Artists have failed more often with Auto-Tune than they have succeeded with it.

Most notably, T-Pain and Kanye West have made millions while incorporating the device into their music. But there is also the horrible sound of Lil’ Wayne, 50 Cent and others that spoiled any enjoyment to be wrung from this trendy vocal effect.

The absolute worst example is the single “Blame it” by Jamie Foxx, which gives me road rage when the radio continues to play it over and over (CD player in the car broke down, tough times). That stupid attempt at music sounds like elementary school kids beating on the lunch table and stuttering over the background of the others during recess.

I am glad, but more relieved, to say that one of the most obnoxious phenomena in pop culture is done. Probably because Jay-Z decided so. The horns in the song, which references Steam’s “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” has made noise around the nation. “D.O.A,” or Death of Auto-Tune, is Jay-Z’s newest joint as he sets to release another album (Blueprint 3, but that’s a topic for another day). Jay goes in and takes a jab at Auto-Tune, which distorts artists voices, and voices his displeasure over the overuse of the device.

“You boys jeans too tight, you colors too bright, your voice too light.”

What Jay is trying to do is bring balance back to hip-hop in a time where light talking rappers have now overstayed their welcome.

Sure, it is a breath of fresh air to have different artists with different styles and concepts on the scene. Hip-hop is a way to express yourself, in whatever way that may be. But lyricism has been overtaken by the corny, Auto-Tune assisted melodies that you hear on the radio all day.

It isn’t necessarily a shot at Kanye West, though. In an interview with New York radio station Hot 97, Jay alluded to Kanye being one of the only artists who has successfully incorporated the vocoder into his songs – even though Kanye is best when he is rapping, which he has bounced back into of late. D.O.A also calls for a return of some of the darker music that used to be a staple in hip-hop.

“I might wear black for a year straight, I might bring back Versace shades.”

Take a look at what two of the most promising artists at the beginning of the decade have become. Wayne and 50, both more inclined to their darker roots at the start of their careers, have become pop stars.

Both are smart and talented individuals, but this was not their music evolving over time, it was a gradual change to fit trends that have made them popular which has lost them respect.

The death of Auto-Tune is in the best interest of music and should only be used sparingly by those who can use it well, like T-Pain and West.