Jesus Walks

Kanye West

About Jesus Walks

"Jesus Walks" is the final single from The College Dropout by American rapper Kanye West. It was released on December 3, 2004 as the fourth single from his debut album The College Dropout. The song contains a sample of "Walk with Me" as performed by the ARC Choir. "Jesus Walks" was acclaimed by music critics, who praised its compelling sonic atmosphere and boldness in its open embrace of faith. It was met by widespread commercial success, peaking at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming West's fourth consecutive top-twenty hit in the United States. The single was accompanied by three separate music videos, each of which visually interpreted a portion of its multifaceted context in different ways. "Jesus Walks" continues to be a crowd favorite and stands as one of the most-performed songs by West, who has included it within all of his headlining tours. At the 47th Grammy Awards, "Jesus Walks" was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Rap Song. Rolling Stone named the song No. 19 on their list of 100 Best Songs of the 2000s. The song was named the 6th-best song of 2004 on Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics poll. In October 2014, NME placed it at No. 69 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". The song was listed at No. 123 on Pitchfork's 500 songs of the 2000s. It was placed at No. 273 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". 


Year:
2006
3:15
110 
#1

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Yo, We at war
We at war with terrorism, racism but most of all we at war with ourselves
(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down
(Jesus Walks with me) with me with me with me (fades)

You know what the Midwest is?  Young & Restless
Where restless Niggaz might snatch your necklace
And next these Niggaz might jack your Lexus
Somebody tell these Niggaz who Kanye West is
I walk through the valley of Chi where death is
Top floor the view alone will leave you breathless Uhhhh!
Try to catch it Uhhhh! It's kinda hard hard
Getting choked by the detectives yeah yeah now check the method
They be asking us questions, harass and arrest us
Saying "we eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast"
Huh? Yall eat pieces of shit? What's the basis?
We ain't going nowhere but got suits and cases
A trunk full of coke rental car from Avis
My momma used to say only Jesus can save us
Well momma I know I act a fool
But I'll be gone til November I got packs to move I Hope

(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down
(Jesus Walks with me)
The only thing that I pray is that me feet don't fail me now
(Jesus Walks)
And I don't think there is nothing I can do now to right my wrongs
(Jesus Walks with me)
I want to talk to God but I'm afraid because we ain't spoke in so long

To the hustlas, killers, murderers, drug dealers even the strippers
To the victims of Welfare for we living in hell here hell yeah
Now hear ye hear ye want to see Thee more clearly
I know he hear me when my feet get weary
Cuz we're the almost nearly extinct
We rappers are role models we rap we don't think
I ain't here to argue about his facial features
Or here to convert atheists into believers
I'm just trying to say the way school need teachers
The way Kathie Lee needed Regis that's the way yall need Jesus
So here go my single dog radio needs this
They say you can rap about anything except for Jesus
That means guns, sex, lies, video tapes
But if I talk about God my record won't get played Huh?
Well let this take away from my spins
Which will probably take away from my ends
Then I hope this take away from my sins
And bring the day that I'm dreaming about
Next time I'm in the club everybody screaming out

(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the devil trying to break me down
(Jesus Walks)
The only thing that I pray is that me feet don't fail me now

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Kanye West

Kanye Omari West ( /ˈkɑːnjeɪ/; born June 8, 1977) is an American musician, film director and fashion designer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. His style of production originally used pitched-up vocal samples from soul songs incorporated with his own drums and instruments. However, subsequent productions saw him broadening his musical palette and expressing influences encompassing '70s R&B, baroque pop, trip hop, arena rock, folk, alternative, electronica, synthpop, and classical music. more »

