There was a time when new music from the rap legend felt like an event. Who can forget the thrill when, after widespread backlash to the Taylor Swift incident at the 2009 VMAs, he emerged from hiding a year later with “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” his grandiose career-defining masterpiece (and arguably the best album of the past decade)? The messy rollouts and bold swings of 2013’s “Yeezus” and 2016’s “The Life of Pablo” kept fans on their toes, even if in retrospect, we weren’t nearly critical enough of West’s offensive and unwanted depictions of Swift and other female celebrities on the latter.īut in the past couple years, West’s antics have grown increasingly tiresome. So why can’t we get more excited about it? Interpolating Bible verses and Christian hymns, and frequently backed by a church organ and choir, the album suggests a bold new direction for the now-father of four (a musical path he looks to continue on with the just-announced “ Jesus is Born,” out Christmas Day.) Here, he completely abandons his provocative rhymes about fame, women and mental health, and potentially alienates longtime fans with chaste lyrics about God, heaven and staying on the straight and narrow. In some regards, “Jesus is King” is West’s riskiest effort yet. The 11-song, 27-minute album finds West teaming up once again with frequent collaborators including Pusha T, Ty Dolla Sign and producer Mike Dean, as well as his recently formed Sunday Service collective: a gospel group who’s accompanied him throughout the past year at Coachella music festival in April, at Chicago’s Northerly Island in September and at various pop-up shows nationwide. ”Jesus is King,” the rapper’s most clear-cut foray into Christian hip hop, was released midday Friday following multiple delays and tracklist changes.

Is 808s and heartbreak clean