Music Review: Jesus is King
So ... I didn’t think I’d actually be writing this. With Yandhi being delayed and eventually dropped last September, the original date for Jesus is King being pushed, I wasn’t sure this would actually exist. But here we are. And now I have to write a review or Joshua will keep texting and tweeting at me. I don’t want to deal with that.
So. Kanye West is a Christian. This is an album review, so I won’t be getting deep into this, other that saying, KANYE WEST HAS BEEN CALLED BY GOD, and that should give us all hope for our own salvation.
So! Musically? This album isn’t much more creative than last year’s Ye (but immensely better if you like choirs). While that will be a disappointment for those interested in Kanye’s production, it seems like there will be no more My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasies in the future. I’m sad, you’re sad, music is sad, etc
So I was going to review this album song by song. But I ran into a problem. My thoughts change on every song each time I run through the album (except “Selah,” which is nothing less than a certifiable BANGER). Instead, I’ll tell you why you will or won’t like this album.
You’ll like this album if you’re a Christian who also liked shouting “Nah, nah nah nah - WAIT TILL I GET MY MONEY RIGHT” in 2007.
You’ll like this album if “maybe Jesus Walks was better than this sermon” has crossed your mind at least once.
You’ll like this album if you’re a +45-year-old dad who’s tired of Taylor Swift.
You’ll like this album if you’ve played Ultralight Beam on your way to church.
You’ll like this album if you like Chick-Fil-A.
You’ll like this album if you like screaming Hallelujah.
You’ll like this album if you used to like Lecrae.
You won’t like this album if you’re a hater.
You won’t like this album if you thought 50 Cent should’ve won in 2007.
You won’t like this album if you want a long masterpiece.
You won’t like this album if you want Chance the Rapper.
You won’t like this album if you want rapping about guns, sex, and lies.
And that’s pretty much the breakdown. The music is nothing new. The beats aren’t 2011 Kanye. Heck, they are barely 2016 Kanye. But the only people I’ve met who don’t like Jesus is King are the people Kanye was thinking of when he first said: “if I talk about God, my record won’t get played.”
Which is the one time I’m glad Kanye was wrong.
