Gospel Legend Marvin Sapp On Secular Artist Ye Entering The Genre, 'Kanye Ain’t A Gospel Artist. He’s Hip-Hop.'
Gospel legend Marvin Sapp isn’t here for the blending of secular artists and gospel music. The 55-year-old gospel singer/songwriter opined that artists in the genre are too starstruck at times.
In an interview with VladTV on December 6, the “Never Would Have Made It” composer candidly spoke about Ye crossing over into gospel and expressed that the “Jesus Walks” rapper wasn’t living the life of a Christian.
“Gospel music is the only genre that allows people from outside of its genre to do records and be nominated in its genre,” Sapp explained. “As a gospel artist, I can’t do a hiphop song and be nominated in hiphop category.”
Vlad agreed, “Correct.”
The Michigan native continued by giving an example of Lil Nas X’s wildly successful “Old Town Road.”
“The CMAs threw him out of the genre because he’s not country.”
The former member of gospel heavyhitters Commissioned emphasized his point by pounding his fist in his palm, “Only in gospel can you be a gospel artist… hiphop artist, you can be an R&B artist and be nominated in our genre.”
He also explained the criticisms staunch gospel artists received for trying to gatekeep the genre when it came to Ye.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with our religious position or our spiritual position. It’s making sure that the playing field is fair,” Sapp explained. “Kanye ain’t a gospel artist. He’s not. He’s hip hop.”
“And just because you do a gospel song doesn’t make you a gospel artist.”
Ye’s 2019 gospel album “Jesus Is King” charted in the Billboard R&B, HipHop, Christian and Gospel categories simultaneously.
See more of Sapp’s interview below.