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"'''Hands On'''" is a song by American rapper [[Kanye West]] from his ninth studio album, ''[[Jesus Is King]]'' (2019). The song features a guest appearance from [[Gospel music|gospel]] singer [[Fred Hammond]]. West initially freestyled and envisioned the song, recording an 18-second basic track. The song reached number 60 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], marking Hammond's first entry on the chart. It peaked at numbers 49 and 63 on the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA Singles Chart]] and [[Canadian Hot 100]], respectively.
"'''Hands On'''" is a song by American rapper [[Kanye West]] from his ninth studio album, ''[[Jesus Is King]]'' (2019). The song features a guest appearance from [[Gospel music|gospel]] singer [[Fred Hammond]]. It was produced by West, Angel Lopez, [[Federico Vindver]], and [[Timbaland]], all of whom served as co-writers with Hammond and Aaron Butts. West initially freestyled and envisioned the song, recording an 18-second basic track. He sent Hammond a vocal track, to which the singer wrote his verse. A [[Minimal music|minimalist]] ballad with elements of [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] and gospel, the song features a [[Key (music)|low-key]] beat.

Lyrically, the song sees West complaining about being judged after converting to Christianity by other Christians. "Hands On" received mixed to negative reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]], who mostly criticized West's performance. They often focused on his lyrical style, though a few reviewers praised the production. The song reached number 60 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], marking Hammond's first entry on the chart. It peaked at numbers 49 and 63 on the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA Singles Chart]] and [[Canadian Hot 100]], respectively.


==Background and recording==
==Background and recording==
[[File:Timbaland1292010.png|thumb|left|alt=[[Timbaland]] performing in West Hollywood, CA in January 2010 on The Shock Value II Tour.|American record producer and West collaborator [[Timbaland]] contributed both writing and production to the song.]]
West decided to crossover as an outsider to [[Gospel music|gospel]] by featuring [[Fred Hammond]] on ''Jesus Is King'', collaborating with a key insider from the genre for a proper transition. Hammond had previously worked with fellow rapper [[Snoop Dogg]] on his gospel material in 2018 and the next year, he appreciated a loop of his track "This Is the Day" by West that he was sent over [[Instagram]]. The two subsequently met through [[Kirk Franklin]] at [[Chance the Rapper]]'s wedding, talking about West's version of the track and the rapper also told Hammond he was enthusiastic to collaborate.<ref name="rs"/> West and Hammond agreed on working together in the summer of 2019, engaging in a phone call focused on this, with him stating the rapper "knew a lot of the [[Christian music|Christian]] world would not embrace him".<ref name="rs">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-fred-hammond-backlash-904906/|title=How the Gospel Singer Fred Hammond Ended Up on Kanye West's Album|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=October 31, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2020|last1=Leight|first1=Elias}}</ref> In reference to any backlash, he stated: "If they don't sing gospel exclusively, then you are trying to cross over, you're a hypocrite, God don't love you no more."<ref name="rs"/> Hammond heavily defended West against any doubters and this encouraged him to create music, after which he sent the singer a track of him singing "hands on, hands up" that he then wrote his verse to.<ref name="rs"/> The singer explained to West that his verse about deserving criticism "was a strong basis for a song" because he should take this route as a believer, further recalling that his son was shocked when they worked together.<ref name="rs"/> Hammond also revealed that West's support of 2017-2021 [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]] was not an issue for him, denying any political discussion during their work together.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://praisedc.com/1946225/fred-hammond-says-he-doesnt-care-that-kanye-west-supports-donald-trump/|title=Fred Hammond Says He Doesn't Care That Kanye West Supports Donald Trump|publisher=[[WPRS-FM|Praise 104.1 FM]]|access-date=March 29, 2020|last1=Jackson|first1=Cheryl}}</ref>
West decided to crossover as an outsider to [[Gospel music|gospel]] by featuring [[Fred Hammond]] on ''Jesus Is King'', collaborating with a key insider from the genre for a proper transition. Hammond had previously worked with fellow rapper [[Snoop Dogg]] on his gospel material in 2018 and the next year, he appreciated a loop of his track "This Is the Day" by West that he was sent over [[Instagram]]. The two subsequently met through [[Kirk Franklin]] at [[Chance the Rapper]]'s wedding, talking about West's version of the track and the rapper also told Hammond he was enthusiastic to collaborate.<ref name="rs"/> West and Hammond agreed on working together in the summer of 2019, engaging in a phone call focused on this, with him stating the rapper "knew a lot of the [[Christian music|Christian]] world would not embrace him".<ref name="rs">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-fred-hammond-backlash-904906/|title=How the Gospel Singer Fred Hammond Ended Up on Kanye West's Album|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=October 31, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2020|last1=Leight|first1=Elias}}</ref> In reference to any backlash, he stated: "If they don't sing gospel exclusively, then you are trying to cross over, you're a hypocrite, God don't love you no more."<ref name="rs"/> Hammond heavily defended West against any doubters and this encouraged him to create music, after which he sent the singer a track of him singing "hands on, hands up" that he then wrote his verse to.<ref name="rs"/> The singer explained to West that his verse about deserving criticism "was a strong basis for a song" because he should take this route as a believer, further recalling that his son was shocked when they worked together.<ref name="rs"/> Hammond also revealed that West's support of 2017-2021 [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]] was not an issue for him, denying any political discussion during their work together.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://praisedc.com/1946225/fred-hammond-says-he-doesnt-care-that-kanye-west-supports-donald-trump/|title=Fred Hammond Says He Doesn't Care That Kanye West Supports Donald Trump|publisher=[[WPRS-FM|Praise 104.1 FM]]|access-date=March 29, 2020|last1=Jackson|first1=Cheryl}}</ref>


