Kanye West
Jesus is King
(Getting Out Our Dreams II / Def Jam Recordings)
Kanye West has the country in an uproar with his new gospel
hip-hop album, Jesus is King. There are those who feel that it is a
masterpiece, and applaud him for voicing his new-found Christianity from his
lofty platform. There are just as many who see it as just another ploy to make
money. One reviewer said, “It’s not about Jesus. It’s about Kanye.” Well, it’s
all subjective.
Sure, Kanye has been in the press for some pretty controversial
statements in the past, some of which caused an uproar within the African
American community. Then again, not many rap or rock stars can say they have
never been controversial. Does that mean the music is bad? No, it doesn’t.
Critics are picking this album apart, looking for anything
they can find to judge the artist by, some calling it “self-indulgent.” One
critic went so far as to accuse West of name dropping” for financial gain,
citing the lyrics to “Closed on Sunday.”
“Closed on Sunday, You’re My Chick-Fil-a
You’re my number one, with a lemonade.”
Of course, he is alluding to the fact that the chicken
restaurant is famously Christian owned, and always closed on Sunday, so he uses
that as a metaphor. In the song, he goes
on to say things like “put away your cell phones” “Get down on your knees and
pray,” and “love your daughters, always keep them safe, watch out for vipers,
don’t let them intoxicate.” And “raise
your sons, train them in the faith/with temptations make sure they’re wide
awake. Follow Jesus, listen and obey.” You get the point. So, with all of this
very Christian type advice, the critic rags on Kanye for mentioning Chick-Fil-a,”
like that’s the first time an artist has name dropped a chain store or any of
the other countless instantly recognizable names that pop up throughout all of
music.
The album begins with a church choir, leading into “Every
Hour,” and every song on the record is a testament to his relatively newfound
Christian faith, from “Follow God” to “Jesus is Lord.” There are also quite a
lot of family oriented lyrics, all preaching the importance of a Christian
family. “Use This Gospel” could easily be a Sunday morning praise song (Perhaps
without the rap part, although there are some very good lyrics there too, like “Hold
on to your brother when his faith’s lost”). Kanye actually sings very well. The
tune features a magnificent sax solo from Kenny G, and guest rappers Clipse,
the brother rap duo of Pusha T and No Malice. The song is a reworking of “Law
of Attraction” from Yandi, his unreleased new album that was leaked online. West
decided to shelve the album as part of his new faith. He has stated that he was
getting much too arrogant and egotistical, calling himself Yahdi and Yeezus,
promoting a Godlike persona. In 2013, he released “I am God.” Now, he is making
music “for God.”
Still, other critics trash talk the artist, saying he is
singing about what God has done for HIM, rather than what he has done for God. others
say it is less of a gospel album and more about Kanye working through his well-documented
mental health issues.
It was inevitable that a superstar like West would be judged
very harshly for attempting to change his image. My bottom line is, no matter
what critics think or even what West himself was trying to convey, this is a
good album. Bear in mind, I have never been a rap fan. Not since the days of
Run DMC and later Puff Daddy, but I do like this. West has a whole lot of good, positive messages
herein, and to me, that is the whole point. Critics be damned.
-Michael Buffalo Smith
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