NEW MUSIC
SELECTIVE HEARING | Robert Berman
KANYE WEST
Jesus is King
Celebrity
conversions
generate Hammond on “Hands On” Kanye declares his abound on choral pieces like “Every Hour”
responses all over the map. Delight at a sinner emancipation from Satan while fretting that and auto-tuned vocal stacks like “Use This
saved. Scrutiny of vestigial words and behaviors Christians will “be the first ones to judge me,” Gospel,” which pauses for an unaccompanied
foreign subcultures. then pleads with Christians to pray for him alto sax solo from Kenny G near the end.
Schemes to co-opt the artist for one’s own rather than criticize him. “On God” explores his “ministry.” Scoffing from unbelievers and those financial straits. It’s affecting, engrossing stuff.
to
various
always
Christian
who never liked the artist’s work anyway. Will
Kanye mixes autobiography with practical
advice. Multiple tracks warn about addiction
faith quench the creative spark? Will the growing Where last year’s “Snoop Dogg Presents the to social media. “Every Hour” vamps on the
seed be choked off? Will the fickle public move Bible of Love” was more of a hip-hop artist text “Sing ‘til the power of the Lord comes
on? Will this latest reinvention of a famously curating the work of contemporary gospel down.” “Selah” mixes quotations from John’s
mercurial mind “stick”? Images arise of Bob music artists, Kanye delivers his own songs. In gospel with gospel choir and a declaration that
Dylan, Al Green, and other faith-proclaiming the spirit of his other recent albums, the tracks “Jesus Christ did the laundry.” “Follow God”
artists whose every move was taken as betrayal are more stripped down than previous works recounts a religious confrontation between
by some constituency, and who were obliged like “Jesus Walks.” “Follow God” is built around Kanye and his father, a Christian counselor.
to begin their sanctification in the public eye. a sample of the 1974 soul track “Can You Kanye expresses faith with a boldness that puts
Lose by Following God?” by the group Whole many “Christian” artists to shame. “I bow down
Kanye seems resigned to living under the Truth. Kanye’s version of hip-hop has always to the King upon the throne. My life is his. I’m
microscope as he explains why he abandoned mixed in plenty of melody, and this album is no longer my own.” Google search requests
the incomplete album Yandhi last year while no exception. “God Is” offers a remarkable for “What is Christianity?” have risen. Whatever
turning his life around. “Before the Flood, testimony in song as Kanye hits the top of his the next page of this story, it’s already making
people judge/ They did the same thing to vocal range in unabashed praise: “Christ is the a difference.
Noah.” With an assist from gospel legend Fred fountain that filled my cup.” Heavy harmonies
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November 2019
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