Kanye, Kanye, Kanye. He never ceases to amaze- and not necessarily in good ways. The self-proclaimed genius has never shied away from controversial statements, shocking music videos and even more shocking songs to really get people riled up.

After failing to release Yandhi earlier last September, the 42-year old rapper continued his strange downward spiral of giving fans everything but an album. We’ve seen just about everything- the beginnings of Sunday Church Service, uncomfortable cameos on reality TV star wife’s show, Keeping up with the Kardashians, several surprise appearances where he would preach some more about politics- but it wasn’t quite what we wanted from the same artist that had given us The College Dropout, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and 808’s and Heartbreak, arguably some of his best work.

And now, 12 hours after he had promised a gospel album that would change the genre and convert, heal, praise and perhaps do miracles, we’re stuck with Jesus is King.

Let’s be fair- this isn’t the old Kanye West, rapping about young girls pimping themselves out for money. Even his previous religious work- think “Jesus Walks”, wasn’t really a gospel piece, but rather just a look into the complexity of post 9/11 society, internal conflict and how religion plays into that. We’re working with almost completely different material here, as Kanye only explores the importance of faith and a relationship with God throughout the 11- track album. Rather than comparing himself as an equal to God like he did in Yeezus, songs like “God Is” is simply a testament of the new Kanye’s focus on life- that he is nothing without his God.

But in some ways, the old Kanye still shines through a bit. The production is still at high quality; starting off with “Every Hour” feels like you’re about to catch the Holy Ghost. The songs, while incredibly short, are not boring; this album is pretty much the rap version of those churches that use Christian rock to get young people to keep coming. Featured artists like Clipse and Ant Clemons gave this album a refreshing new feel on songs that seem a little heavy.

But, then you have moments like “Closed on Sunday” where Kanye starts rapping oh so seriously, “You my Chik-Fil-A/Closed on Sunday” and “You’re my number one/With the lemonade.” Other than that line just being incredibly idiotic, (also, Chik-Fil-A is incredibly conservative, so uh, not sure this was the best example you wanted to use, Kanye) it just feels like a strange shift from the direction the album wanted to take. The album’s flow feels like a weird array of songs- obviously some very well produced, and others just…there.

Kanye has a gift for beats. He can put together some great songs, and at the end of the day he certainly did create a gospel album unlike any other. But what he misses out on this album is any hint of being genuine. Kanye, in true stunt queen form, seemingly owns up to deserving all the criticism he’s gotten and asks for us to pray for him, not to give up on him. But then, trickled all over the album are references to his messiest moments- speaking on delicate matters of what it means to be Black in the America of today, and what the legacy of African-Americans has become. “Closed for Sunday”, he drops “Follow Jesus/Listen and obey. No more living for the culture/We nobody’s slave”. We get it, Kanye, slavery is a choice. TO YOU.

Jesus is King is certainly not his best, but it is a bold attempt to connect religion to a genre that for so long, has supposedly gone against the morals of Christianity. As an artist, it’s the kind of growth that’s interesting to see. But it’s nowhere near worthy of the hype that follows the same man who once called himself God. Messy and kind of all over the place, maybe the album could’ve used a little more time and some more divine intervention to really be the statement piece Kanye thought it would be.

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