West, Angel Lopez, Argentinian record producer [[Federico Vindver]], and American record producer [[Timbaland]] handled the production of "Hands On", with them also serving as songwriters alongside Hammond and Aaron Butts.<ref name="Tidal"/> In December 2018, Argentinian record producer [[Federico Vindver]] and American record producer [[Timbaland]] engaged in last-minute sessions with West for his then-upcoming album ''Yandhi''.{{efn|''Yandhi'' was ultimately scrapped and replaced with ''Jesus Is King''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carr|first1=Debbie|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-yandhi-album-delay-whats-happening/11564096|title=What the hell is going on with Kanye's new album, Jesus Is King?|date=October 1, 2019|publisher=[[Triple J]]|access-date=September 3, 2022}}</ref>}} Vindver recalled that Timbaland would freestyle with West in the studio; the record producer played the [[drum machine]] that West sang in time with. West and Vindver were later reunited in the 2019 summer to work on ''Jesus is King'', with him declaring that the rapper "brought faith back into my life".<ref name="Leight"/> During the sessions, West would engage in multiple freestyles and say what he could hear going with them after listening back, going through this process for the creation of the track. West delivered between 12 and 5 [[a cappella]] songs, spending three minutes sitting on a bench to record each with 5 to 10 second breaks before moving into another song. Specifically for "Hands On", West recorded a basic 18-second track, about which Vindver said, "When I heard the melody, I heard chords in my head to go with it, and put in a crazy sound effect on his vocal. It was lo-fi, but Kanye heard it, and he loved it."<ref name="Leight">{{cite web |last1=Leight |first1=Elias |title=How an Argentinean Jazz Pianist Became Kanye West and Coldplay's Go-To Producer |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kanye-west-coldplay-federico-vindver-producer-924043/ |website=Rolling Stone |access-date=August 2, 2021 |date=December 10, 2019}}</ref>
West, Angel Lopez, Argentinian record producer [[Federico Vindver]], and American record producer [[Timbaland]] handled the production of "Hands On", with them also serving as songwriters Hammond and Aaron Butts.<ref name="Tidal"/> In December 2018, Vindver and Timbaland engaged in last-minute sessions with West for his then-upcoming album ''Yandhi''.{{efn|''Yandhi'' was ultimately scrapped and replaced with ''Jesus Is King''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carr|first1=Debbie|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-yandhi-album-delay-whats-happening/11564096|title=What the hell is going on with Kanye's new album, ''Jesus Is King''?|date=October 1, 2019|publisher=[[Triple J]]|access-date=September 3, 2022}}</ref>}} Vindver recalled that Timbaland would freestyle with West in the studio; the record producer played the [[drum machine]] that West sang in time with. West and Vindver were later reunited in the 2019 summer to work on ''Jesus is King'', with him declaring that the rapper "brought faith back into my life".<ref name="Leight"/> During the sessions, West would engage in multiple freestyles and say what he could hear going with them after listening back, going through this process for the creation of the track. West delivered between 12 and 5 [[a cappella]] songs, spending three minutes sitting on a bench to record each with 5 to 10 second breaks before moving into another song. Specifically for "Hands On", West recorded a basic 18-second track, about which Vindver said, "When I heard the melody, I heard chords in my head to go with it, and put in a crazy sound effect on his vocal. It was lo-fi, but Kanye heard it, and he loved it."<ref name="Leight">{{cite web |last1=Leight |first1=Elias |title=How an Argentinean Jazz Pianist Became Kanye West and Coldplay's Go-To Producer |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kanye-west-coldplay-federico-vindver-producer-924043/ |website=Rolling Stone |access-date=August 2, 2021 |date=December 10, 2019}}</ref>


