By Jesse T. Jackson, for CHURCHLEADERS
Controversial “Jesus Is King” rapper Kanye West (Ye) was named Billboard’s Top Gospel Artist of 2023 during its annual Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night (Nov. 19).
This is West’s third straight year of claiming Billboard’s Top Gospel artist award, beating out CeCe Winans, Elevation Worship, Kirk Franklin, and Maverick City Music.
According to Billboard, West’s 2021 release of his album “Donda,” named after his late mother, not only debuted on the top of the all-genre weekly Billboard 200, but it also topped Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums and Top Christian Albums charts.
West’s “Donda” was the follow up to his first Christian-themed album “Jesus Is King” (2019), which was nominated for a Dove Award for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year at the 51st Gospel Music Awards. West lost to Social Club Misfits’ album “Mood//Doom,” but was awarded Top Gospel Album at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards and Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards—making it West’s 22nd Grammy award.
“Donda” features many popular artists including Jay-Z, Marilyn Manson, Pop Smoke, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, André 3000, among others, and West bleeped out curse words.
As ChurchLeaders reported in a 2019 article titled “Kanye’s Spiritual Transformation Is Genuine, says Pastor,” West gave his life to Jesus the spring 2019 and was discipled by senior pastor of L.A.’s Placerita Bible Church. In 2020, West appeared alongside the world-renowned pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston Joel Osteen during one of West’s Sunday Service concerts.
Following the announcement of his salvation, the world has witnessed West’s ongoing controversies and unhinged statements. Just in the past 13 months, he and his former wife Kim Kardashian finalized their divorce. He and far-right influencer and talk show host Candace Owens appeared together at a Paris fashion show wearing shirts emblazoned with the phrase “White Lives Matter.”
He went on an antisemitic rant on social media claiming he was going to go “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE,” resulting in cascading repercussions that ended with Adidas ultimately ending its highly profitable partnership with West. The fallout cost West his billionaire status, according to Forbes.
Most recently, reports are that West and his current wife Bianca Censori have separated. These reports come three months after authorities in Venice said the two were being investigated for indecent exposure following a compromising incident that was widely photographed, recorded, and witnessed by Italian tourists.
First published November 22, 2023
