Kanye West’s “Jesus Is King” — A Christian Music Review

🎧 Music Review | Jesus Is King by Kanye West
Reviewed through a Christian lens by Dr. Layne McDonald

Subtitle: A Hip-Hop Titan Finds the Throne—But Does He Stay at the Altar?

The beat drops. The choir rises. The bass kicks like thunder in a sanctuary. And just like that, one of hip-hop’s most controversial sons takes a knee.

When Kanye West released Jesus Is King in 2019, the world scoffed, the Church squinted, and believers everywhere whispered, “Is this real?” In an era where faith is often mocked and blurred in music, Kanye—yes, that Kanye—dropped an all-caps, Gospel-drenched, Scripture-quoting, curse-free album and boldly declared: “Every knee shall bow.”

Let’s get this out of the way: Jesus Is King is not a theological textbook. But it is a spiritual bullhorn. It is the sonic equivalent of the Prodigal Son climbing back up the driveway, robe torn, breath heavy, unsure if the door will open. And to Kanye’s credit—it did.

📊 Stats & Cultural Impact

• Debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 (his ninth consecutive No. 1 album)
• Earned a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
• Over 197 million streams in its first week
• First Kanye album with zero profanity
• Every lyric intentionally shaped around faith, conviction, and spiritual awakening

This wasn’t just a marketing stunt. It was a culture quake. And it echoed through both the secular and sacred.

✝️ Message & Lyrics: A Gospel of Grace in Grit

Kanye doesn’t tiptoe around Jesus—he shouts Him out from the first line.
“Every hour / Every minute / Every second / Every day I need You…” he cries out in “Every Hour.”
In “Selah,” he references John 8:33, the book of Revelation, and boldly declares, “God is King.”
In “Hands On,” he addresses Christian criticism directly:
“Said I’m finna do a gospel album / What have you been hearing from the Christians?”

This is confessional hip-hop turned psalmist poetry. It’s raw. It’s unrefined. And it’s unmistakably sincere.

But make no mistake—this isn’t Sunday School singalong. It’s an emotional, imperfect believer trying to find clarity in the static of celebrity.

⚠️ Family Safety & Language

• Profanity: None. Completely clean.
• Violent or sexual content: Absent. This is Kanye’s cleanest album, ever.
• Doctrinal Warnings: While lyrically biblical, not every theological point is precise. New believers may need guidance navigating some of the imagery and artistic liberties.
• Best For: Teens, families, hip-hop fans, new believers exploring how faith and culture can collide.

This album is a safe space for family listening with conversation. It’s a doorway into bigger spiritual talks, especially for youth who know Kanye’s secular past.

🎤 The Good, the Bad, and the Gospel

The Good:

• Bold proclamation of Jesus’ Lordship in every track
• A raw look at personal transformation
• Clean, powerful production
• Bridges a cultural gap between church and the streets

The Bad:

• Theologically immature at points (and Kanye has since drifted in public statements)
• No narrative arc—feels more like a testimony journal than an album
• Lacks lyrical depth compared to other Gospel-rooted rap like Lecrae, Andy Mineo, or KB

The Gospel Takeaway:
This album proves what the Bible says—“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” (2 Cor. 5:17) Kanye didn’t clean himself up and then find Jesus. He found Jesus while messy. And isn’t that all of us?

💡 Life Application

• You don’t have to be perfect to praise.
• God can reach the most unlikely hearts—and use them to reach millions.
• Don’t cancel people who are crawling toward the cross. Pray them through.

If you’re a parent, don’t fear this album. Embrace it as a tool to talk to your teens about repentance, public witness, and how God can use even a hip-hop mogul to declare His glory.

📣 Call to Action

🎶 Want to create bold, Christ-glorifying art that shakes up culture and calls hearts home?
Head to www.laynemcdonald.com for mentorship, media training, and tools to turn your calling into a Kingdom legacy.

🙏 Need a church family or a prayer warrior to walk with you?
Visit www.famemphis.org. Whether you’re in Memphis or Manila, we’ll help you find a spiritual family. And if you need someone to talk to, give us a call. We’re here for you.