==Composition and lyrics==
==Composition and lyrics==
[[File:Codex Gigas devil.jpg|thumb|upright|170px|alt=An early illustration of the Devil|The song includes West rapping about redemption from the Devil, declaring himself as on a strike against the figure after an entire life working for him.]]
[[File:Codex Gigas devil.jpg|thumb|upright|170px|alt=An early illustration of the Devil|The song includes West rapping about redemption from [[Devil in Christianity|the Devil]], declaring himself as on a strike against the figure after an entire life working for him.]]
Musically, "Hands On" is a [[Minimal music|minimalist]] [[Sentimental ballad|ballad]],<ref name="Devlin"/><ref name="TV">{{Cite web|url=http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2019/11/01/opinion-kanye-west-jesus-is-king-and-my-relationship-with-the-lord/|title=Opinion: Kanye West, ''Jesus is King'' and my relationship with the Lord|last=Stevens|first=Aidy James|date=November 1, 2019|website=[[God Is in the TV]]|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102032722/http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2019/11/01/opinion-kanye-west-jesus-is-king-and-my-relationship-with-the-lord/|archive-date=November 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="music">{{cite web|last=Wehner|first=Cyclone|url=https://themusic.com.au/news/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review-track-by-track/TbdVQUBDQkU/27-10-19/|title='{{'}}Jesus Is King' Will Be A Touchstone': A Track-by-track Of Kanye West's New Album|website=[[The Music (magazine)|The Music]]|date=October 26, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611191829/https://themusic.com.au/news/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review-track-by-track/TbdVQUBDQkU/27-10-19/|archive-date=June 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> with elements of [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] and gospel.<ref name="Progress"/><ref name="Stereogum">{{cite web|last=Breihan|first=Tom|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2063066/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review/reviews/premature-evaluation/|title=Kanye West 'Jesus Is King' Review: New Beliefs, Same Kanye|website=[[Stereogum]]|date=October 28, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref> It has a soft beat that is set in a [[Key (music)|low-key]], marking a change from Timbaland's usual bouncy production style.<ref name="Lamarre">{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8540642/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-album-tracks-ranked|title=Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King' Album Tracks, Ranked|last=Lamarre|first=Carl|date=October 25, 2019|website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227063509/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8540642/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-album-tracks-ranked|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="var-review">{{cite web|last=Barker|first=Andrew|url=https://variety.com/2019/music/reviews/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review-1203384481/|title=Album Review: Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King'|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 26, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119013013/https://variety.com/2019/music/reviews/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review-1203384481/|url-status=live}}</ref> The song features [[Chord (music)|chords]] and coos, which accompany West's vocals.<ref name="ew">{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/music-reviews/2019/10/28/kanye-west-unreliable-pastor-jesus-is-king/ |title=Kanye West is an unreliable pastor on ''Jesus Is King'' |last=Josephs |first=Brian |date=October 28, 2019 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101075216/https://ew.com/music-reviews/2019/10/28/kanye-west-unreliable-pastor-jesus-is-king/ |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Its outro is performed by Hammond.<ref name="Slant">{{cite web|last=Mac|first=Sam C.|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review-kanye-west-jesus-is-king-is-a-compelling-but-veiled-act-of-self-worship/|title=Review: Kanye West's ''Jesus Is King'' Is a Compelling But Veiled Act of Self-Worship|website=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=October 30, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref>
Musically, "Hands On" is a [[Minimal music|minimalist]] [[Sentimental ballad|ballad]],<ref name="Devlin"/><ref name="TV">{{Cite web|url=http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2019/11/01/opinion-kanye-west-jesus-is-king-and-my-relationship-with-the-lord/|title=Opinion: Kanye West, ''Jesus is King'' and my relationship with the Lord|last=Stevens|first=Aidy James|date=November 1, 2019|website=[[God Is in the TV]]|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102032722/http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2019/11/01/opinion-kanye-west-jesus-is-king-and-my-relationship-with-the-lord/|archive-date=November 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="music">{{cite web|last=Wehner|first=Cyclone|url=https://themusic.com.au/news/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review-track-by-track/TbdVQUBDQkU/27-10-19/|title='{{'}}Jesus Is King' Will Be A Touchstone': A Track-by-track Of Kanye West's New Album|website=[[The Music (magazine)|The Music]]|date=October 26, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611191829/https://themusic.com.au/news/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review-track-by-track/TbdVQUBDQkU/27-10-19/|archive-date=June 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> with elements of [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] and gospel.<ref name="Progress"/><ref name="Stereogum">{{cite web|last=Breihan|first=Tom|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2063066/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review/reviews/premature-evaluation/|title=Kanye West 'Jesus Is King' Review: New Beliefs, Same Kanye|website=[[Stereogum]]|date=October 28, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref> It has a soft beat that is set in a [[Key (music)|low-key]], marking a change from Timbaland's usual bouncy production style.<ref name="Lamarre">{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8540642/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-album-tracks-ranked|title=Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King' Album Tracks, Ranked|last=Lamarre|first=Carl|date=October 25, 2019|website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227063509/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8540642/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-album-tracks-ranked|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="var-review">{{cite web|last=Barker|first=Andrew|url=https://variety.com/2019/music/reviews/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review-1203384481/|title=Album Review: Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King'|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 26, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119013013/https://variety.com/2019/music/reviews/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review-1203384481/|url-status=live}}</ref> The song features [[Chord (music)|chords]] and coos, which accompany West's vocals.<ref name="ew">{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/music-reviews/2019/10/28/kanye-west-unreliable-pastor-jesus-is-king/ |title=Kanye West is an unreliable pastor on ''Jesus Is King'' |last=Josephs |first=Brian |date=October 28, 2019 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101075216/https://ew.com/music-reviews/2019/10/28/kanye-west-unreliable-pastor-jesus-is-king/ |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Its outro is performed by Hammond.<ref name="Slant">{{cite web|last=Mac|first=Sam C.|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review-kanye-west-jesus-is-king-is-a-compelling-but-veiled-act-of-self-worship/|title=Review: Kanye West's ''Jesus Is King'' Is a Compelling But Veiled Act of Self-Worship|website=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=October 30, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref>


