Perhaps that’s because he fails to see any difference. West refuses to choose between emulating gospel and selling overpriced sneakers and hoodies. In the end, “Jesus Is King” sounds too rushed for the Christian themes to make a lasting impact. “Jesus Is King” is only concerned with West bragging about his newfound religiosity: West boasts about getting into heaven on “Selah” and uses “On God” to complain about the IRS and fan reactions to exorbitant merch prices. Messages like those propel religious music - the genre succeeds because it seeks to understand the world through God’s lens.
It is hard to imagine any of these songs having a staying power that rivals other religious-minded tracks like “Jesus Walks.” That song spoke to West’s struggle to live a pious life in a vice-ridden community.
Critics of artistic risks like “808s & Heartbreak” still acknowledged their importance “Jesus Is King,” though, risks being remembered as West’s first inessential album. It is striking that West’s biggest genre departure to date lacks urgency. The mixes sound unfinished - don’t be surprised if they’re updated in the next few weeks. “Jesus Is King” suffers from the same haphazard song construction of “ye,” resulting in an 11-track album with a 27-minute runtime. Unfortunately, “ye” is more likely the first in what will become a string of underwhelming solo efforts from West. West was arguably overworked in the summer of 2018, producing five albums in rapid succession, and his “Kids See Ghosts” collaboration with Kid Cudi demonstrates his ability to shine in a duo. In a better world, it would be a quick forgettable detour. On “Yikes,” West gives an unneeded take on the #MeToo movement, and “Wouldn’t Leave” sounds like a confessional, but West continues to defend his irresponsible decision to call slavery a “choice.” “ye” is the product of a very disorganized and chaotic period of West’s life. Opener “I Thought About Killing You” reads like a twisted love letter from a madman. Underwritten, rushed, and arguably unfinished, “ye” depicts West at his lowest: spontaneous, paranoid, yet still self-assured enough to deliver controversial social commentary. Keep reading for a complete ranking of West’s solo albums to date. In celebration of the release of Kanye West’s newest album, “Jesus Is King,” we’re taking a look back at the artist’s prolific career.
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