With a career spanning through eight No. 1 albums on the billboard 200 Kanye West has always taken pride in his artistry.
Though he’s previously collaborated with a bevy of producers and artists on records (remember when he had 14 features for “All of the Lights”?), he’ll typically play conductor and steer his ship.
For his ninth album, Jesus Is King, West switches things up and allows Jesus to take the wheel this go-round. On JIK, the braggadocious MC pedals back on the arrogance and exudes humility and gratitude throughout the 11 tracks.
Below, see which new songs proved to be West’s strongest, as we ranked all 11 tracks from Jesus Is King.
“Hands On”
Throughout JIK, Kanye illustrates his restless fight with the Devil while glorifying God’s perfection. Here, Ye plays the sidelines and allows production savant, Timbaland, to run point on “Hands On.” The Timbo-produced track is a sharp contrast from his bouncy, bombastic style. For “Hands On,” the producer creates a mellow, airy beat for Ye to air out his grievances.
At this point, Yeezy’s lyrics are repetitive, especially since he’s rapping about rebuking the Devil for the umpteenth time. On paper, a Timbo/Ye pairing seems fantastic, but, sadly, the duo land a dud on their mistimed collaboration.
For those salivating for a glimpse of the “Old Kanye,” look no further than “Follow God.” West, along with Boogz and Xcelence, masterfully flip Whole Truth’s 1974 track “Can You Lose By Following God” for the album’s standout track.
Instead of fighting the beat, West’s delivery is smooth, allowing him to glide with shrewd precision. West’s candor melts through the track, as he wrestles with living a righteous life under the watchful eye of his father. “I was looking at the ‘Gram and I don’t even like likes/ I was screamin’ at my Dad, he told me, ‘It ain’t Christ-like.'”