In the lyrics of the song, West complains about fellow Christians judging him after his conversion to the religion, addressing their uncertainty around his intentions.<ref name="TV"/><ref name="var-review"/><ref name="NR">{{cite web|url=http://www.noripcord.com/features/quick-takes-october-2019|title=Quick Takes (October 2019)|work=No Ripcord|date=November 8, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125081640/https://www.noripcord.com/features/quick-takes-october-2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AllMusic">{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/jesus-is-king-mw0003318875 |title=''Jesus Is King'' – Kanye West |last=Yeung |first=Neil Z. |date=October 31, 2019 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026202926/https://www.allmusic.com/album/jesus-is-king-mw0003318875 |archive-date=October 26, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> West engages in a [[Call and response|call-and-response]] with himself, asking "Said I'm finna {{sic}} do a gospel album/What have you been hearin' from the Christians?" and replying with, "They'll be the first one to judge me."<ref name="ew"/> He later reuses the response line when angrily accusing his doubters of hypocrisy, following with an additional line: "Make it feel like nobody love me."<ref name="music"/><ref name="vibe"/> West also touches on finding redemption from the Devil, rapping that he told him "I'm going on a strike" and "when I see him, on sight", confessing he has been working for the figure his entire life.<ref name="Caramanica">{{cite web|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Caramanica|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/27/arts/music/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review.html|title=Kanye West, Heretic by Nature, Finds God|work=[[The New York Times]]|url-access=registration|date=October 28, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028014249/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/27/arts/music/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review.html|archive-date=October 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Hammond sings the line "I deserve all the criticism you got", which he described as [[Jesus]]' message about [[humility]].<ref name="rs"/><ref name="Stereogum"/>
In the lyrics of the song, West complains about fellow Christians judging him after his conversion to their religion, addressing their uncertainty around his intentions.<ref name="TV"/><ref name="var-review"/><ref name="NR">{{cite web|url=http://www.noripcord.com/features/quick-takes-october-2019|title=Quick Takes (October 2019)|work=No Ripcord|date=November 8, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125081640/https://www.noripcord.com/features/quick-takes-october-2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AllMusic">{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/jesus-is-king-mw0003318875 |title=''Jesus Is King'' – Kanye West |last=Yeung |first=Neil Z. |date=October 31, 2019 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026202926/https://www.allmusic.com/album/jesus-is-king-mw0003318875 |archive-date=October 26, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> West engages in a [[Call and response|call-and-response]] with himself, asking "Said I'm finna {{sic}} do a gospel album/What have you been hearin' from the Christians?" and replying with, "They'll be the first one to judge me."<ref name="ew"/> He later reuses the response line when angrily accusing his doubters of hypocrisy, following with an additional line: "Make it feel like nobody love me."<ref name="music"/><ref name="vibe"/> West also touches on finding redemption from [[Devil in Christianity|the Devil]], rapping that he told him "I'm going on a strike" and "when I see him, on sight", confessing he has been working for the figure his entire life.<ref name="Caramanica">{{cite web|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Caramanica|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/27/arts/music/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review.html|title=Kanye West, Heretic by Nature, Finds God|work=[[The New York Times]]|url-access=registration|date=October 28, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028014249/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/27/arts/music/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review.html|archive-date=October 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Hammond sings the line "I deserve all the criticism you got", which he described as [[Jesus]]' message about [[humility]].<ref name="rs"/><ref name="Stereogum"/>


