Ye: Born “a-new” or Sacrilege?
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has undeniably been a controversial figure over the past decade. He has made headlines for trespassing on the Grammy stage, making anti-Semitic comments, giving the phrase “there’s no such thing as bad publicity” a whole new meaning. Despite consistently avoiding negative press and dealing with deteriorating mental health, Ye has managed to remain relevant and successful. He has even expanded his career from music to fashion. While Ye has been focusing more on his fashion ventures, he has not neglected his music. Throughout his career, he has incorporated elements of Black Christian religion into his music by sampling gospel artists, using choir vocals, and referencing Jesus in his songs.
“Jesus Walks”
“Jesus Walks” was released in 2004 as part of West’s debut album, “The College Dropout.” The song features gospel-inspired production and lyrics that explore Kanye’s relationship with faith and religion. Known for its catchy hook, which features the repeated refrain, “Jesus walks with me”, the song includes a range of religious refe
rences and metaphors, including allusions to the crucifixion and the devil. It has been praised for its unique blend of gospel and hip-hop music, and for its honest portrayal of Kanye’s personal struggles with faith and spirituality.
In 2006, West made the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. On the cover, West pub
licizes his hit song, embodying Jesus Christ himself as he gazes outward with a crown of thorns atop his head and blood dripping down his brow. Made apparent by the caption “The Passion of Kanye West”, West is putting his own remix on the Mel Gibson film, “The Passion of The Christ”, released in 2004.
“Yeezus” Tour
The Yeezus Tour was a concert tour by Kanye West that took place in 2013 to support his sixth studio album, “Yeezus.” The tour included 53 shows across North America, Europe, and Australia. The tour was known f
or its elaborate stage design, which featured a mountain-shaped
structure with a circular LED screen and a
moving platform. Kanye performed on the platform, wh
ich moved up and down the mountain and had different parts that transformed throughout the show. The stage design also included a large pyramid-shaped structure and a Jesus Christ lookalike.
The performances were praised for their energy and intensity, with Kanye often stopping the music to deliver long, impassioned speeches on a range of topics, including his own success, racism, and the music industry.
“The Life of Pablo”
“The Life of Pablo” is the seventh studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. The album was released in 2016 and features a mix of hip-hop, gospel, and R&B influences. TLOP was Ye’s first conscious effort to incorporate more elements of Black Christian Religious/Gospel music. It includes tracks that touch on a variety of topics, including Kanye’s personal life, his relationship with fame and fortune, and his faith. However, the album’s unique blend of musical styles and Kanye’s willingness to experiment with new sounds and ideas helped it gain a strong following among his fans.
The most notable song on TLOP is “Father Stretch My Hands Pt.1.” The song fuses a sample from “Father I Stretch My Hands” by Pastor T.L. Barrett And The Youth For Christ Choir along with West’s signature beats and synthesizer. Notably, the Pastor T.L. Barrett version is a rendition of how the song is typically sung. The oldest recovered version of this song on Youtube is sung by E. Dewey Smith in 1989.
“JESUS IS KING” & Kanye West’s Sunday Service
West reaches the pinnacle of his gospel authenticity with “JESUS IS KING” his ninth studio album released in 2019. The album is heavily influenced by gospel music and is a reflection of Kanye’s recent religious conversion to Christianity. Musically, “JESUS IS K
ING” is a departure from Kanye’s earlier work, with the album featuring fewer explicit lyrics and a more subdued sound. It includes elements of gospel, hip-hop, and R&B music, and showcases Kanye’s use of gospel choirs and religious samples.
The release of “JESUS IS KING” was preceded by a series of Sunday Service performances, in which Kanye and a gospel choir performed a mix of classic gospel songs and reworked versions of Kanye’s own music. The Sunday Service has been described as a spiritual experience that blurs the line between a traditional church service and a concert. These performances were highly acclaimed and helped to build anticipation for the album. The service is held in various locations, such as outdoor venues, churches, and sometimes even in his own home.
“Donda”
“Donda” is the tenth studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West, released in August 2021. The album is named after Kanye’s late mother, Donda West, and is dedicated to her memory. It is a diverse collection of songs that explore a wide range of topics, including faith, family, mental health, and social justice. “Donda” is known for its heavily gospel-influenced sound, with Kanye incorporating choirs, gospel singers, and religious themes into many tracks. The album also features a mix of rap and R&B styles, with Kanye experimenting with different sounds and production techniques.
The most notable song on Donda is “24”. The song incorporates a multitude of Black Gospel elements such as the use of a hammond organ. At the end of the song, Ye and the Sunday Service Choir repeatedly chant “We Gonna Be Okay.” This chant is reminiscent of Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” which pulls its inspiration from the Gospel classic, “He’ll Make It Alright”
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Ye’s spiritual journey has not lacked in its controversy. Ye’s early depiction of his faith has left many questioning the intention as well as the authenticity of his work. Although he pushed the boundaries of religion and hip-hop as he fused the two together, Ye’s work was justifiably deemed as sacrilegious due to his posing as Jesus on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine as well as releasing an album and referring to himself as Yeezus.
A part of Christianity is the absence of idols, and by physically sticking himself into the role of Jesus as well as consistently edifying himself in performances, Ye diverts the attention from Jesus unto himself. As time went on, Ye began to create music that was closer to the authentic formula of traditional Black Gospel music. Though his music was still largely secular on albums such as The Life of Pablo and Donda, his album JESUS IS KING hit closer to the mark and was officially recognized as a Gospel album. JESUS IS KING and the Sunday Services, hit on many elements of Afro-Christian music and religion described by Amiri Baraka such as an emphasis on making it to Heaven and using music and dance to evoke emotion and call upon the “spirit”.
Although in many instances Ye fell short in his effort to demonstrate his faith accurately, it is important to note that faith and religious experience is personal and not a monolith. As we’ve discussed throughout the quarter, many of the classics that we have come to know as traditional gospel such as the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, as well as “Amazing Grace”, were respectively written by a non-religious Black man and a slave owner. Blackness, Religion, and Black Religion, though they have characteristics, do not technically have strict parameters. In this essence, it is difficult to police what is authentic and what is not. Although Ye’s work was once sacrilegious, it has evolved from complete sacreligious art to more or less an inaccurate appropriation of Afro-Christian music and religious experiences. Ye’s work personifies pre-existing tensions of authenticity in Afro-Christian music and religion.