6 fans

Written by: Che Smith, Miri Ben-Ari, Kanye Omari West, Curtis Leon Lundy

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


31 facts about this song

Recording Process
"Jesus Walks" was recorded primarily at The Dells New Ark Studios, in a recording session that was set after a four-month stay at the Westin. Other pieces of the song were recorded in Los Angeles.
Song Classification
It is classified as a hip-hop song, but it has been noted for the gospel undertones that it incorporates.
Release Year
The song was released on May 25, 2004, as the fourth single from West's debut album, "The College Dropout."
Chart Performance
Upon release, "Jesus Walks" performed quite well; it peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Song Concept
Kanye West has said that the song is an attempt to talk about spirituality in a way that would be appealing to the hip-hop generation.
Awards
"Jesus Walks" was not just commercially successful; it also won a Grammy for Best Rap Song in 2005, and was nominated for Record of the Year.
Controversy
The song faced controversy due to its explicit religious content. Many radio stations were hesitant to play it initially.
Music Video
The song has three different music videos, directed by Chris Milk and filmed in different locations, including a desert and a church.
Cover Versions
Several artists have covered or sampled "Jesus Walks," including gospel group, The Clark Sisters.
Critical Reception
Many critics consider "Jesus Walks" one of West's best songs, praising its honesty and boldness, as well as the creativity of its music videos. It has been ranked among the greatest hip-hop songs of all time.
Cultural Impact
The song has been credited with changing how spirituality is discussed in mainstream hip-hop. After its release, more rappers felt comfortable exploring their faith in their music.
Live Performance
"Jesus Walks" became one of West's most performed songs, with intense live performances at the Grammy Awards, Coachella, and other major concerts. In several performances, West reenacted his near-fatal 2002 car crash, which served as a turning point in his life and career.
Album Promotion
"Jesus Walks" was the last of four singles released from "The College Dropout," serving as a climax of the promotional campaign for the album.
Sales Performance
Despite its religious theme, "Jesus Walks" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), indicating that over one million copies of the single were sold.
Artistic Aspiration
“Jesus Walks” is a song by Kanye West from his debut album "The College Dropout," and it was released in 2004.
Main Theme
The song primarily discusses how West believes Jesus has guided him through his own life's struggles and trials.
Collaborative creation
Kanye West co-wrote “Jesus Walks” with Che Smith, a well-known rapper and songwriter.
Multiple pre-choruses
The song consists of three versions, each with a different pre-chorus. The third version features a guest appearance by rapper Common, a Chicago native like West.
Awards and Honors
"Jesus Walks" received widespread acclaim for its bold choice of subject matter and innovative production, winning a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song in 2005.
Chart Success
The song managed to reach number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and number 16 in the United Kingdom.
Thoughtful Production
The song features samples from the ARC Choir’s "Walk With Me," demonstrating West's ability to blend the realms of hip-hop and religious music.
Cinematic Treatment
“Jesus Walks” not only has one, but three different music videos directed by Michael Haussman, Chris Milk, and Coodie & Chike, highlighting the song's cultural impact.
Critical Acclaim
The song was listed in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time at number 273.
Inspirational
Despite skepticism from the music industry that a rap song about Jesus wouldn't sell, "Jesus Walks" proved them wrong, providing a boost for future songs embracing the same theme.
Cultural Impact
The song is often credited for shining a light on faith in mainstream hip-hop, pushing the genre's boundaries.
Struggle for acceptance
Kanye West has said that it took him a long time to get 'Jesus Walks' played on the radio because in its early stages radio stations were reluctant to play religiously-themed content.
Musical Style
The song creatively infuses traditional Gospel music with hip-hop elements, setting it apart from many contemporary rap songs at the time.
Ambitious Project
West was so passionate about the song he used his own money to fund one of the music videos when the record label refused to contribute.
Previewed Before Release
Before "Jesus Walks" was officially released, it was previewed on West’s 2003 mixtape "I'm Good," building anticipation for his debut album.
Notable Lyrics
The song features the memorable lyric, "The only thing that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now," indicating the artist's struggle and need for spiritual guidance.
Pop Culture References
The song has been covered and referenced by many artists in different genres of music, demonstrating its broad appeal and distinctive message.

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    Jesus Walks

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 2004

    Billboard #11


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