Jesus Is King
by Kanye West
User Score
5.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 1454 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 657 out of 1454
  2. Mixed: 241 out of 1454
  3. Negative: 556 out of 1454

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  1. jomaja
    Oct 26, 2019
    4
    Mostly Kanye praising the lord. Hoped for more introspection and how he tries to emulate Jesus. But, I guess, Kanye does not like to look inside anymore. Friendly sound, not a lot depths.
  2. Cutz
    Oct 26, 2019
    4
    Exceptionally not worth the hype. While there are shinning tracks on this album, such as Selah, for the most part the album comes together sloppily and seems incredibly incoherent. The track Hands On has some semi-interesting lyrics about Christian's being the first person to judge Kanye, but besides that the album says nothing more than "God good. Devil Bad." Production wasn't horrible,Exceptionally not worth the hype. While there are shinning tracks on this album, such as Selah, for the most part the album comes together sloppily and seems incredibly incoherent. The track Hands On has some semi-interesting lyrics about Christian's being the first person to judge Kanye, but besides that the album says nothing more than "God good. Devil Bad." Production wasn't horrible, but nothing like some of his better albums.… Expand
  3. MarylandStudent
    Oct 27, 2019
    4
    Jesus is King is an odd mixed bag in the fact that songs Like Fallow God, Every Hour, and Hands On aren't terrible. The best song on the album is by far Fallow God as it has the old Kanye flow. This album honestly feels like a lousy chance the rapper album and makes me feel like Kanye is going the same way as Eminem, the one plus is this makes me have a new respect for Ice cube in that heJesus is King is an odd mixed bag in the fact that songs Like Fallow God, Every Hour, and Hands On aren't terrible. The best song on the album is by far Fallow God as it has the old Kanye flow. This album honestly feels like a lousy chance the rapper album and makes me feel like Kanye is going the same way as Eminem, the one plus is this makes me have a new respect for Ice cube in that he still makes good music. Eminem and Kanye take a note from Jay-Z's book and work behind the scenes cause this is just sad.… Expand
  4. Mdwalker117
    Oct 28, 2019
    4
    While a small departure I’m impressed and this is coming from someone who doesn’t consider themselves religious. In enjoyed it more due to the fact that it shows his journey to what he sees is his path to follow.
  5. PresBarackObama
    Oct 28, 2019
    4
    The lyrics and vocals are annoying. Production and mixing arent finished. Thought some tracks were alright but have so much room for improvement. The entirety of Ultralight Beam is miles better than every track here combined. Jesus Walks is miles better too. I really hope this gets the TLOP treatment and gets patched
  6. youruberdriver
    Mar 27, 2020
    4
    Mr. West returns with a self proclaimed gospel album "Jesus is King". After a very successful KSG and Ye I expected something on the same level. I don't feel disappointed but I my expectations were much higher than the result that we got. i can't say that the latest Kanye album is bad, but it sounds rough, sketchy and spineless. Some songs are better than others, some are obviously takenMr. West returns with a self proclaimed gospel album "Jesus is King". After a very successful KSG and Ye I expected something on the same level. I don't feel disappointed but I my expectations were much higher than the result that we got. i can't say that the latest Kanye album is bad, but it sounds rough, sketchy and spineless. Some songs are better than others, some are obviously taken from an unreleased "Yahndi". The album doesn't feel like a Kanye album, it doesn't leave you with a certain experience or mood or idea. I find Mr. Wests' latest album just a collection of random Kanye songs. Don't get me wrong, the songs are mostly good, if you listen to them as singles, but where is the whole gospel album Kanye was talking about? Why leaked Yahndi sounds better than a finished projects? Why bangers like "Follow God" and "On god" are mixed with gospel tracks like "Every hour" and melancholic ones like "Closed on Sunday". It doesn't feel consistent. Considering the whole criticism and all drawbacks mentioned before, "Jesus is King" is still a good album with gorgeous production, interesting lyrics and Kanye West. Kanye can't make bad music after all. Some songs grow on me more and more every day. It's definitely not his best one, but not the worst one either. Give it a listen anyways. A strong 8/10 from me. P.S. Kanye, you can do better… Expand
  7. D_Hughez
    Nov 5, 2019
    4
    I have never been a religious person or listened to religious music so my take is a bit skewed. However, from listening to Kanye growing up this album is promising but another generic album. Gone are the hip hop days of Kanye with amazing beats and fire lyrics. In with the gospel choirs and repeating messages. There is nothing inherently wrong with that but not my taste compared to whoI have never been a religious person or listened to religious music so my take is a bit skewed. However, from listening to Kanye growing up this album is promising but another generic album. Gone are the hip hop days of Kanye with amazing beats and fire lyrics. In with the gospel choirs and repeating messages. There is nothing inherently wrong with that but not my taste compared to who Kanye used to be.… Expand
  8. ChunkDump
    Dec 28, 2020
    4
    this isnt the same Kanye anymore. you have to be a huge fan of Ye to enjoy this project. its too damn gospel-ish for me, he still put enough hip hop in it to be listened to. he needs to focus on his mental health at this point.
  9. garfield7081
    Mar 26, 2022
    4
    i dont have a problem with the religious focus of the album, i have a problem with how lazy and rushed the production of the album feels. looking at the remnants of yandhi, this album couldv'e been much, much better.

