In case you’ve been living under some KTT rock and missed the most influential post on KTT2 since it’s inception, a few weeks ago I made a thread about how I had decided to take a spontaneous trip to Israel, Jordan, and Egypt to get a better grasp on Jesus Is King.

I’ve never been a very religious person, so I figured that before denouncing an album I originally thought was mid off first listen, I would instead rather venture out to the Holy Land itself with an open mind to see if, maybe, there is something that -I- wasn’t wrapping my head around.

I promised that I would indoctrinate myself into the culture, speak with the people, and that is exactly what I have done over the past 8 days. I played the album for them. They were very appreciative.

I also promised that I would not spend much time in places like Tel Aviv or other big cities. This was not play time. This was WORK. I had a job to do. So instead I was to spend most of my time in smaller, more historical and ancient towns like Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

Upon returning, I have a completely different view of an album I thought was very low tier. It certainly isn’t high tier, but after careful consideration I must say that I truly think it’s toward the high end of the middle tier of Kanye albums.

I played the album pretty much on repeat the entire time. The album is the textbook definition of a “grower”, meaning that the more times you listen, the better it sounds. Now, it was my job to distinguish whether me starting to respect and appreciate the album was due to my actual finds in Israel, or if it was just simply attributed to repeated listens that I could have done on the comfort of my own home. Was this trip even worth it all? These are the questions I had to answer upon my return. And after careful consideration, I can say...

Absolutely. Listening to this album in the Holy Land itself was an on an entire different level of experience. I can honestly say that there exists in this album more feeling than you current experience when you listen to it in your own home. It’s like how people speak about psychedelic d*** trips, and how they were able to perceive things like music or art on a deeper level, the way that it was intended to be perceived. Almost like you have to unlock it. And once you unlock it, you take that feeling home with you. Listening to JIK back at home now feels completely different than even the day before I left for my trip.

Tracks I must speak on:

Every hour: honestly at first few listens this was the absolute s***tiest intro I have ever heard on a Kanye album and certainly the worst track on this one. While it is probably still the worst intro, I’ve grown to love it so much that I’m constantly singing it even when it’s not on. It is no longer skipped but instead welcome. I feel like I have my own f***ing choir that follows me wherever I go, soundtracking my life. Maybe one day I will.

Selah: still goat. I don’t understand how anyone who barely appreciated Yeezus could write this song off in any way. Top 3 track for me.

Follow God: was and always will be the best track on the album. I still bob my head ferociously upon hearing it for the 200th time. Nothing more to be said here.

Closed on Sunday: used to hate this track. A lot. Get past the Chic-fil-a BS and it’s an outstanding song. I get this song stuck in my head and find myself singing it at random times more than any other song on JIK.

On God: best instrumental on the album. I always get excited for this song to come on.

Everything we Need: SWITCH MAH SWOTCH MAH AAAATTITUDE. The lyrics added to this otherwise boring Sunday Service song are that new-Kanye level of unintelligence, but my GOD are they fun to listen and sing along to. Possibly the most -fun- verses of JIK are inside this song.

Water: will sound futuristic for years to come. 10/10 production. Amazing track.

God Is: the people of Israel love this song. And it’s not hard to see why. After I showed the them this track, they were emotionally moved, and I could faintly make out the entire city of Jerusalem singing it, almost as a new anthem, as I left and walked to the next city. This is the Ghost Town of JIK. But more powerful because there’s actual substance to it, instead of touching a f***ing stove.

Hands On: the most underrated song on the album. Not to say anyone hates it, but rather it is for some reason easy to forget about and not notice/recognize despite it being SO f***ing good. This is what TLOP would sound like if it were great.

Use this Gospel: this originally was my first favorite song on the album off first listen. The replay value is low however and has dropped down to one of my least favorites. Anyone else feel this way?

Jesus is Lord: if he put the full version of this song on the album it would have undeniably been the best track and top 20 Kanye. Because it’s so short, it is now unrankable. The song is just too f***ing good. Maybe he didn’t want to overshadow the rest of the album? A perfect finisher.

All in all, it was an amazing trip. Sometimes a tad dangerous tbh, but hey, I do what I gotta do for the forum, what can I say. I told the people of Israel that there was a forum called KTT, described it to them, and even told some of them about you. They want to meet you.

And as for the album, you being able to enjoy this album has a lot more to do with YOU than the quality of music itself. I feel like the more that I spiritually healed, the more I was able to open my heart toward the music, which is what JIK demands. Was this Kanye’s intention? Lol, probably not. But us getting this by accident doesn’t change the quality of the gift we have been given here.

Those who hate it, try alternate angles. If I can get it, so can you.

Rating: 9/10
Rating by Kanye-album standards: 7/10

Best tracks:
1. Follow God
2. Selah
3. Tie: God Is and Hands On

Best moments:

• The last 20 seconds of Selah
• The instrumental being let run for like two straight minutes at the end of God Is (that’s Say You Will level s*** right there)
• The entire vocal breakdown (last 60 seconds) on Hands On

My current album ranking:
1. Yeezus
2. MBDTF
3. 808’s
4. LR
5. CD
6. JIK
7. KSG
8. WTT
9. TLOP
10. Grad
11. ye

honestly the fact that you think On God is the best instrumental is all i need to know

I feel the exact same way about use this gospel

Water is pure bliss

I’ve been telling y’all it’s a 9/10 album since the listening parties

I love Kanye’s fun verse on everything we need. You know damn well kanye was smiling his ass off when he spit, “IM SO IM SO RADICAL”

TLOP is top 3-4 kanye breh

KSG top 3

Been waiting for this post
I’m glad you came to appreciate the good parts like I did. Definitely agree on a lot of your points although Closed on Sundays will always be weak af. Also I need you to adjust your ranking so KSG is right below Yeezus and MBDTF at 3

Graduation at 10...

I'm out bro

totally agree with all of your points, great assessment of the album and im glad to hear your experience went well.

9 & a half songs on the album still trash tho

Grad 10th is a crime

Makes this long-ass read totally unrewarding

Thanks for sharing the experience, it's great that you decided to make this effort to reach a new level about the album

same but tbh i don’t listen to hold my liquor every day and i still know it’s one of kanye’s masterpieces

OP list is good

God bless

I think the wild thing is Graduation can be casually put at 10 and yet it's one of the best albums of all time. The discography is legendary.

its cool that you took the trip and i hope you had a great time but you spent all that money just to rank JIK in the mid tier lmaooo

Glad you had a great and safe trip OP. Israel got bombed today from Gaza so keep em in your prayers guys 🙏🏽

Free Palestine

Israel, Jordan, and Egypt?

Ain't s*** about those lands holy you zionist 🤣 came in here expecting some real s*** like Nigeria or Ghana but this cracka went on a whole rant about how these stolen and Saudi owned lands are holy lmaooooo hate you weirdos

Cool experience op but I just don't see the point. There's nothing to dig, the album is really surface level

What the hell kind of post is this, kid? You’re clearly very angry at white people. You’re embarrassing yourself. Now go rewrite your post and come to me with the revisions for approval and maybe I’ll let you post here again.