==Release and reception==
==Release and reception==
On October 25, 2019, "Hands On" was included as the ninth track on West's ninth studio album ''Jesus Is King''.<ref name="AllMusic"/> West's wife [[Kim Kardashian]] first shared a track list for the album in August 2019, including the song as the ninth track, with it originally set to be the penultimate one too.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/kanye-west-jesus-king-album-tracklist-guest-spots-everything-we-know-so-far-1466940|title=Kanye West 'Jesus is King' Album Tracklist, Guest Spots: Everything we know so far|author=Spencer, Samuel|date=October 22, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|website=[[Newsweek]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119175503/https://www.newsweek.com/kanye-west-jesus-king-album-tracklist-guest-spots-everything-we-know-so-far-1466940|archive-date=January 19, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 29, 2019, West previewed "Hands On" during a listening event at the [[United Palace]] theater in the New York City neighbourhood [[Washington Heights, Manhattan|Washington Heights]] for his mini-tour ''Jesus Is King: A Kanye West Experience''.<ref name="vibe">{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/jesus-is-king-is-kanye-wests-attempt-to-get-right-with-god-665484/|title='Jesus Is King' Is Kanye West's Attempt To Get Right With God|work=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|last=Fitzgerald|first=Kianna|date=October 1, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-date=July 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725204941/https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/jesus-is-king-is-kanye-wests-attempt-to-get-right-with-god-665484/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-experience-8531686/|title=Kanye West Brings 'Jesus Is King' Experience to NYC to Play Latest Version of Album|work=Bullboard|last=Saponara|first=Michael|date=September 30, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-date=July 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722085639/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-experience-8531686/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was played as the penultimate track and Hammond's feature was revealed.<ref name="vibe"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/heres-everything-that-happened-at-kanyes-nyc-jesus-is-king-event/ |title=Here's Everything That Happened at Kanye's NYC ''Jesus Is King'' Event |last=Zhang |first=Cat |date=September 30, 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001170508/https://pitchfork.com/news/heres-everything-that-happened-at-kanyes-nyc-jesus-is-king-event/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On October 25, 2019, "Hands On" was included as the ninth track on West's ninth studio album ''Jesus Is King''.<ref name="AllMusic"/> West's wife [[Kim Kardashian]] first shared a track list for the album in August 2019, including the song as the ninth track, with it originally set to be the penultimate one too.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/kanye-west-jesus-king-album-tracklist-guest-spots-everything-we-know-so-far-1466940|title=Kanye West 'Jesus is King' Album Tracklist, Guest Spots: Everything we know so far|author=Spencer, Samuel|date=October 22, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|website=[[Newsweek]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119175503/https://www.newsweek.com/kanye-west-jesus-king-album-tracklist-guest-spots-everything-we-know-so-far-1466940|archive-date=January 19, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 29, 2019, West previewed "Hands On" during a listening event at the [[United Palace]] theater in the New York City neighbourhood [[Washington Heights, Manhattan|Washington Heights]] for his mini-tour ''Jesus Is King: A Kanye West Experience''.<ref name="vibe">{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/jesus-is-king-is-kanye-wests-attempt-to-get-right-with-god-665484/|title='Jesus Is King' Is Kanye West's Attempt To Get Right With God|work=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|last=Fitzgerald|first=Kianna|date=October 1, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-date=July 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725204941/https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/jesus-is-king-is-kanye-wests-attempt-to-get-right-with-god-665484/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-experience-8531686/|title=Kanye West Brings 'Jesus Is King' Experience to NYC to Play Latest Version of Album|work=Billboard|last=Saponara|first=Michael|date=September 30, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-date=July 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722085639/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-experience-8531686/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was played as the penultimate track and Hammond's feature was revealed.<ref name="vibe"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/heres-everything-that-happened-at-kanyes-nyc-jesus-is-king-event/ |title=Here's Everything That Happened at Kanye's NYC ''Jesus Is King'' Event |last=Zhang |first=Cat |date=September 30, 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001170508/https://pitchfork.com/news/heres-everything-that-happened-at-kanyes-nyc-jesus-is-king-event/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

