Including gospel innuendos is nothing new for american rapper, singer and songwriter Kanye West. However with the release of his 9th studio album, “Jesus Is King” this is his first that is classified as religious music. The album has received very polarized reviews, due a common misconception his fans keep coming across. Although West is labeling it as “the gospel album we were waiting to see”, it’s lost a lot of that meaning due to surrounding stigma derived from his mental health.

The album can furthermore be described as an album with it’s intent being misinterpreted as another. Instead of its proclaimed purpose to preach the gospel, it instead translates more to West’s love of the lord…and himself. However, this does not denote the preparation that went into the making of the album In the upcoming year to its release, “West’s relationship to Christianity and the Church is simpler. He’s no longer poking at contradictions, but reveling in a newfound zeal.” (RollingStone).

The album was also fueled by his recent sponsorship of Sunday Service, a performance series that’s received much acclimation, and now seen as a global church band. Though once again, accounts have spoken that he admonished his wife for wearing tight clothes, asked collaborators to abstain from premarital sex, and began keeping a Christian scorecard that includes limiting himself to two curse words a day, suggesting his interpretation of the gospel has been more dogmatic than faithful, and attempting to cleanse his image. 

Overall, unfortunate controversy clouds the essence of this project, marking an ambiguous point in his career, and everyone could agree that it will be interesting to see where West takes his new found salvation. 

Preparations and questionable purposes aside, West’s music continues to be filled with moments of undeniable brilliance. The album is chock full of boisterous gospel choir refrains, soulful samples, trap drums, and what would be a Kanye project without a touch of his signature autotune. All of this combined make for a contemporary religious album that is really geared toward the younger generation. In an interview with Ricky Dillard, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer, he comments on West’s album saying “It was rejuvenal, inspiring, uplifting. Kanye is a part of the contemporary movement which has revolutionized music.” 

It is undoubtedly astonishing, especially for those who are aware of West’s questionable past, that he is able to produce such an album of sophistication while maintaining all the established mayhem in the public eye. It nothingless from impressive the way he has managed to stay prolific under circumstances that would deter most away. Whether that’s a sincere intention or just another phase in West’s mercurial career is hard to say. Either way, while Jesus Is King is an intriguing take on turning gospel rap mainstream, it’ll still require time or someone like West to make that turn convincingly.