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Kanye West Makes Grammy History, Beats Jay-Z (At Least For Now) with 22 Awards

Kanye West and Jay-Z
By: Kershaw St. JawnsonCategory: News

Kanye West just topped his “big bro” Jay-Z with his 22nd Grammy Award!

Praise the Lord!

Kanye West has made history again. This time, besting his billionaire friend Jay-Z with 22 Grammy wins (as of publishing).

The former presidential candidate won this award for his album Jesus Is King in the “Best Contemporary Christian Music Album” category during the 2021 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. This is the first gospel Grammy the musical genius has received, and it strays from the other Hip-Hop/ Rap categories that have traditionally decorated his legacy with trophies.

 

 

This particular win for Yeezy’s may mean something far deeper than all the others. It could be seen as evidence that his vow to do sacred music (howbeit through his rap-rooted lens) was not just a shot in the dark — but guided by something more DIVINE.

In 2019, West dedicated his life to serving Jesus the Christ, seemingly embracing a Protestant and Trinitarian doctrine within Christianity. The drastic conversion became a source of conflict for his wife, as she did/does not consider herself born again. On the family reality series, Keeping Up with The Kardashians, she expressed how unhappy his new lifestyle made her.

Over the last two years, and after he dropped two Christian-center albums Jesus is King and Jesus is Born in 2019, he has redefined what worship looks and sounds like, creating his “Sunday Service” movement. Veteran Gospel artists have said that his form of ministry is sincere and is centered in what is commonly referred to as spirit. Thus, given the popularity and high quality of the music — and the ministry— it is no shock that his peers would recognize him with the Grammy.

Surprisingly, since Kanye burst on the scene as a rapper in 2004 with “Jesus Walk” or winning the Grammy for “No Church in the Wild” won “Best Rap/Sung Collaboration” in 2013, he has not strayed from blending the sacred and the secular. The win simply builds on this faith journey, he courageously has lived out loud for all to see (even with his bipolarity).

For him, one might say this “good news” could not have come at a better time.

 

The multi-hyphenate is currently going through a complicated divorce from his wife of almost seven years.

The two have four children North, Psalm, Saint, and Chicago. While the parents are not speaking directly, they have figured out how to co-parent. The children are still being well cared for by the family.

This Grammy probably means a whole lot more than just any award. It could be just what he needs to stay encouraged.