Kanye West, Jesus is King: Track-by-track review of new album as fans react and stream record

Controversial rapper's new album was delayed a number of times but has finally been released

Kanye West releases the first trailer for his new IMAX film 'Jesus is King'

Kanye West has finally released his new album Jesus is King.

The long-delayed record was originally announced for a 27 September release by Kim Kardashian-West, and then "definitely" on the 29 September. However, the album never appeared and no explanation was given for the delay.

Earlier this week, a new date of 25 October was announced. After the album again failed to appear, West posted on Twitter to say he was adding final touches to certain songs on the album.

The album has now been released and is available on major streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon. You can read our review here.

Follow the updates as they happened

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West recently gave a controversial interview with Zane Lowe on the presenter's Beats 1 show, where he announced another album, Jesus is Born, for Christmas Day.

He also explained why he refused to be silent over his support for US Donald Trump, and declared himself to be "the greatest human artist of all time".

In another revelation, West – who has identified as a Christian – said he told people working in his studio not to have sex before marriage.

Key Points

• Controversial rapper recently claimed he told people in his studio not to have pre-marital sex
• He also said that his support for US president Donald Trump was 'God's practical joke to all liberals'
• Read our review of Jesus Is King

[25 October 2019 14:27 · roisin.oconnor]

Woah, that's deep man 

[25 October 2019 14:38 · roisin.oconnor]

 Regardless of where Jesus is at right now, one thing that isn't being resurrected is my opinion of Kanye.

It's poor form to treat your fans like this – particularly ones who are some of the loyalest out there. Imagine sticking by him through the pro-Trump support, the 'slavery was a choice' claim and, well, the Kardashians, to get to this point where he's delayed not one, but two studio albums.

This is the third time Jesus is King has been delayed, and even if it does drop later today, the fact that Kanye is still messing around with the production the day it's supposed to drop shows an astonishing disregard for the people who want to hear that music. 

[25 October 2019 15:38 · roisin.oconnor]

Oh wow, thanks for the feedback! Glad my misery is entertaining someone 

[25 October 2019 15:47 · roisin.oconnor]

We have an update! Courtesy of @iBradSando on Twitter (thanks Brad). So according to rapper and producer Consequence, the album will be with us in about... an hour? I'll believe it when I hear it.

[25 October 2019 16:16 · roisin.oconnor]

10 people have already told me they think Consequence is just baiting me with false hope.

[25 October 2019 17:43 · roisin.oconnor]

Track 8: "God Is"

I recognise that voice. A super soulful intro to this track, nice backing instrumentation which hasn't been the focus until now, but the arrangements seem far more thought-out here. It's another one, however, that feels a tad preachy – spilling out a number of worshipping statements about what "God is" to Ye. He is a fricking genius with the samples though, that at least will never change.

[25 October 2019 17:46 · roisin.oconnor]

Track 9: "Hands On"

Featuring the renowned gospel singer Fred Hammond. This is the most determined Ye has sounded on the record so far, and there's 100% some Justin Vernon/Bon Iver vibes opening the track. There's a big old mention of the 13 Amendment, nodding to Ye's highly controversial comments about slavery being "a choice". With his newfound religious beliefs he's spoken at length about feeling "free" and seeing the light. His flow's harking back to Graduation (for me, at least, feel free to disagree), slow and considered. 

[25 October 2019 17:51 · roisin.oconnor]

Track 10: "Use This Gospel"

Wow, we're really racing through the record (but then it is reallyyyyyyy short). Was the wait worth it? I'm not convinced and with two tracks to go (including this one) I don't know that's going to change. Saying that, there's a definite reference to "POWER" (it's not just me, right?) here, with that build that's both menacing and empowering. And Kenny G is on it! And Clipse! Aka Pusha T and his brother No Malice. 

As cool as the above is, I've realised what a major issue is with this record – it's coming across as a series of skits, rather than full album tracks. Each one is so different from the next that it's disrupting any kind of flow the album manages to achieve. But oh, that Kenny G sax. WOW.

[25 October 2019 17:56 · roisin.oconnor]

Track 11: "Jesus is Lord"

Oh. It's 49 seconds. Not a track so much as an outro of Ye singing "Jesus is Lord" over and over again. "Every knee shall bow/ Every tongue confess/ Jesus is Lord..." someone pass me the sick bucket? I can't believe that's the last track on an album fans have been waiting years for. Really? REALLY, Kanye? I'm trying to get my head around this. 

[25 October 2019 18:03 · roisin.oconnor]

What's the rest of the world saying? I'm going to have a look at some fan reactions on Twitter....