Gospel Choirs
A gospel group founded by Kanye West, conducting weekly performances and releasing albums since 2019.
The Sunday Service Choir (commonly referred to as Sunday Service) is an American gospel group which was founded by rapper Kanye West and conducted by choir director Jason White. Beginning in January 2019, and initially produced by Jack and Michael Skolnick, the group has performed every Sunday as well as on Friday, September 27, when West's album Jesus Is King was announced for release. Their debut album, Jesus Is Born (2019), was released three months later on Christmas Day. In 2025, the group's official website was deactivated, and its status is in question.
- Key Album_2
- Jesus Is King
- Primary Producer
- Kanye West
- Genre Fusion
- Gospel, Hip-Hop, Soul
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
In September 2018, West announced that his ninth studio album Yandhi would be released later in the month. He later postponed the date to November 2018 in order to record in Uganda. The album was postponed a second time in November with no set release date. On the first Sunday of 2019, West began the first 'Sunday Service' rehearsal, where he performed gospel iterations of his discography and other songs with a choir group, The Samples and frequent collaborators like Tony Williams, Francis and the Lights, and Ant Clemons. During Sunday Service rehearsals, several songs from Yandhi have been performed. On January 12, 2019, it was reported that West was replaced by Ariana Grande as a headliner for Coachella. West pulled out because a giant dome could not be constructed for the performance. On March 31, 2019, West announced that Sunday Service would perform an Easter set at Coachella. The first public Sunday Service performance was at Coachella for Easter on April 21, 2019. On October 5, 2019, he brought Sunday Service to The Gateway in Salt Lake City, Utah. His performance occurred on an already busier than usual weekend with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holding their semi-annual General Conference the same weekend. West collaborated with pastor Joel Osteen, who hosted West at Lakewood Church located in Houston on November 17, 2019. Although the tickets were free for the event, those who had tickets began to sell them online for up to $500. On November 21, 2019, Sunday Service announced that they would be a part of the youth Strength to Stand Conference, which would be held at LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee from January 18–20, 2020. West's performance was added after comedian John Crist's performance was canceled after Crist was suspected of sexual misconduct. On November 28, 2019, West released the 'Closed on Sunday' videoclip on YouTube, where the group appeared in the last part of the song adding additional vocals, not included in the studio version of the song. On December 25, 2019, Sunday Service released Jesus is Born as West had said. Exactly a year later Sunday Service released the Emmanuel EP, featuring five new tracks composed and produced entirely by West in Latin, based on texts from the Roman Breviary and the Roman Gradual. In 2022, the group featured on Quadeca's album I Didn't Mean to Haunt You, on the tenth track 'Fractions of Infinity'. Quadeca later released a video showing the behind the scenes of the feature, called 'Those Words Don't Do You Justice.' The group returned in 2024 on the Will Smith comeback single 'You Can Make It', featuring the singer Fridayy. It was Smith's first new song in nearly two decades. According to West, the logo was changed to the sig runes of the Schutzstaffel in March 2025. In 2025, singers associated with West's Sunday Service contributed backing vocals to Dinastía, a collaborative album by Mexican artists Peso Pluma and Tito Double P.
In Their Own Story
The first public Sunday Service performance was at Coachella for Easter on April 21, 2019. On October 5, 2019, he brought Sunday Service to The Gateway in Salt Lake City, Utah. His performance occurred on an already busier than usual weekend with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holding their semi-annual General Conference the same weekend. West collaborated with pastor Joel Osteen, who hosted West at Lakewood Church located in Houston on November 17, 2019. Although the tickets were free for the event, those who had tickets began to sell them online for up to $500. On November 21, 2019, Sunday Service announced that they would be a part of the youth Strength to Stand Conference, which would be held at LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee from January 18–20, 2020. West's performance was added after comedian John Crist's performance was canceled after Crist was suspected of sexual misconduct.
Reader's Guide
The group has released one studio album: Jesus Is Born (2019). They have also released one EP: Emmanuel (2020), featuring five new tracks composed and produced entirely by West in Latin, based on texts from the Roman Breviary and the Roman Gradual. The group has charted songs as a featured artist, including 'Fractions of Infinity' (2022) on Quadeca's album I Didn't Mean to Haunt You, and 'You Can Make It' (2024) by Will Smith featuring Fridayy. They have made guest appearances, including backing vocals on Dinastía (2025) by Peso Pluma and Tito Double P. The group has also performed two operas: Nebuchadnezzar (2019) and Mary (2019).
Did You Know?
- The group's debut album Jesus Is Born was released on Christmas Day 2019.
- The Emmanuel EP features five tracks composed and produced entirely by West in Latin, based on texts from the Roman Breviary and the Roman Gradual.
- In 2025, according to West, the group's logo was changed to the sig runes of the Schutzstaffel.
- The group performed at Coachella for Easter on April 21, 2019, as their first public performance.
- In 2024, the group appeared on Will Smith's comeback single 'You Can Make It', Smith's first new song in nearly two decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gospel Choirs?
Gospel Choirs are not a specific person but a signature production technique used by Kanye West that blends massed vocal harmonies from African American church traditions with modern hip-hop beats. This approach often features live arrangements or meticulously layered vocals to create an emotional sanctuary-like atmosphere within his music.
What role do Gospel Choirs play in the music?
These choirs serve as a sonic bridge connecting Kanye's secular fame with deep spiritual introspection, merging sacred harmonies with contemporary rhythms. They define a spiritual revolution by elevating standard hip-hop tracks into anthems that evoke the weight and energy of a church service.
When did this technique first appear in his discography?
While the sound became most prominent on later albums like The Life of Pablo and Jesus Is King, its roots trace back to notable uses during Kanye's 2004 era. This early experimentation laid the groundwork for the full-scale integration of gospel elements that would define his subsequent career narrative.
Why are Gospel Choirs important to his artistic identity?
This technique is crucial because it marks significant turning points in his career, transforming him from a producer into an artist who openly explores faith through sound. It distinguishes his work by fusing gospel, soul, and hip-hop genres in a way that no other contemporary rapper has replicated so extensively.
How does Kanye produce these choir sounds?
Rather than simply sampling existing recordings, Kanye often orchestrates live arrangements or layers multiple vocal performances to achieve the desired emotional depth. As the primary producer, he ensures these sacred harmonies merge seamlessly with secular beats to create a unique auditory experience.
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