    best song: follow god

    worst song: closed on sunday
  10. Marmanhollow
    Oct 26, 2019
    3
    Trump? Jesus? Trump? Jesus? Ye? Jesus? Jesus! JESUS!! GOD! Trump? YE! HESUS! JEEEESUSSSS!!
  11. mangouris
    Oct 25, 2019
    3
    This is so boring ....Nothing special. Music for churches. Where are the MBDTF days?
  12. Southpawer1
    Oct 26, 2019
    3
    Awful album. Not Kanye standards. He could ave done a gospel masterpiece but failed badly!
  13. 0kajetan
    Oct 26, 2019
    3
    Are you people ok? This is a disaster, I simply can't believe what I just heard
  14. sammyanthony
    Oct 27, 2019
    3
    Uhh Kanye being Kanye, but his statements became more invalid over time. In this album, he decided to completely lean on an ancient fiction book and abandon his very last breath of clear vision. Politics blur him off and for that sake he dove deep to fit his butt on conservative territory. Kanye oh Kanye, please enlighten me with liveliness of your music instead of this piece of foul corpse.
  15. NimNams
    Oct 25, 2019
    3
    Sonically dull, lyrically uninspired, and completely un-Kanye-like. Eleven songs and not a catchy hook in the bunch.
  16. chocstraw
    Oct 27, 2019
    3
    This album is insulting to Jesus and I'm not even religious. While the album is poor in its own right, it's especially poor when taken in the context of the leaks leading up to this album, all of which were better than just about any song on the final product.
  17. Ozayrica
    Oct 26, 2019
    3
    So on the nose lyrics it's unbelievable. Some beats are OK but a handful of songs are unbelievably bad (closed on Sundays is mind numbing)
  18. Joozebox
    Oct 31, 2019
    3
    Jesus is King is a mediocre Kanye Album. His weak rhymes and mediocre production ruin a would be decent album.
  19. 808great
    Oct 27, 2019
    3
    Not many redeeming qualities throughout this album. Some moments of inspiration or impressive production, drowned and layered in horrible lyrics and a totally incohesive project. Save for 2-3 songs at most, there’s little replay value.
  20. inoffensive
    Oct 28, 2019
    3
    Starts of pretty ok, but just gets more and more boring after that. Someone who is christian might enjoy it more than I do, but for me there is very little to enjoy about it.
  21. Autechre1234
    Oct 26, 2019
    3
    Religion has always been an interesting part of Kanye's work, the devout moments of "Ultralight Beam" and "Jesus Walks" contrast with the extreme self-worship of "I am a God" (and much else in his discography). This tension between Kanye's beliefs and actions was the driving force behind his most important record - MBDTF. So a record that explores the lighter side of his beliefs hasReligion has always been an interesting part of Kanye's work, the devout moments of "Ultralight Beam" and "Jesus Walks" contrast with the extreme self-worship of "I am a God" (and much else in his discography). This tension between Kanye's beliefs and actions was the driving force behind his most important record - MBDTF. So a record that explores the lighter side of his beliefs has promise, for example in shedding light on how Kanye uses his faith to battle the demons that he showed on ""I Thought About Killing You".

