"Use This Gospel" is the tenth track from Kanye West's ninth studio album, JESUS IS KING (2019).[1] The song features vocals from the hip-hop duo Clipse, which is made up of rappers Pusha T and No Malice. The song also features a saxaphone solo from jazz musician Kenny G, as well as production by Pi'erre Bourne.[2][3]
The song was adapted from the unreleased Yandhi song, "Law of Attraction", with earlier versions of the song having Ant Clemons and Dua Lipa on them. The song is known for having an unique instrumental that is often described as sounding like an "open car door alert."[4][5]
A remix to "Use This Gospel" featuring vocals from Eminem and production from Dr. Dre was teased for years until it was finally released by DJ Khaled on his own album GOD DID (2022).[6]
Production[]
The song samples Two Door Cinema Club's 2009 song, "Costume Party".[7]
Background[]
"Law of Attraction"[]
The track's roots can be traced to a Yandhi-era freestyle session in which Timbaland said that Ye hummed the main melody. "Use This Gospel" was known as "Law of Attraction" at this period, and was also the only track out of 70 to make it out of that session.[8]
A version of the track with Ant Clemons leaked in July 2019. When it was mislabeled as "Chakras" (proto-"Selah"), he issued a response that critiqued the nature of leaked music.[9][10][11] British pop star Dua Lipa also recorded a demo for the song, as well as "On God," but neither made the cut.[12]
Finalized versions[]
Ye invited Kenny G to perform music for Kim Kardashian in their living room for Valentines 2019. The performance was posted on her social media. Sometime afterward, Ye invited Kenny to join him in the studio to hear his upcoming album JESUS IS KING, to which Kenny said some saxophone would sound good on "Use This Gospel."[13] Up to release, Kenny said that he had only heard snippets and portions of the track before it was dropped.[14] He also offered to do an "encore performance" of his Valentines serenade to try to reconcile Ye and Kim after their 2021 divorce.[15]
In interviews, Ye also revealed that he was not really into rapping anymore until No Malice convinced him to.[16] The No Malice feature came five years after the duo said that they would not do any reunions.[17]
Remix[]
In September 2020, Ye revealed that a Dr. Dre-produced remix to "Use This Gospel" featuring Eminem exists.[18][19][20] That was all that was said about the track for a few years, apart from an inquiry from the Tidal Twitter account that asked when the song would come out.[21] It was set to release on JESUS IS KING: The Dr. Dre Version, but the album was scrapped.
By surprise, the track appeared as the third entry on the track list for DJ Khaled's thirteenth album GOD DID (2022) days before its release on August 26, 2022.[22] The remix version rids the song of its minimalist nature and substitutes it with dramatic horn sections, as well as a panned outro that some have criticized as too energetic for the track. Eminem also delivers a lengthy verse, whereas No Malice's contributions were removed from the song.
After the album's release, DJ Khaled revealed that Ye worked on the album's titular track but did not finish it since he was busy.[23]
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, oh
[Chorus]
Use this gospel for protection
It's a hard road to Heaven
We call on Your blessings
In the Father, we put our faith
King of the kingdom
Our demons are tremblin'
Holy angels defendin'
In the Father, we put our faith
[Post-Chorus]
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, oh
[Verse 1]
How could He not be the greatest?
In my bed, under covers when undercovers had raided
My presence is happy belated
Fashionably late, I'm just glad that you made it
The best is yet to come, I'm just glad that you waited
They all say they real 'til it's time to appraise it
I seen them come and go, you only the latest
But who am I to judge? I'm crooked as Vegas
[Chorus]
Use this gospel for protection
It's a hard road to Heaven
We call on Your blessings
In the Father, we put our faith
King of the kingdom
Our demons are tremblin'
Holy angels defendin'
In the Father, we put our faith
[Verse 2]
A lot of damaged souls, I done damaged those
And in my arrogance, took a camera pose
Caught with a trunk of Barry Manilows
They sing a different tune when the slammer close
From the concrete grew a rose
They give you Wraith talk, I give you faith talk
Blindfolded on this road, watch me faith walk
Just hold on to your brother when his faith lost
[Outro]
Oh, oh, oh (Work, work, work, work)
Oh, oh, oh (Work, work, work, work)
Oh, oh, oh (Work, work, work, work)
Oh-oh, oh, oh (Work, work, work, work)
Oh, oh, oh (Work, work, work, work)
Oh, oh, oh (Work, work, work, work)
Oh, oh, oh (Work, work, work, work)
Oh-oh, oh, oh (Work, work, work, work)
[Intro]
Uh-uh-uh, uh-uh-uh
Uh-uh-uh, uh-uh, uh
Uh-uh-uh, uh-uh-uh
Uh-uh-uh, uh-uh, uh
[Chorus]
Use this gospel for protection
It's a hard road to Heaven
We call on Your blessings
In the Father, we put our faith
King of the Kingdom
Our demons are tremblin'
Holy angels defendin'
In the Father, we put our faith
[Verse]
I'm holding on (Yeah), but I don't know if I can take it much longer
Today's the day that I put all of my trust and faith in You, Father
Please let this hate make me stronger
'Fore they turn on me like a zombie
It's like I'm being strangled unconscious (Yeah)
When temptation is almost like Satan is baitin' you
Tryna take you away from your daughters
Danglin' a bunch of painkillers on ya
Wavin' 'em in your face and them Watsons come in extra-strength
And that's why they make 'em in rectangular objects
'Cause that's the shape of a coffin
Though, it ain't medication this time
But the devil's egging me on
