Jesus Reigns.
Kardashian. Trump. Has Kanye truly gone West? Do we need to make him great again, whilst he keeps up with the real world? God show him the way, because the devil's been breaking him down. I miss the old Kanye. But praise the lord it looks like he's back. Jesus walks again as Pastor West wakes up and gives us Sunday service, hammering the Yamaha like he was trying to start the collection plate going off that organ piano playing. This man may have diabolically said that "slavery is a choice". Repent. Repent. Repent. But even though this is no excuse, this is a man who has been saying the wrong thing amongst some truth ever since he was a 'College Dropout' (see, "I'm like a fly Malcolm X. Buy any jeans necessary"...nope! Just no). And I don't mean to sound like Scarlett Johansson's (fitting) Black Widow before she made that leap of faith in 'Avengers: Endgame', but in the face of cancel culture, "I don't judge people by their worst mistakes", I have too many of my own for that. Besides these days he's walking it all back whilst saying, "if they're still throwing out slave nets, why are we still standing in the same place," whilst we all react like his bass player in said video to that. Right now go West like a Pet Shop Boy and you'll see a Kanye concert every week. But this isn't on a live Saturday night, but the repent of a Sunday morning for the former Maroon 5 collaborator from the club to the church...and not the way Snoop Dogg spells it. Yet from the "about three Kim's, LaToya and Tina" resurgence of DMX and 'Once Upon A Time In... Hollywood' and 'Ad Astra' actor Brad Pitt, everyone has been in attendance for one of this pastors practiced preach. As the revolutionary rapper and powerhouse producer of this generations new millennium takes it to the pulpit and rises like a Phoenix for a real graduation.
It's a good a## job Yeezus has. 'The Life Of Pablo' goes on following 'Ye' and the following seven track classic albums he produced for Kid Cudi ('Kids See Ghosts') and Nas ('Nasir') last year. And it's no longer a beautiful, dark, twisted fantasy for the man whose music has always kept it 110, even if his manner has not. But with his most epic, experimental album (and the most recent have pushed the envelope like his behaviour people's patience) since the brooding beauty of the mother mourn, '808s and Heartbreak' (that inspired the name of this blog. Yeezy taught me!), Kanye has some competition with 'King'. From King Princess the new 'Cheap Queen' of Maggie Rogers' world of pop and the real King of R&B Tank with the infantry of his fifth classic of the every other year decade and his own spiritual 'Elevation'. And the icon (like it or not) who has forgot better singles (there somewhere on Spotify and we aren't talking about poopity scoop...or are we?) than the rest of the game ever thought of...or put on wax. Once going 'Four, Five Seconds' wildin' with Rihanna and a Beatle knows that nothing is bigger than Jesus as Christ the King walks with him again like two pairs of footprints in the sand, when Kanye was sinking in quick. This is the return. Dare we say the resurrection? But some still seem to want to throw stones at the throne after waiting "all" morning for his album (sometimes it doesn't have to be the midnight hour people) after Twitter turned into a trolling meme and GIF hemisphere once again (isn't Christianity all about patience and faith?). The funniest belonging to the often waiting around used John Travolta in 'Pulp Fiction' famous confused GIF of Vincent Vega over the 'Yeezus' like (we wonder what will become of the minidisc cover, eight wonder 'Yandhi') iconic blue vinyl cover of 'Jesus', which even this writer had to retweet. Yet some want to troll take it to 'Ye like he hasn't been proving them with definitive catalogues for decades. As this new post millennial, Post Malone generation don't even know what it's like to wait months and a morning to pick up a new album in your local record store (remember those?), Instead of them to B.I.G. drop in an unexpectedly like bird s### instant, ready to Spotify stream right away, no matter the Apple Music or Tidal wave. Some say because of the wait that this is weak...are these non believers jesting? The ever experiential Daft Punk collaborator before Pharrell has barely been 'Stronger'. Hate him now for siding with the wrong Donald, but this is America and in this case you can separate the man from the music unlike fellow Windy City, Chi-town artist R. Kelly and even the man in his mirror, Michael Jackson. Hooray for 'Ye because this is his best in years from the moment the classic choir of 'Every Hour' leads an inspired introduction chorus and then West rejoices and rips into the big bass beats of 'Selah' like a 'Black Skinhead', but like LL with the 'Power' of God instead. "JOHN 8:33" he cries, like he used to statement rap about money, how's and clothes again with apologies to Mos and Kweli. Oh and John 8:33? That be as follows in the passage, "They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?" Go get your Bible!
