KANYE WEST レコード& CD

Review: It may have been released digitally six months ago, but Kanye West's "Jesus Is King" album - his 12th solo set in total - has finally made it on to vinyl. By now, most will have already heard it, but for the uninitiated "Jesus Is King" sees West meditating on Christianity, offering up a tight 27-minute set of tracks that draw influence from (or explicitly sample) gospel music in all its forms. It's still a hip-hop album of course, it's just that the beats, musical choices (gospel choirs, loops from killer records by gospel soul act The Whole Truth etc) and lyrics are closer to the black American gospel tradition than anything West has released before.

Review: Vultures, Kanye West's collaborative effort with Ty Dolla $ign, arrives amid a tumultuous period for the legendary rapper and despite controversies surrounding his personal life and erratic behavior, the album shows a surprising completeness. The production is polished, showcasing West's improved technical precision as a rapper. The writing is on point, with creative versus found throughout the album. The beats are mesmerising and varied and the album overall feels cohesive and accomplished. Vultures present a competent and well-crafted offering, leaving fans satisfied while gaining new fans too.