Kanye West released his album, titled “JESUS IS KING”, on Oct 25. West calls it a gospel album with no cursing, and it is quite different than any other album he has released prior to this. 

“JESUS IS KING” is a brief 27 minutes long with 11 songs. The album features Kanye West, his Sunday Service Choir, Fred Hammond, Ty Dolla $ign, Ant Clemons, Clipse and Kenny G.

Before releasing the album, West hosted three surprise events in New York, Chicago and Detroit where fans got the chance to listen to the album, among other unreleased songs, before the world got a chance to. Tickets went live on Ticketmaster at 5 p.m. and the event was held at 8 p.m., only giving those who lived in the area the chance to attend.

A day before releasing the album, West appeared on a Youtube video where he was being interviewed by Zane Lowe, a New Zealand radio DJ. In this interview, West and Lowe catch up after a five year gap from seeing each other and talk about West’s recent highs and lows in life. 

“Now I’m lettin’ you know what Jesus has done for me,” said West. “Everything is to spread the gospel”.

In 2016, West was hospitalized after a mental breakdown, or as he likes to call it, a mental breakthrough. While in the hospital, West realized what he was meant to do, and what he would accomplish in the upcoming years.

“When I went to the hospital, one of the things that I wrote down was ‘start a church in Calabasas’. Now this year, I let Jesus take the wheel,” said West in an interview with Big Boy, American radio host.

Since the release of the album, many fans, as well as non-fans, have been sharing their reactions, which have mostly been positive. Reviews on “JESUS IS KING” revolve around love and support. 

“Why not a gospel album, why not? It was bound to happen,” said Big Quint, a Youtuber who frequently reviews albums. “This is Kanye West giving his experience into Christianity”.

Most reactions to the album encourage multiple listens to get the full impact. Listening to the album, reading the lyrics and understanding the messages are three different ways to understand West’s perspective.

“Trust me, album of the year, just give it another listen. Beau-ti-ful,” said Daniel Santos on his Saint Speaks podcast at Kean University.

In his interview with Lowe, West mentioned an upcoming album to be released on Christmas this year, titled “Jesus Is Born.”