ABSTRACT
The growing scholarly interest of Kanye West has providing numerous perspectives on his life, music and creativity. Until the special issue released by the Journal of Hip Hop Studies, “I Gotta Testify: Kanye West, Hip Hop, and the Church,” West’s faith received a scant amount of scholarly attention. West has also continued to stay in the headlines; ranging from his comments on slavery to meeting with President Donald Trump. Amid the headlines and producing music, during the final stages of publishing this book, West has started weekly Sunday Services. Within this historical and scholarly context, “The Gospel According to Ye” focuses on West’s Christian convictions. While West’s Christian convictions clearly do not align with those who self-identify as Christian rappers, West highlights the problems with drawing the boundaries of who should be considered “Christian Hip Hop.” His weekly Sunday Services strengthens this argument about the boundaries of “Christian Hip Hop.” The elements of the service are similar to many Black churches and his mixture with “sacred” and “secular” music is no longer demonized in the self-identified CHH community. Therefore, this examination of West drives home the tenuous boundaries of “Christian Hip Hop.”