"Hands On" was met with mixed to negative reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]], with general criticism of West's vocals. Wren Graves was highly negative at ''[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]''; he cited the song as "the worst of the many meandering rants" on the album, singling out the heavy lack of rhythm or flow and writing off West's rhymes as so simplistic that they "would get a person hissed out of a [[poetry slam]]".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/10/album-review-kanye-west-jesus-is-king/ |title=Kanye West Even Bores God with the Passionless ''Jesus Is King'' |last=Graves |first=Wren |date=October 28, 2019 |work=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |access-date=March 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028191359/https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/10/album-review-kanye-west-jesus-is-king/ |archive-date=October 28, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Carl Lamarre from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' named it as the record's worst track, commenting that even though West "plays the sidelines and allows production savant, Timbaland, to run point", the two "land a dud on their mistimed collaboration".<ref name="Lamarre"/> Lamarre also admitted that them collaborating "seems fantastic" on paper and noted the repetitiveness of West's lyrics, attributing this to him "rapping about rebuking the Devil for the umpteenth time".<ref name="Lamarre"/> Writing for [[AllMusic]], Neil Z. Yeung saw that the rapper shows "his grasp of Christ's teachings is elementary" as he addresses those questioning his "true intentions".<ref name="AllMusic"/> ''[[HipHopDX]]''{{'}}s Aaron McKell wrote off West's weak lyricism on the song due to his focus on the religious message, declaring that he is "forgetting to be a clever MC" and rapping plainly.<ref>{{cite web|last=McKrell|first=Aaron|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3556/title.review-kanye-wests-jesus-is-king-is-a-sunday-service-that-needed-more-soul|title=Kanye West ''Jesus Is King'' Album Review|work=[[HipHopDX]]|date=October 28, 2019|access-date=September 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220004641/https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3556/title.review-kanye-wests-jesus-is-king-is-a-sunday-service-that-needed-more-soul|archive-date=December 20, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Daniel Bromfield of ''Spectrum Culture'' pointed to the song as an example of him sounding "cowed and vulnerable".<ref>{{cite web|last=Bromfield|first=Daniel|url=https://spectrumculture.com/2019/10/27/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review/|title=Kanye West: ''Jesus is King''|work=Spectrum Culture|date=October 27, 2019|access-date=March 31, 2020}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' critic Brian Josephs expressed less negative feelings, not being surprised by the song being about West like much of ''Jesus Is King'', saying the rapper disguises his "insecurities as heathen" and demonstrates "some supposed righteousness" in his struggle as usual.<ref name="ew"/> However, he wrote that West "delivers a testimonial over warm chords and coos", yet he does not have the necessary self-reflection "to give his words emotional depth".<ref name="ew"/>


