Jesus Is King

Kanye West's ninth studio album, Jesus Is King, arrived on October 25, 2019, via GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. It marked a sharp turn toward Christian hip-hop and gospel, with West calling it "an expression of the gospel." Across 11 tracks, he trades his usual bravado for worship, backed by the Sunday Service Choir and guests like Clipse, Ty Dolla Sign, Kenny G, Fred Hammond, and Ant Clemons. Production comes from West, Federico Vindver, Ronny J, Pi'erre Bourne, Labrinth, Timbaland, and others, building a sound that mixes hip-hop drums with choir arrangements and R&B textures. The project had a long, public path. West started recording in August 2018 as Yandhi, missed release dates in September and November 2018, and shelved it after leaks. He formed the Sunday Service Choir in January 2019, performing gospel versions of his songs; "Water" was played live before the album came out. Renamed Jesus Is King in August 2019, it missed two more dates that September before finally landing alongside a concert film. Critics were split, some praising the composition, others finding the lyrics uneven. It still debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, West's ninth consecutive chart-topping album, and won Top Christian Album and Top Gospel Album at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards plus Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 2021 Grammys.[edit]