6 Takeaways From Kanye West “Jesus Is King” Album – Stream Tracks Here!

– Stream Kanye West “Jesus Is King” album below

After the delays, series of Sunday Service, controversies and mixed messaging, Kanye West‘s ninth studio album, Jesus Is King, has arrived, along with an accompanying IMAX movie

The long-delayed record was originally announced for a 27 September release by Kim Kardashian-West, and then “definitely” on the 29 September. However, the album never appeared and no explanation was given for the delay.

1. First Kanye West’s Full-On Gospel Rap Record

“I didn’t know how to rap for God,” Kanye West admitted to Zane Lowe in a Beats 1 interview, but with some assistance from his team of collaborators, he was able to realize his vision of a curse-free hymnal.

This is his first full-on gospel-rap record, largely filled with clean and uplifting praise music. The choir from his recent Sunday Service processions is backing him once again, though more sparingly than one might expect. They are joined by a ranging cast of singers and producers, including some who are new to Ye’s orbit, to help count blessings.

At some point this year, Kanye was “radically saved,” according to his pastor, and with his abandoned 2018 album Yandhi firmly in the rearview, he finished Jesus Is King on his Wyoming ranch.

2. TrackList & Collaboration is Impressive

With 11 songs, in just over 27 minutes, Kanye seeks to use rap as a vessel for worship. Clipse, Kenny G, Timbaland, Pi’erre Bourne, and Benny Blanco all show up on West’s gospel-indebted ninth album. Tracks include “On God,” “Water,” “Use This Gospel,” “Hands On” “Closed on Sunday,” “Jesus is Lord” and more

Bold-name producers (Timbaland, Pi’erre Bourne, Ronny J, FNZ) and members of the long-running Kanye think tank (Consequence, CyHi the Prynce, Mike Dean, Ty Dolla $ign) join gospel artist Fred Hammond, singer Ant Clemons, and the Sunday Service Choir in transforming rap songs into Christian ones. (In the Beats 1 interview, Kanye mentioned a desire to go back and sanitize his old songs, too.)

The best illustration of this symbiosis is “Use This Gospel,” featuring the reunion of Clipse’s Thronton brothers—the god-fearing No Malice and the apathetic Pusha-T. No Malice sums it up best: “They give you Wraith talk, I give you faith talk.”

3. Kanye West Carries on Political Stand – Calls for Abolishment of the 13th Amendment

Despite his new spiritual epiphany, there are still a few things in politics that Kanye has a conflict with. After calling slavery “a choice” and pushing for the abolishment of the 13th Amendment, prompting confusion and outrage, he continues to try to clarify himself here. The 13th amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for commiting a crime, and on the album he repeatedly makes it known that his issue is with that last part: “Went from one-in-four to one-in-three/13th amendment, gotta end it, that’s on me.” Kanye is taking aim at the for-profit prison industrial complex, which he sees as a loophole in the 13th amendment. In his own way, he has joined a movement that includes 13th director Ava Duvernay, Meek Mill, and his friend Pusha-T, who are fighting the unjust practices that lead to higher mass incarceration rates for black men and women. This has become a family issue for the Wests; earlier this year, his wife, Kim Kardashian, went to the White House to promote the First Step Act, which seeks to reform the federal prison system and reduce the risk that offenders will return to prison after they’ve been released.

4. Kanye West Criticize the Abusive Use of Social Media Especially Instagram

Across the album, when he isn’t praising, he’s decrying “that window into desire.”

“Hold the selfies, put the ’Gram away/Get your family, y’all hold hands and pray,” he sings on “Closed on Sunday,” before warding off Jezebels. Now that he’s given himself to the Lord, he refuses to succumb, and as repayment for his dedication he seems to want spiritual liberation from the IRS.

Kanye West feels the Instagram app is damaging and has apparently been feeding his sex addiction. In his Beats 1 interview, Kanye all but blamed social media for increasing the temptation.

5. Lack of Women on Kanye West’s “Jesus is King” Album Credit

There is a rather conspicuous lack of women in the credits. The only female performers are in the choir. The song “Everything We Need” was originally “New Body” and featured a Nicki Minaj verse, but it was cut due to creative differences. “I done wrote three different verses chile, and I don’t know. We ain’t seeing eye to eye on it,” she explained.

6. Kanye West Jesus Is King Album returns to Sound Fans are Familiar with

Kanye West returns to a catalog of sounds fans are familiar with in his attempts to re-purpose old Kanye-tics. The shriek that closes “Follow God” is reminiscent of Yeezus. “Selah” seeks the heights of “Ultralight Beam.” “Closed on Sunday” offers shades of 808s & Heartbreak’s brooding minimalism. Too-short outro “Jesus Is Lord” could flow seamlessly into the sampled horns of “Touch the Sky.” The message may be new, but the delivery is familiar!

Stream Kanye West Jesus Is King Album Below!