In a positive review for ''[[Now (newspaper)|NOW Magazine]]'', Matthew Progress wrote the song contains "some of the most captivating melodies ever found on a West project" and noted it as part of ''Jesus Is King''{{'}}s "vein of R&B-leaning, wavy church ballads" that begins with the vocals on "[[Everything We Need]]".<ref name="Progress">{{cite web|last=Progress|first=Matthew|url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review/|title=Review: Jesus Is King is Kanye West's vision of heaven|work=[[Now (newspaper)|NOW Magazine]]|date=October 29, 2019|access-date=March 31, 2020}}</ref> Ben Devlin was more mixed in ''[[musicOMH]]''; he noted that the song's "lush and minimal" production is "completely beatless", but viewed West's rambling of sorts as resembling fellow rapper [[will.i.am]] "at his most awkward".<ref name="Devlin">{{cite web|last=Devlin|first=Ben|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/kanye-west-jesus-is-king|title=Kanye West – Jesus Is King {{!}} Album Reviews|work=[[musicOMH]]|date=October 29, 2019|access-date=March 31, 2020}}</ref> Daniel Bromfield of ''Spectrum Culture'' pointed to the song as an example of West sounding "cowed and vulnerable".<ref>{{cite web|last=Bromfield|first=Daniel|url=https://spectrumculture.com/2019/10/27/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review/|title=Kanye West: ''Jesus is King''|work=Spectrum Culture|date=October 27, 2019|access-date=March 31, 2020}}</ref> Wren Graves was highly negative at ''[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]'' cited the song as "the worst of the many meandering rants" on the album, criticizing the heavy lack of rhythm or flow and writing off its rhymes as so simplistic that they "would get a person hissed out of a [[poetry slam]]".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/10/album-review-kanye-west-jesus-is-king/ |title=Kanye West Even Bores God with the Passionless ''Jesus Is King'' |last=Graves |first=Wren |date=October 28, 2019 |work=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |access-date=March 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028191359/https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/10/album-review-kanye-west-jesus-is-king/ |archive-date=October 28, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Ben Devlin was more mixed in ''[[musicOMH]]''; he noted that the song's "lush and minimal" production is "completely beatless", but viewed West's rambling of sorts as resembling fellow rapper [[will.i.am]] "at his most awkward".<ref name="Devlin">{{cite web|last=Devlin|first=Ben|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/kanye-west-jesus-is-king|title=Kanye West – ''Jesus Is King'' {{!}} Album Reviews|work=[[musicOMH]]|url-access=limited|date=October 29, 2019|access-date=March 31, 2020}}</ref> For ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', Andrew Barker praised the song's "moody, low-key beat" and Hammond's feature, yet felt West ruins it with his "persecution complex" by "fall[ing] into a sour funk whining" about other Christians judging him.<ref name="var-review"/> Aidy James Stevens from ''[[God Is in the TV]]'' called the song "a stripped-back affair" and said the main purpose is "a vehicle for Ye's frustrations" with Christians judging him after beginning his religious conversion, naming it "a vital part of the narrative" in the context of a [[concept album]].<ref name="TV"/> He explained that the song is not a particularly essential number, concluding how it could have possibly "been elaborated upon".<ref name="TV"/> In a glowing review for ''[[Now (newspaper)|NOW Magazine]]'', Matthew Progress wrote the song contains "some of the most captivating melodies ever found on a West project" and noted it as part of ''Jesus Is King''{{'}}s "vein of R&B-leaning, wavy church ballads" that begins with the vocals on "[[Everything We Need]]".<ref name="Progress">{{cite web|last=Progress|first=Matthew|url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review/|title=Review: ''Jesus Is King'' is Kanye West's vision of heaven|work=[[Now (newspaper)|NOW Magazine]]|date=October 29, 2019|access-date=March 31, 2020}}</ref>


