Kanye West’s bombshell new album is a 35-minute religious rant about the evils of the modern world
AFTER years of forcing his opinions on to everyone else, Kanye West seems to have run out of ideas.
His long-delayed new album borrows most of its lyrics from old religious texts.
Just 35 minutes long, Jesus Is King is an evangelical rant about the evils of the modern world — including the suggestion that it’s time for youngsters to put down Instagram.
I’m not sure how that will go down with his wife Kim Kardashian.
The rapper, a born-again Christian, threw a couple of surprise listening parties in Detroit and Chicago over the weekend.
Guests were asked to put their phones in pouches so no one would be distracted.
He also revealed a short documentary which included gospel versions of his songs before playing the album.
And before playing the album, the star led the audience in a prayer.
The launch comes a year after the album was first meant to drop, and I got an early listen yesterday.
Water is among his wackiest tracks, featuring a claim the human body is 90 per cent water. Scientists say it is 60 per cent . . . but Kanye knows best.
In Closed On Sunday, he slams Instagram — Kim’s favourite creative outlet — instructing listeners to “put the ’gram away”.
Later, LA Monster slams life in Los Angeles, where he lives a life of luxury in a huge mansion, driving his fleet of sports car to the world’s best restaurants with his superstar wife.
Kanye incants: “It’s the ugliest nightmare born from the prettiest dreams; millions of people trying to get on the scene; and everyone selling their souls, everyone saying they woke, but they sleepwalking, dead, eyes closed.”
bizarre review
Jesus Is King
AFTER last year’s underwhelming album Ye, I’d hoped Kanye would return to form this time around. Alas, it wasn’t to be.
Though the album’s theme is admirable and heartfelt, it preaches too strongly to fans who love Kanye for his unique world view. Many listeners will be put off.
Mercifully, it is a mere 35 minutes long. There are only a couple of songs I would just about listen to again – Use This Gospel For Protection and New Body.
During one of the listening parties, Kanye said he would only make gospel music in future.
That would be fine if he’d managed to capture the genre’s soulful beauty.
But this record would have congregations running for the doors.
★★
He later raps: “They lettin’ Satan run they streets.”
After comparing himself to Jesus on 2013 album Yeezus — something Kanye says he regrets — he arrogantly likens himself to Indian independence icon Mahatma Gandhi by calling himself “Yandhi” in the track Selah.
A widely publicised verse by Nicki Minaj appears to have been dropped from New Body, as only TY Dolla Sign features.
In Hands On, Kanye demands forgiveness after his notorious claim that 400 years of slavery was a “choice” by African-Americans, saying he deserves “three strikes” like in baseball.
Rap duo Clipse reunite ten years after their last album on Use This Gospel, which also includes a saxophone solo from Kenny G.
No wonder Kanye pushed back the unveiling a full year. His glory days feel a very long time ago.
Rita's a shady lady
I BARELY recognised Rita Ora with this new look.
The singer posed ahead of a performance with a new fringe and bright blue eye shadow.
She had a garish outfit to match, sporting a multi-coloured tracksuit.
Rita was in Sweden to launch a Westfield Mall of Scandinavia and performed hits including Hot Right Now, For You and Let Me Love You.
I think she fits right in over in Scandinavia.
bizmeter charts
- Ed Sheeran and Stormzy may be knocked off top spot by Aussie singer Tones & I, who has raced up the early chart.
- Lewis Capaldi will probably be in familiar territory as his new single, Bruises, looks set to land a place in the Top Ten.
Official charts
first look
- Dance Monkey – TONES & I
- Ride It – REGARD
- Higher Love – KYGO and WHITNEY HOUSTON
- Ladbroke Grove – AJ TRACEY
- Taste (Make It Shake) – AITCH
- Circles – POST MALONE
- Sorry – JOEL CORRY
- Bruises – LEWIS CAPALDI
- 3 Nights – DOMINIC FIKE
- Strike A Pose – YOUNG T, BUGSEY and AITCH
No peace 'n' quiet as Rio runs riot
THEY promised one of the most glamorous celebrity weddings of the year at a stunning five-star resort – but not everyone was blown away by the bash.
Not in the way Rio Ferdinand and Kate Wright might have intended, at least.
Guests at the stunning D Maris Bay hotel in Turkey where the footie pundit and telly star tied the knot over the weekend were left fuming when their peace was shattered by dance music echoing for miles around.
