboard|date=March 28, 2018|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-date=April 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424072344/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8264644/lorde-covers-kanye-west-love-lockdown-runaway-chicago-show-melodrama-tour-video|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last1=Reed|first1=Ryan|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-lorde-cover-kanye-wests-love-lockdown-onstage-in-chicago-204842/|title=Watch Lorde Cover Kanye West's 'Love Lockdown' Onstage|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|date=March 28, 2018|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-date=August 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820125425/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-lorde-cover-kanye-wests-love-lockdown-onstage-in-chicago-204842/|url-status=live}} The rendition featured Lorde performing a section of the song while she moved around the stage, with the performance lasting for 90 seconds.{{cite web|last1=Cook-Wilson|first1=Winston|url=https://www.spin.com/2018/03/lorde-kanye-west-love-lockdown-runaway-chicago/|title=Watch Lorde Cover Kanye West's 'Love Lockdown'|work=Spin|date=March 28, 2018|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603121215/https://www.spin.com/2018/03/lorde-kanye-west-love-lockdown-runaway-chicago/|url-status=live}} Lorde said to the crowd at the concert, "It must be nice to come from the same place as Kanye West."

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Digital download{{efn|Open the citations for the United States, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, and New Zealand to view this track listing.}}

1. "Love Lockdown" – 4:30

Digital download{{efn|Open the citations for Israel and Norway to view this track listing.}}

1. "Love Lockdown" – 4:31
2. "Flashing Lights" – 3:57

CD single

1. "Love Lockdown" – 4:30
2. "Flashing Lights" (Album Version) – 3:57
3. "Stronger" (A-Trak Remix) – 4:34
4. "Love Lockdown" (Video) – 4:36

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EU 12" vinyl Remixes

;A-side

1. "Love Lockdown" (Aero Tronic Mix)
2. "Love Lockdown" (Chew Fu Small Room Mix)
3. "Love Lockdown" (Flufftronix Mix)

;B-side

1. "Love Lockdown" (Instrumental)
2. "Love Lockdown" (Jake Troth Mix)
3. "Love Lockdown" (Main Mix)

Germany Essential 5 EP

1. "Love Lockdown" – 4:31
2. "Homecoming" (feat. Chris Martin) – 3:23
3. "Stronger" – 5:12
4. "Gold Digger" (feat. Jamie Foxx) – 3:29
5. "Good Life" (feat. T-Pain) – 3:27

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Information taken from 808s & Heartbreak liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |others=Kanye West |title=808s & Heartbreak |year=2008 |publisher=Roc-A-Fella Records |id=0-06025-1791919-8}}

Recording

• Recorded at Glenwood Studios (Burbank, California) and Avex Recording Studio (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Personnel

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• Kanye West{{spaced en dash}} songwriter, producer
• Jeff Bhasker{{spaced en dash}} songwriter, co-producer, keyboards
• Jenny-Bea Englishman{{spaced en dash}} songwriter
• Malik Jones{{spaced en dash}} songwriter
• LaNeah Menzies{{spaced en dash}} songwriter
• Andrew Dawson{{spaced en dash}} recording, mixer
• Gibi Zé Bruno{{spaced en dash}} drums/percussion
• Lula Almeida{{spaced en dash}} drums/percussion
• Rodney Dassis{{spaced en dash}} drums/percussion

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Love Lockdown"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2008|certyear=2009|access-date=November 12, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=Kanye West|title=Love Lockdown|award=Gold|id=2|source=chart|relyear=2008|certyear=2009|access-date=August 13, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Kanye West|title=Love Lockdown|award=Gold|relyear=2008|certyear=2023|access-date=June 4, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Kanye West|title=Love Lockdown|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2008|relmonth=9|source=archive|access-date=25 November 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2008|certyear=2024|artist=Kanye West|title=Love Lockdown|award=Platinum|type=single|refname="bpi"|access-date=October 21, 2024|id=10046-997-1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Kanye West|title=Love Lockdown|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|relyear=2008|certyear=2020|refname="riaa"|access-date=September 29, 2020}}

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{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|last=Bailey|first=Julius|title=The Cultural Impact of Kanye West|year=2014|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-1-137-57425-1}}

{{Kanye West songs}}

{{authority control}}

Category:2008 singles

Category:2008 songs

Category:Electropop songs

Category:Kanye West songs

Category:Roc-A-Fella Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Jeff Bhasker

Category:Song recordings produced by Kanye West

Category:Songs written by Esthero

Category:Songs written by Jeff Bhasker

Category:Songs written by Kanye West

Category:Songs written by Malik Yusef

Category:Songs about heartache