In October, Kanye West released a new gospel-inspired album called Jesus Is King. A testament to his faith, the album celebrates West’s Christianity and even includes biblical references to gospel passages such as John 8:36. Musically, it’s nothing original or dynamic, or even lyrically interesting — at times I found it repetitive and annoying. It isn’t as much of an exploration of himself, like previous albums, but rather it centered on West’s faith and repentance for his own shortcomings, and is very much Jesus-focused. The songs are fairly short and simple, and include traditional Christian hymns — even featuring a gospel choir on the first track. West has been met with some backlash in response to the release of this album, though, mainly for his own self-righteous and money-chasing nature. He’s even referred to himself as “the greatest human artist of all time.” I think there is a major disconnect between what West wants to preach and what he’s actually practicing.
Darien Johnsen is a UFV alumni who obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree with double extended minors in Global Development Studies and Sociology in 2020. She started writing for The Cascade in 2018, taking on the role of features editor shortly after. She’s passionate about justice, sustainable development, and education.
