The idea thatKanye Westdoes gospel to re-endear himself to his black fans feels pat.
Its too legible of a scheme for an artist whose grand gestures are regularly PR messes.
And though his discography is chameleonic, Christianity has been one of its most consistent undercurrents.
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The point wasnt to convert atheists into believers but if it did, cool.
Whether his renewed quest for spiritual triumph onJesus Is Kingcarries weight depends on your faction.
They include the black intelligentsia thats sighed No in a continuous three-year exhale.
There are the hypebeasts at the pews.
Kanye has made it clear who he sees.
The gospel of Ye is that the red hat did fit him.
One might reasonably suspect that doesnt matter to Ye as long as he remains ubiquitous.
Jesus Is Kingis arranged to emphasize that clumsiness.
Right after Closed on Sunday, Kanye spends On God delivering Ive-seen-the-mountaintop style preaching.
Thats why I charge the prices that I charge I cant be out here dancin with the stars.
Its akin to the prosperity gospel no wonder Joel Osteen wants to build.
The penultimate song Hands On is unsurprisingly also about Kanye.
Said Im finna do a gospel album/What have you been hearin from the Christians?
Kanye asks in a call-and-response with himself.
Theyll be the first one to judge me.
His mythologys rhetoric that a black Polo-wearing kid from Chicagos wins are also ours sells that conceit.
Jesus Is Kingalso continues to erode the perfectionism thats been one of his reputations last vestiges.
Coming halfway through the album, Water is positioned asJesus Is Kings baptismal centerpiece.
Theres not serenity: Kanye genuinely sounds strained praying atop the bubbling keys.
Even more haphazard is the Clipse reunion on Use This Gospel.
You gon do what Adam do?
Or say, Baby, lets put this back on the tree) levity.
