On the new album, the artist considers religion, the 13th amendment, and his pricey clothing line
After many, many delays,
Kanye West released his ninth studio album on Friday morning. Jesus is King marks a move to curse-word-free, God-focused
music for the rap superstar, who has spoken frequently this year about embracing religion.
The 26-minute record departs from the shock-value lyrics of West’s last solo record, Ye (which included the chillingly titled I Thought About Killing You). However, West does provide listeners with an intimate portrait of his changed values, the legacy he hopes to leave his kids, and his continuing struggle with mental illness. The rapper also brings gospel music into exciting new territory – deftly mixing electronic, hip-hop, and choral sounds.