In a recent Sunday Service event in Miami, Kanye told the audience that some record labels contractually forbid artists from saying “Jesus.”
“The devil took all the producers, the musicians, the designers. He moved us all out to Hollywood, moved us all out to New York. Chasing gold statues. Literally signing a contract and selling our souls,” he said to the audience, according to Relevant Magazine. “They got contracts out there that say, ‘you can’t say Jesus.’ When we were working on this album, people were coming to the studio just to say ‘Jesus’ as loud as they wanted to. You can say ‘Jesus’ in ‘Ye studio.”
Rapper Bizzle responded to West’s claim by posting a photo of West, captioning it with lyrics from Bizzle’s song “Lit Lit.” The lyrics read: “I told ‘em I am not for sale and won’t promote evil / they told me I can give you murder, but no JESUS / the devil’s in this game are handpicking yo leaders/that’s why you get 100 dope boys and no preachers.”
Relevant Magazine pondered the claim, pointing out several other best-selling rappers who have also used Jesus’ name in their lyrics, including Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper. Lamar recently sang, “I am a sinner who’s probably gonna sin again. Lord forgive me. Lord forgive me.”
West recently announced the release of a follow-up album to his chart-topping Jesus is King record. West shared that he is working with fellow rapper Dr. Dre on the new album. As Christian Headlines previously reported, he also performed at the Strength to Stand youth conference in Tennessee earlier this year, declaring his victory in Jesus.
“I believe Jesus died for my sins. There was a time when the devil had me,” he said to over 12,000 students. “Do you know the good news? Jesus can save a wretch like me.”
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Kevin Winter/Staff
Mikaela Mathews is a freelance writer and editor based in Dallas, TX. She was the editor of a local magazine and a contributing writer for the Galveston Daily News and Spirit Magazine. She blogs at mikaelamathews.com.
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