For Kanye West, it is a marketing opportunity. After West missed a self-imposed deadline a month ago to release his latest album, the gospel-influenced “Jesus Is King,” his fans went on high alert, tracking his every move and speculating about when, or whether, the album would ever come out. West further stoked the music and celebrity press by previewing the album at a series of public events, at which he portrayed the project as a major turning point. (He was still working on a few songs, he said at 1:18 a.m.)Around noon on Friday, “Jesus Is King,” his ninth LP, finally appeared on streaming services. But the album’s chaotic rollout, and West’s evolving persona, may be as important as the music itself.

Source: New York Times October 25, 2019 20:15 UTC