'The College Dropout', 'Late Registration' (and it's live, religious like 'Orchestration' experience, crossing London's Abbey Road with the dropout bear like McCartney), '808s and Heartbreak', 'Graduation', 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy', 'Yeezus', 'The Life Of Pablo' and 'Ye', they've all been game changing...world changing classics. But number nine, or tenth if you watched the throne with Rocafella Jay-Z is the one we got down on our knees and out our hands together for as the spirit of the holy ghost runs through us like the water of a reborn baptism out the fire. This is art. With or without the acclaim. As on Kanye West's God, gospel album like a live 'Amazing Grace' of Aretha Franklin every seventh day (every legendary rapper has an experimental album like Mos Def's 'The New Danger' rock or Common's 'Electric Circus' (that Kanye 'Be' awoke him from with God) and like this they are usually the best, no matter what they say), he features everyone like the Clipse recurring constant collaborator of Pusha T (over 'Runaway' perfect piano again) and even the sax of Kenny G (Ross from 'Friends' taking a bath is listening like 'Frasier') at (let's say it like Rahzel doing the beat and hook of the late, great Queen Aaliyah's 'One In A Million' beatbox) the same time, on the same song like 2Pac going Digital Underground. Although Kanye has missed a trick not getting DMX to come back through here like he did on any given Sunday with his lyrical touchdown, barking the word from the good book. But this is more than a concept, or pair of jeans. Like true religion this is sacrifice. Blood, sweat and years of joy. And now the man who wrote "I have being bipolar...it's awesome" on the cover of his last release has kicked the meds and found the word. And believe me that is easier to tap into than Kanye's iPhone passcode. We just hope Trump's listening in his ivory tower...he might just learn something. Yeah right! Praise be and all that testament. As Kanye implores in preach for all of us to 'Follow God', declaring any other musical recital to his church, 'Closed On Sunday' he really brings the best out of himself and in your ourselves in these readings of the perfect passages. Using himself as a vessel, 'On God' shines through a 'Yeezus' era beat that's only missing Bon Iver lost in the woods before Ty Dolla $ign and Ant Clemons join in chorus for the beautiful 'Everything We Need' ode to the grace of joy, giving thanks to the creator. But it's the holy 'Water' that gets even deeper again with Clemons as Ant sings, "Clean us like the rain in spring/Take the chlorine out our conversation/Let Your light reflect on me/I promise I'm not hiding anything/It's water/We are water/Pure as water/Like a newborn daughter." Then Kanye tells us who 'God Is', singing too, before getting 'Hands On' with Fred Hammond. But as we now our heads one last time and join hands it's the closer, 'Jesus Is Lord' on 'Jesus Is King' that really leaves us with an indelible, inspirational, everlasting message for everyone. For the verse, "Every knee shall bow/Every tongue confess/Jesus is Lord/Jesus is Lord." Now it's hasn't been so long since they spoke, the day Kanye was dreaming about in college came true like flying away from the grave-shift in a spaceship. As everyone in the club is screaming out 'Jesus Walks' and is king and what a time for this notion to be alive. We need this one because we are still at war. Still at war with terrorism. Still at war with racism. But most of all still at war with ourselves. Yet feet won't fail you now 'Ye. It turns out Jesus does save. Once again Yeezus is King. Even wearing a crown of thorns for the throne. Now if he would just take off that damn hat. Take 'em to church. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Every Hour', 'Selah', 'Closed On Sunday'.
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