And I ain't gonna let 'em break me 'cause I'm a soldier
You can bank on that promise like the Chamber of Commerce
So my Savior, I call on
To rescue me from these depths of despair
So these demons better step like a stair
Because He is my shepherd
I'm armed with Jesus, my weapon is prayer
Soon as I squeeze it, I'm blessed like sneezes
Call me Yeezus, I'm F'd in the head, maybe I'm bonkers
Regardless, never claimed to be flawless
Long list of mistakes I've acknowledged
Y'all wish I would say something positive
Well, okay, then I'm positive
They'd rather trade leather with Mayweather
'Cause they would fare way better with them odds
Than they would exchanging some bars
Or trading any barbs with Shady and it probably is painfully obvious
To compare Godliness to an atheist
But I got them audiences raving (Woo) in amidst my squabbles
I got some awesome inspiration to draw from, off 'em
Pen and paper, I'm knockin' 'em off
Woke up on stage at a concert
Whole place looking like a mosh pit
Bible at my side like a rifle with a God-given gift
Every single day I thank God for
That's why I pay so much homage
Praises to Jesus, I'll always
[Chorus]
Use this gospel for protection
It's a hard road to Heaven
We call on Your blessings
In the Father, we put our faith
King of the Kingdom
Our demons are tremblin'
Holy angels defendin'
In the Father, we put our faith
[Outro]
Uh-uh-uh, uh-uh-uh
Uh-uh-uh, uh-uh, uh
Uh-uh-uh, uh-uh-uh
Uh-uh-uh, uh-uh, uh
Blessings from the altar got me feeling like I'm walking on water
[Intro]
Uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
[Chorus]
Did you ever think of a dream too big to imagine?
Follow your passion, one day you'll face
The law of attraction, be careful what you ask for
Means I got what I asked for, exactly what I asked for
[Verse 1]
Put a stack on it, huh, put a MAC on it, huh
In the black on it, huh, bullet tracks on it, huh
And I'm black on ‘em, huh, and we back on ‘em, huh
On a map on ‘em, huh, got a stack on ‘em, oh
Hunnid thou’ on it, huh, hunnid stacks on it, huh
Hunnid been-backs on it, huh, to the max on it, huh
Dealin’ facts on it, huh, now my facts on it, huh
On the dacts on it, huh, all the facts on it, huh
[Chorus]
Did you ever think of a dream too big to imagine?
Follow your passion, one day you'll face
The law of attraction, be careful what you ask for
Means I got what I asked for, exactly what I asked for
[Verse 2]
The world is up for seizin', there's somethin' for a reason
They just talk, don’t read it, I lead on some, nah, don’t lead it
More or so, what you leave with? I got somethin' for you to leave with
What they tell 'em, don't believe it
Tell me what you believe in, tell me what you believe in
Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto, we in a game, we in a game
Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto, we all the same, we all the same
Money ain't real, time ain't real, money ain't real, time ain't real
Money ain't real, time ain't real, guess to what, you never get killed
[Chorus]
Did you ever think of a dream too big to imagine?
Follow your passion, one day you'll face
The law of attraction, be careful what you ask for
Means I got what I asked for, exactly what I asked for
[Outro]
Uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Trivia[]
- The remix for "Use This Gospel" was the only song that released from JESUS IS KING: The Dr. Dre Version.
References[]
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/0FgZKfoU2Br5sHOfvZKTI9
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/track/0oPOuDmmkVp3h6puekhs6P
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_This_Gospel
- ↑ https://genius.com/Kanye-west-use-this-gospel-lyrics
- ↑ https://www.stereogum.com/2063066/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review/reviews/premature-evaluation/
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/6NuGZnOc88LcZpEkJIbO50
- ↑ https://www.whosampled.com/Kanye-West/Use-This-Gospel/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1281&v=KTW4OJGji_U&feature=youtu.be
- ↑ https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/kanye-west-law-of-attraction-leak/
- ↑ https://genius.com/a/kanye-west-affiliated-producers-react-to-yandhi-leaks-chakras
- ↑ https://www.spin.com/2019/07/kanye-west-yandhi-leak/
- ↑ https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/141f85d8-8463-4d19-a81b-ff3121d60b9b/episodes/4ff7bb41-a0dd-4e9c-aeee-2168c70df16a/kanye-west-news-dua-lipa-on-law-of-attraction-and-on-god-the-yandhi-that-could-have-been-and-how-to-hear-it
- ↑ https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kenny-g-recorded-kanye-wests-use-this-gospel-sax-solo-after-valentines-gig-news.94353.html
- ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/kenny-g-on-how-he-probably-made-it-onto-kanye-wests-new-album-jesus-is-king-2555477
- ↑ https://exclaim.ca/music/article/kenny_g_has_offered_to_help_reunite_kim_and_kanye
- ↑ https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/pusha-t-interview-clipse-reunion-kanye-jesus-is-king.html
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_This_Gospel
- ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-reveals-theres-a-dr-dre-remix-of-use-this-gospel-featuring-eminem-2756769
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9452429/kanye-west-use-this-gospel-eminem-dr-dre-remix
- ↑ https://www.rap-up.com/2020/09/18/kanye-west-eminem-use-this-gospel-remix/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Tidal/status/1446885599575674880
- ↑ https://www.complex.com/music/dj-khaled-god-did-tracklist
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/WestSubEver/comments/wy4kxd/dj_khaled_confirms_that_he_heard_all_of_the_dr/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
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