Kanye West says record labels make artists sign contracts to stop them talking about Jesus

Rapper Kanye West speaks with Pastor Joel Osteen at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, on Sunday November 17, 2019. Lakewood Church

Kanye West says record labels make artists sign contracts promising not to talk about Jesus. 

He made the assertion during his latest Sunday Service performance with VOUS Church at the Bayfront Park in Miami ahead of the Super Bowl.

He said that he and others in the music industry had been guilty of "chasing gold statues" and "selling our souls".

But he also suggested there was pressure on them to keep their Christian faith private, telling the audience that the people he collaborated with on his recent gospel album, Jesus Is King, were relieved to be able to say the name of Jesus out loud while working with him. 

"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," said West. 

He assured Christian music artists and producers that they don't need to be afraid to say the name of Jesus around him. 

"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," he said. 

West has been vocal about his newfound Christian faith after converting last year.  In addition to starting his Sunday Service music project, he has released two gospel albums, Jesus Is King and the Christmas-themed Jesus Is Born

The two albums have occupied the top two positions in the Billboard Gospel Chart since their release.

West is reported to be working on Jesus Is King 2 with Dr Dre.

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
Young men in the US overtake women on religious commitment, new data shows
Young men in the US overtake women on religious commitment, new data shows

Young men in the US are now more likely than young women to say religion plays a central role in their lives, marking a notable shift in long-standing patterns of religious belief, according to new analysis from Gallup.

IDF says 'appropriate measures' will be taken against soldier who desecrated Jesus statue
IDF says 'appropriate measures' will be taken against soldier who desecrated Jesus statue

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said “appropriate measures” will be taken against any of its troops involved in the desecration of a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon.

The warning of Judges
The warning of Judges

The book of Judges offers sobering lessons for the present day but will they be heeded?

Polling expert: No 'public consent' for assisted suicide
Polling expert: No 'public consent' for assisted suicide

People are concerned about the safeguards of the assisted suicide bill.