The couple had hired half the hotel, where rooms go for up to £4,000 a night.
But after keeping their plans for the nuptials under wraps as part of a magazine deal, they failed to warn the other half of the venue what was in store.
And as one furious guest put it on Instagram, alongside video of the booming party, the “beauty and tranquillity” of the area was destroyed.
On the clip, a rap track with the lyrics “You what, you what, you what” blares out at maximum volume.
In comments directed at the venue’s management, the poster raged: “I hope visitors avoid you like the plague. Why the f*** would you take this booking?
“Oh yeah, the wedding was for a celeb. Happy wedding, Rio Ferdinand.”
The guest, a respected Australian food writer and restaurant critic, added: “I’m very happy for the former football player and his new bride.
"But to the management of D Maris Bay, I say good luck with your short-termism.
“How could I recommend a resort that closes one of its beaches for an entire day, then closes its pool the next day for a private after-party that spoils the entire bay?
“Oh, and it ain’t cheap.”
He added that the “joint” was “full of chavs”. Surely not . . .
bizbit
RICKY Martin has revealed he is expecting a fourth child via a surrogate.
The Livin’ La Vida Loca singer, who has twins Valentino and Matteo and daughter Lucia with his husband Jwan Yosef, revealed the happy news, saying: “I love big families.”
Perrie's bear faced chic
WHEN I heard there were photos of Perrie Edwards wearing a teddy, this isn’t what I had in mind.
The Little Mix singer was joined by a pal as she left the group’s latest show in Paris on Saturday night wearing this fluffy jacket to resemble a cuddly animal.
But judging by her glum expression, a bite seemed more likely than a bear hug.
bizbit
JJ Abrams has hit back at claims his return to Star Wars is an attempt to “repair” it after criticism of The Last Jedi.
The director, who is shooting The Rise Of Skywalker, told Empire magazine: “I never found myself trying to repair anything.”
bizbit
RAPPER Dave held a party at London club Library to celebrate his Mercury Prize win.
Jorja Smith attended and revealed they are working on a song. She said on Instagram: “Can we finish the song pls @santandave.”
Shawn was sweet on Cam for a long time
SHAWN Mendes and Camila Cabello's romance flourished over the summer but it was going on for much longer – as far as Shawn was concerned.
The Canadian singer has hinted he was chasing Camila for a long time before they finally got together, having first collaborated in 2015 on his song I Know What You Did Last Summer.
Camila had been seeing British dating guru Matthew Hussey for 18 months before they split in June, shortly before going official with her Senorita duet partner.
Asked by a fan at the weekend if he has ever loved someone who didn’t love him back, Shawn said: “If I told you the whole story of Camila, it would take a long time.
“I would say that you have to fight for someone you really love. And if you really, truly love them, you’ll get them.”
Sounds like plenty of inspiration for another hit duet.
bizbit
RYAN Tedder has hinted that one of the most star-studded collaborations in music history could appear on OneRepublic’s new album.
The singer-producer said: “The bottom line is we have an album full of material. That’s the good news.
“So we’ve been dropping song after song. Rescue Me was the first, getting the wheels turning again, and we have a lot more songs to come.
“We have one song featuring Beyonce and Adele with a Chris Martin piano solo.”
Shock at Carter Rihanna tattoo
IF you thought Cheryl Tweedy's tattoo of roses on her backside was bad, look at what Aaron Carter has had done.
It echoes an image of Rihanna with snakes for her hair on the cover of British GQ magazine in December 2013.
Aaron captioned the snap on Instagram: “I’m the biggest thing in music right now. I cant be denied.”
A tattoo like this will change the conversation . . .
VICTORIA Beckham is no stranger to bonkers beauty fads, but this one is batty by anyone’s standard.
The star, who previously trialled sheep placenta products and vampire facials, is now using a pricey LED lamp mask to shine directly on to her skin – to do, well, who knows what, frankly.
Maybe just save the money and switch the big light on?
bizticker
- Jeff Lynne’s ELO to release new album From Out Of Nowhere on Nov 1
- Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams throw their second wedding celebration
- Jesse Eisenberg says being dad helps his anxiety
- Halsey ‘dating’’ American Horror Story’s Evan Peters
- Lil Nas X taking time off after ‘wild months’
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