    There are moments here where these themes are explored - Kanye fighting with his dad on "Follow God", feelings of hypocrisy on "Hands On". Unfortunately though, the bulk of the record is spent in full megachurch preaching mode, which quickly feels repetitive and empty. I imagine this style of unbalanced worship quickly frustrates intelligent believers too, who carry their faith with full understanding of the doubt and difficulty that it comes with. Really this is a form of christianity suited for uncritical capitalists, amusingly confirmed when Kanye bemoans his tax bill and claims that the sky-high prices of his clothing lines are to stop his family from "starving".

    Even the most preachy form of Christianity could have been carried with an original hip-hop infused take on gospel instrumentals though, and Kanye has form in this area. There are somewhat successful moments - Follow God uses a gospel sample effectively, but seriously, compare this to the detail and dynamism on "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1", and it pales in comparison. This feeling is consistent throughout the record, most of the beats are very simplistic, with one or two elements that have no exciting interplay. This explains why the tracks are so short, there simply aren't many musical ideas here. Sometimes the instrumentation is able to carry the track for its runtime, but this is often not true. At its worst, we have the execrable "Water" which is based on a meandering bass tone that feels like a preset from a cheap synthesiser.

    Overall, the album fails both lyrically and musically. Evangelical christians can probably find something to like, but secular listeners praising this are surely grading on an "it's kanye" curve. Seriously even go back to the uneven Life of Pablo and you'll immediately hear the difference.    … Expand
  22. Leonardoisred
    Oct 26, 2019
    3
    The albums feels unfinished and the lyrics are so unimaginative they feel like he put the most basic religious terminology in a bag and started doing madlibs. There seem to be no interesting ruminations on faith and it seems pretty shallow. Selah, is decent And has some epic production but so many other tracks fail to say anything profound that the album feels waaaay below his usualThe albums feels unfinished and the lyrics are so unimaginative they feel like he put the most basic religious terminology in a bag and started doing madlibs. There seem to be no interesting ruminations on faith and it seems pretty shallow. Selah, is decent And has some epic production but so many other tracks fail to say anything profound that the album feels waaaay below his usual standard. Feels weird to see the iconoclastic contrarian rebel that kanye is become so tame and mainstream. Disappointment all round.… Expand
  23. Aram2034
    Nov 19, 2020
    3
    Aside from On God and Follow God, this album fails to hook me or at even interest me in the slightest. This album sounds like a demo tape and judging by the mix I feel like it really is one. I could go on about the negatives but I'm just gonna stick to the positives. Follow God feels like the Kanye we know and love, albeit a little less focused or motivated. It honestly sounds like he'sAside from On God and Follow God, this album fails to hook me or at even interest me in the slightest. This album sounds like a demo tape and judging by the mix I feel like it really is one. I could go on about the negatives but I'm just gonna stick to the positives. Follow God feels like the Kanye we know and love, albeit a little less focused or motivated. It honestly sounds like he's freestyling on a Youtube "Kanye Type Beat" and the track feels like a quick catchy demo that would have otherwise been scrapped. On God has a terrific beat, and Kanye definitely finds his footing on the track, however the lyricism is extremely surface level and overall the track just isn't great, it's just pretty good. My final positive note is the opener, Every Hour, it's very good but because of the lack of progression or percussion it feels about a minute too long. There is a remix of this song which adds drums, and with the drums it is easily the best song on this album. Overall 3/10, Kanye's worst album.… Expand
  24. Shad123
    Oct 26, 2019
    3
    The Kanye we love has left the building. This felt entire album felt like false sentiment, making religion seem like a fad.
  25. DjShaub
    Oct 26, 2019
    3
    By far Ye's worst offering, not fit for a King, the best thing I can say is it's short!
  26. Zjmw
    Oct 26, 2019
    3
    Bad flow weak bars bad mixing messy thematic continuance... weakest Kanye album ever and I'm nervous to see where he goes from here
  27. Rapfan123
    Oct 26, 2019
    3
    Jesus is King is definitely Kanyes worst full length album. The beats that aren't generic are generally bad, the flows are basic, the lyrics are bad, and the message comes off as too preachy.
  28. Lord-Eagles
    Nov 1, 2019
    3
    Kanye delivers a performance that shows the lack of passion for the topic at hand, to the point where the religious aspect of the album feels gimmicky. Or as if he is changing himself to try to bring in an audience that is typically not in order to redeem himself from his rough public persona of the last few years.

