Jesus is King – Kanye West’s Latest Gospel Album

Jesus Is King, the latest album by Kanye West, has earned the recognition of being the No. 1 at the Top Christian Albums billboard and the Top Gospel Albums charts, while only a year ago he was a creative director for the Pornhub Awards.

Following the release of Jesus Is King on October 25, it has:

• Been sold 264,000 times on the first week.
• Secured first place on the Billboard 200 chart
• Became the ninth consecutive No.1 album by Kanye West
• Equalled with Eminem’s record.

What’s more interesting is that the album made its way into the No. 1 of Billboard’s religious charts which is the first time for West, as it was for Snoop Dogg’s album – Snoop Dogg Presents: Bible of Love.

The root of Gospel music lies within the Spiritual and the Blues – The African American Community, their theology, their world view in the form of music. Although Kanye West’s album may not impress the traditional Gospel music devotees, it has shaken the world of music with its tantalizing, thought-provoking and intriguing combination.

Andrew Legg, Associate Professor of the University of Tasmania, says, “As a musician who has been privileged to play with many contemporary gospel artists, I get it. Jesus Is King is Gospel. Maybe Kanye’s Gospel, but Gospel all the same.”

To further describe the album, Andrew Legg proclaims the Jesus Is King to be, “Emotional, honest, raw, laid bare and real – honouring God as the great forgiver and transformer of lives.” “Kanye’s song writing, sound crafting, production values and sheer force of expression commands respect. And yes, for me, that’s Gospel.” adds Legg.

Contrarily, Alicia Crosby, a minister speaking to Time, criticized the album, saying that it’s “weak theology, it’s not substantive, it’s not glorifying.” However, Sam Hailes, the editor of Premier Christianity opposes Crosby, “this Christ-focused album is packed full of eternal truth. One fact we cannot deny is that the album is fantastic for the contemporary music and even Gospel music because of Kanye’s modern take arresting the listeners immediately.”

Andrew Legg further proclaims, “Kanye’s rap is like preaching, punctuated by instrumental riffs and percussive punches.”

Clearly, Kanye West’s Jesus Is King challenged the traditional views of Gospel music. However, new trends against traditional beliefs take their time to be embraced; Kanye’s Jesus Is King will remind us for years to come that Gospel is ‘the music and story of a whole community’.