Perhaps this should’ve come before Kanye West’s last album. All miracles aside, Jesus had to be Born before becoming King. I guess this is the prequel, although the title cleverly coinciding with a Christmas release date shouts gimmick.

The music is the kind of choir-led gospel you’ll hear in most urban churches; the ones with mostly black people in them; marvelous harmonies that rarely stumble upon matching melodies, even though they’re singing cover songs.

The best include Sunshine, Lord Works; well, the first third of it; Souls Anchored and Paradise. Those latter two are based on secular songs about sex and drugs. Sounds like somebody in the Sunday congregation needs another chat with Jesus.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019