    Well admittedly there is some nice production and catchy vocals -Example    Kanye delivers a performance that shows the lack of passion for the topic at hand, to the point where the religious aspect of the album feels gimmicky. Or as if he is changing himself to try to bring in an audience that is typically not in order to redeem himself from his rough public persona of the last few years.

    Well admittedly there is some nice production and catchy vocals -Example being “Closed on Sunday”- It does not redeem this marred album, From the fact the vocals do not mesh well with the production. The Features feeling as if they are conforming to the idolization of the religion Ye thinks he’s found Pusha T feeling the most out of place. Ye’s Persona presented to us feeling forced, lacking of spirituality, and instead showing the egotism of His eccentrically brash and uncoordinated nature.

    The forgettable and often times short songs that probably could not be converted to church choirs even if people wanted to, since this is essentially an album about Kanye and Not “God”.
    The fundamentals of the album are broken and flawed and as for it being a “Turning point” in Kanye’s career it feels bland, and Uninspired, as if it was brought up in a think tank to appeal to Boomers.
    And added with the Condemnation of Rap music leading up to the album release which shows his lack of gratitude to the art form allowing him to exist in the life he has achieved.    … Expand
  29. Todor5325
    Nov 7, 2019
    3
    It felt REALLY rushed, I'm dissapointed, the lyrics are half-assed but the production is incredible, saves it from being horrible
  30. Mshad23
    Aug 31, 2021
    3
    Lackluster album with a singular theme of Christianity. An album that very much feels “by Christians for Christians” - which would not be an issue if the music itself was consistently good. Yet the album features only two good songs with “follow god” and “closed on Sunday” - the rest of the album is truly forgettable.
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Most Discussed Album of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 25
  3. Negative: 4 out of 25
  1. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Dec 30, 2019
    0
    His reunion with frequent collaborators belies a rich history of discovering and championing new voices. This ostensible distance from which Kanye preaches reveals King’s true tension: Kanye, like Kendrick on DAMN., is asking for our prayers, while also distancing himself from our hands and our mouths. And it doesn’t work. ... He has artistically lost track of his audience and himself in its midst.
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  2. The Wire
    Nov 20, 2019
    50
    He’s hung up on Jesus rather than pneumatic women. It’s hard to tell if that’s an improvement, but it doesn’t seem like a regression either. ... An album with zero fat, dense in at least three senses, two of them positive. [Dec 2019, p.60]
  3. RapReviews.com
    Nov 12, 2019
    50
    As with every Kanye album, there’s some magnificent production on a majority of “Jesus Is King” courtesy of Pi’erre Bourne, Timbaland and Boogz, among others. ... Kanye just seems like he’s in his own world; disregarding what’s going on around him. Other times, Ye’s writing delves into eyerolling contradictions and ego-driven intentions.
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