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Jesus Is Lord

"Jesus Is Lord" is a song by American vocalist and record producer Kanye West from his ninth studio album, Jesus Is King (2019). The song was produced by West, Angel Lopez, Brian "AllDay" Miller, Federico Vindver, and Timbaland. The producers wrote it alongside Claude Léveillée, who had a songwriting credit added due to the song sampling his work. A gospel track, it contains samples of "Un Homme Dans La Nuit", performed by Léveillée. Lyrically, the song features West performing a chorus that sees him echo the reaction of men and women to the Last Judgement.

For the credal affirmation, see Jesus is Lord.

"Jesus Is Lord"

October 25, 2019 (2019-10-25)

Gospel

0:49

  • Kanye West
  • Angel Lopez
  • Brian "AllDay" Miller
  • Federico Vindver
  • Timbaland

The song received mixed reviews from music critics, who were generally divided in their assessments of West's performance. Critical commentary was positive towards the composition of "Jesus Is Lord" from some, though numerous reviewers were dissatisfied with the song's short length. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it charted at number 63. The song also reached numbers 10 and 11 on the US Christian Songs and Gospel Songs charts, respectively. West performed it repeatedly during a Sunday Service concert in October 2019. An extended version of the song entitled "Every Knee Shall Bow", which includes horns, was used for the album's accompanying film of the same name.

Composition and lyrics[edit]

Musically, "Jesus Is Lord" is a gospel track.[9] The horns and piano of the song are sampled from the recording "Un Homme Dans La Nuit", as performed by Léveillée.[10] Five seconds are sampled of the recording, from 1:52 to 1:57 of it.[5][6] The song features a trumpet, contributed by Jesse McGinty and Mike Cordone.[4] McGinty also played the euphonium, French horn, saxophone, trombone, and tuba for the song.[4]


The message of the song spreads the gospel.[11] The lyrics also reference Philippians 2:10-11 of the Bible, looking towards the return of Jesus in the future.[12] The song consists of West singing a chorus, in which he requests, "Every knee shall bow / Every tongue confess."[13][14] After this, West proclaims "Jesus is Lord" twice in the chorus.[14][15] West sings the chorus two times over in the song.[12]

Release and reception[edit]

"Jesus Is Lord" was released on October 25, 2019, as the eleventh and final track on West's ninth studio album Jesus Is King.[16] The song was met with mixed reviews from music critics, who often had split feelings of West's vocals. Writing for The Herald-Standard, Clint Rhodes called the song "short and direct in reference to every believer's call to spread the gospel message" due to West's performance.[11] The Daily Telegraph writer Neil McCormick viewed West "proclaiming 'Jesus Is Lord'" as surprising, since West "once rapped that he'd 'rather be a [dick] than a swallower.'"[15] Luke Hinz from HotNewHipHop complimented the song's "beautifully layered horn arrangement," which he described as serving "to usher out West and his collaborators on bended knee."[17] Despite pointing out its "much-too-short" length, Sam C. Mac of Slant Magazine labeled the song a "triumphant, brassy fanfare" and questioned it being the "most baroque production" from West since his fifth studio album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010).[18] God Is in the TV's Aidy James Steven felt the song is "gone as soon as it's arrived, disappearing suddenly into the ether."[19] Steven continued, analyzing West as doing this because he would "rather leave you wanting more than with too much to digest," while admitting that the song "could have perhaps been elaborated upon or cut without consequence" and he concluded by dubbing it "a pleasant enough back cover to Kanye's Bible."[19]


Carl Lamarre from Billboard gave "Jesus Is Lord" a mixed review, ranking the song as the sixth best track on Jesus Is King and citing it as "equally compelling" in comparison to the album's "triumphant" opener "Every Hour".[20] He elaborated, highlighting the horns that "provide a glorious, champion-like feel," though slammed the song's short length as well as the lack of a verse from West.[20] In Pitchfork, Sheldon Pearce complained that the song is too-short and admitted that its "message may be new" even though the delivery is "anything but," while he asserted the song "could flow seamlessly into the sampled horns" on West's single "Touch the Sky" (2006).[21] For Consequence, Wren Graves stated the song "seems to stop, unresolved, in the middle of a thought."[22] Will Rosebury from Clash dismissed the song's placement on Jesus Is King" as "a short outro."[23] In a highly negative review, Ed Power from The Irish Times said that as the album closes at last with the song, "fans will indeed wonder if Kanye might not have done better overruling his pastor and hanging up his mic."[24]

Commercial performance[edit]

Following the album's release, the song debuted at number 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[25] "Jesus Is Lord" entered the US Christian Songs chart at number 10, rounding out the top 10 of the chart that fully consisted of entries from Jesus Is King.[26] Similarly, the song reached number 11 on the US Gospel Songs chart.[26] On the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, it debuted at number 31.[27]


In Canada, the song charted at number 65 on the Canadian Hot 100.[28] "Jesus Is Lord" performed best in Australia, peaking at number 55 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[29] The song was less successful on the Lithuanian Top 100, reaching number 90 on the chart.[30] It further charted at number 38 on the UK R&B Chart.[31]