By Farah Yahaya ’21, News Reporter
Kanye West – rapper, song-writer, father, husband and musical genius is one of the most influential artists of the 21 century. Embarking on his artistic journey in the early 2000s, he released his first studio album College Dropout in 2004 which contrasted the rising gangster rap genre. It was relatable, personal, and emotional, an embodiment of Kanye’s struggles before fame and his passion for music. Since then, he has released 10 studio albums, his latest one Jesus is King debuting on October 25, 2019.
Since West announced Yandhi, an album intended to be released in late September of 2018, music enthusiasts across the globe have been anticipating his next project. West’s music has persistently possessed religious undertones, ranging from subtle to overt. He proclaimed his belief in Jesus in his song “Jesus Walking” on College Dropout. The songs “Low Life” and “Ultralight beam” from West’s seventh album Life of Pablo adopt a religious flair by treating themes of salvation and praise.
2019 marked the publicization of West’s radical salvation through devotion to Christianity and the Lord. On January 6, 2019 Kanye started The Sunday Service, an exclusive religious gathering centered on devotion through music. Lead by West, The Sunday Service consists of a choir called The Samples, musical director Philip Cornish, and devotees. Despite the services’ notorious A-list guests and stringent dress code, The Sunday Services symbolize a period of reflection, ignoring monetary and materialistic conditions and pressures of society to focus on community, connections, rhythm, and God. On September 15, 2019, West held a public sermon in Atlanta, and said “The power of god can’t be calculated by a number, by a first week sale, by a bank account, by how many cars you drive, by how big your house is and how many acres you got.”
Having observed West’s shift in focus, to many it wasn’t a surprise when West’s wife Kim Kardashian announced the name of his new album in August 2019 to be Jesus is King. Bold and straight to the point, the speculation surrounding the theme of West’s next project dissipated. Comprised of 11 songs and just over 27 minutes long, Jesus is King opens with “Every Hour,” a song that does not include Kanye’s voice itself but instead his choir repeats variations of the following verse “Sing every hour (Every hour, ’til the power). Every minute (Every minute, of the Lord). Every second (Every second, comes).”
West claims that this album differs from his past albums and will be the start to his creation of solely religious music. Regardless of the album’s religious meaning, it is clearly Kanye; Jesus is King includes his same witty one-liners, provocative lyrics, and controversial themes. The songs on the album could even be compared to Ye, as both albums have a poetic cadence to the rap and simple yet unique beats that focus on the deep rhythmic sounds of the bass and the drums. To music lovers and fans of Kanye, Ye was arguably the most raw and vulnerable West album, a daring statement especially in today’s social climate. Despite the album’s accolades, it was statistically Kanye’s worst-selling album, which leaves consumers wondering if Jesus is King will follow suit.
The album’s release has sparked a frenzy in the media, most sources giving West more criticism than praise. In comparison to his other works, West portrays himself as saved or found, contrasting drastically from his other albums where he depicts himself as struggling or as a work in progress. Because of this, listeners are finding themselves questioning whether Jesus is King is truly authentic Kanye that they know and love. The album strikes its audience differently because of the resounding, unmistakable Christian themes, which challenges listeners who are not of that faith. West’s song “Selah” is possibly the most emotionally charged song on the album, as it features West somewhat aggressively articulating mankind’s relationship to the divine and his connection with the Lord. Though Kanye has sworn to leave secular music in his past, it could be possible that this is one chapter of the many in his life. After all, it is Kanye, a celebrity that pop culture has deemed one of the most unpredictable social influencers. But perhaps Jesus is King represents more than a tribute to Christ, but the resounding sanctity and unity that one experiences when they immerse themselves in a person, object, or activity that makes them feel whole or a part of the community. It is possible that Kanye’s discography proves to be more than an artist’s statement, but a timeline portraying his personal evolution in which he ultimately finds his way as a man of God.