Kanye West, known simply by the name “Ye” now, is undeniably one of the most talented yet controversial celebrities today. From interrupting Taylor Swift’s speech on stage to running for president, and sharing antisemitic remarks, he always manages to make the headlines for the wrong reasons. Even his religion and expression of faith became news. But what exactly is his religious affiliation? 

Kanye West is a Christian. His faith has always been a recurring theme in his work since his 2004 debut album “The College Dropout”, which features the song “Jesus Walks”. While he might have strayed from his faith along the way, he found his way back in 2019, experiencing a rebirth as a Christian.

Learn more about West’s life, career, and controversies below. Let’s also look closer into his journey as a born-again Christian and how he shares and expresses it nowadays. 

Who Is Kanye West? 

Kanye West or simply “Ye” is an American record producer and rapper. He started his music career as a producer, helping with Jermaine Dupri’s album in 1998. He then moved to New York and made a name for himself by working for Roc-A-Fella Records where he was able to work with different artists, including Jay-Z. 

With his skills, great ear, and fresh take on rap music, Ye became a much sought-after producer. But even with his reach and success in production work, he was still not allowed to make and record his own songs. This was partly because of his middle-class upbringing (he was brought up by his mom, a university teacher in Chicago), which some say didn’t give him credibility to rap. 

In 2004, however, West proved everyone wrong and he did have much to say through his debut album, “The College Dropout”. Upon its release, it instantly became a massive success. Even critics gushed over his work. It earned him several nominations and awards, including a Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2004 and Best Rap Song for his breakout single “Jesus Walks”. 

Needless to say, Ye quickly became a star. He came up with song after song, earning him more Grammy Awards. He also continued producing, working with high-profile artists, including Beyonce and Mariah Carey. 

Aside from being a rapper, performer, and producer, Kanye West is also a fashion designer and entrepreneur. He was the founder of GOOD Music, a record label and imprint of Def Jam Records. He also released “YEEZY”, a fashion line featuring streetwear such as sneakers, jackets, sweaters, boots, and more. This resulted in collaborations with top brands, including Adidas, The Gap, Nike, and Louis Vuitton. 

To top it all off, Ye ran for the U.S. presidency in 2020. He then conceded his campaign the morning after the elections, after receiving around 70,000 votes or only 0.04% of the national vote. 

Kanye West’s Controversies Throughout the Years 

West’s career is hounded by controversies and scandals, which at times overshadow his success in music. Here are some of the craziest and most outrageous things that he has done throughout his 20-year career: 

• Feud with Taylor Swift

It all started when Kanye ambushed Taylor Swift’s speech for winning the Video of the Year award during the 2009 MTV VMAs to praise Beyonce. He said on stage: “Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you. I’ma let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time!” 

While he later apologized, he then released the song “Famous” in 2016 with the lyrics: “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex. Why? I made that bitch famous.” 

• Supported Donald Trump 

Kanye was all over the news in 2016. Not only did he rant about other artists, but he also supported Donald Trump in his presidential run. In November of the same year, his tour for his album “The Life of Pablo” was canceled abruptly, and he was briefly hospitalized. 

• Slavery 

In 2018, Ye talked about slavery in the TMZ newsroom, his support for Trump, and his decision to wear a “Make America Great Again” hat. During the interview, he said that slavery was a choice, suggesting that the African Americans cooperated in their enslavement. He later defended his statements on his Twitter account (now X). 

• White Lives Matter, Jews, and More

West turned heads yet again in 2022 when he showed up at an event wearing a shirt that said “White Lives Matter” at the back and the Pope’s face printed in front. Many saw this as hate speech, mocking the “Black Lives Matter” movement. 

Just a few days later, fellow rapper Diddy shared an Instagram post calling out Kanye on his “White Lives Matter” shirts. West responded, also on Instagram, and suggested that Diddy was being controlled by Jews. Soon after, he tweeted: “Go death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE”. This was seen by many as a threat to the Jewish community and anti-semitic. Unsurprisingly, all these resulted in Twitter and Instagram removing his content and locking his accounts. Moreover, this sparked a lot of backlash. Adidas then announced that it was reviewing its deal with Kanye. 

More antisemitic claims and Kanye telling myths about Jews came out in the public. So by late October, major companies and several brands announced that they will no longer work with West. This included Balenciaga, talent scouts CAA, JP Morgan Bank, and Gap. Adidas followed suit, which meant that Ye just lost a $1.5 billion contract.

What Is Kanye West’s Religion? 

Kanye West is an outspoken Christian. His faith has been a constant theme in his work, starting from his 2004 debut album “The College Dropout”. He even released a gospel-themed album entitled “Jesus is King” in 2019. This was also the same time when Ye says he was born again as a Christian and focused on serving God. 

Unlike West’s usual albums, “Jesus is King” follows an all-out Christian theme and, as he describes it, is “an expression of the gospel”. While it received mixed reviews from critics, it was able to win at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards for the Top Christian Album and Top Gospel Album awards. It also earned Ye another Grammy in 2021, but this time in a totally different category, which is the “Best Contemporary Christian Music Album”. 

Aside from his songs, Kanye also expresses his faith through his “Sunday Service”, a gathering that’s half church choir and a half concert. Contrary to what others may think, it is an event that focuses on just music – no sermon and no praying. It’s also often attended by popular celebrities, including Justin Bieber. 

To top it all off, Kanye West formally changed his name to simply “Ye” in 2021. He had used such a moniker as his nickname in the past and even used it as an album title in 2018. Aside from being a simple shortened version of his real name, “Ye” also holds a religious significance for West. In a 2018 interview with Big Boy, he said “I believe ‘ye’ is the most commonly used word in the Bible, and in the Bible it means you. So it’s I’m you, I’m us, it’s us.”