==Commercial performance==
==Commercial performance==
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{{single chart|Billboardchristiansongs|9|artist=Kanye West|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboardchristiansongs|9|artist=Kanye West|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2020}}
|-
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! scope="row"| US [[Billboard charts|Gospel Songs]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/kanye-west/chart-history/gsi/|title=Kanye West Chart History (Hot Gospel Songs)|website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref>
! scope="row"| US [[Billboard charts|Gospel Songs]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/kanye-west/chart-history/gsi/|title=Kanye West Chart History (Hot Gospel Songs)|website=Billboard|access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref>
| 10
| 10
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{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|29|artist=Kanye West|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|29|artist=Kanye West|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2020}}
|-
|-
! scope="row" | US [[Rolling Stone Top 100|''Rolling Stone'' Top 100]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2019-10-25/ |title=Top 100 Songs |date=November 4, 2019 |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref>
! scope="row" | US [[Rolling Stone Top 100|''Rolling Stone'' Top 100]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2019-10-25/ |title=Top 100 Songs |date=November 4, 2019 |website=Rolling Stone |access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref>
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!scope="col"|Position
!scope="col"|Position
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! scope="row"| US Christian Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|title=Hot Christian Songs – Year-End 2019|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-christian-songs|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref>
! scope="row"| US Christian Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|title=Hot Christian Songs – Year-End 2019|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-christian-songs|work=Billboard|access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref>
| 62
| 62
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|-
! scope="row"| US Gospel Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|title=Hot Gospel Songs – Year-End 2019|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-gospel-songs|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref>
! scope="row"| US Gospel Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|title=Hot Gospel Songs – Year-End 2019|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-gospel-songs|work=Billboard|access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref>
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Revision as of 09:00, 6 September 2022

"Hands On"
Song by Kanye West featuring Fred Hammond
from the album Jesus Is King
ReleasedOctober 25, 2019 (2019-10-25)
Recorded2019
Length3:23
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Kanye West
  • Angel Lopez
  • Federico Vindver
  • Timbaland

"Hands On" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his ninth studio album, Jesus Is King (2019). The song features a guest appearance from gospel singer Fred Hammond. It was produced by West, Angel Lopez, Federico Vindver, and Timbaland, all of whom served as co-writers with Hammond and Aaron Butts. West initially freestyled and envisioned the song, recording an 18-second basic track. He sent Hammond a vocal track, to which the singer wrote his verse. A minimalist ballad with elements of R&B and gospel, the song features a low-key beat.

Lyrically, the song sees West complaining about being judged after converting to Christianity by other Christians. "Hands On" received mixed to negative reviews from music critics, who mostly criticized West's performance. They often focused on his lyrical style, though a few reviewers praised the production. The song reached number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Hammond's first entry on the chart. It peaked at numbers 49 and 63 on the ARIA Singles Chart and Canadian Hot 100, respectively.

Background and recording

Timbaland performing in West Hollywood, CA in January 2010 on The Shock Value II Tour.
American record producer and West collaborator Timbaland contributed both writing and production to the song.

West decided to crossover as an outsider to gospel by featuring Fred Hammond on Jesus Is King, collaborating with a key insider from the genre for a proper transition. Hammond had previously worked with fellow rapper Snoop Dogg on his gospel material in 2018 and the next year, he appreciated a loop of his track "This Is the Day" by West that he was sent over Instagram. The two subsequently met through Kirk Franklin at Chance the Rapper's wedding, talking about West's version of the track and the rapper also told Hammond he was enthusiastic to collaborate.[1] West and Hammond agreed on working together in the summer of 2019, engaging in a phone call focused on this, with him stating the rapper "knew a lot of the Christian world would not embrace him".[1] In reference to any backlash, he stated: "If they don't sing gospel exclusively, then you are trying to cross over, you're a hypocrite, God don't love you no more."[1] Hammond heavily defended West against any doubters and this encouraged him to create music, after which he sent the singer a track of him singing "hands on, hands up" that he then wrote his verse to.[1] The singer explained to West that his verse about deserving criticism "was a strong basis for a song" because he should take this route as a believer, further recalling that his son was shocked when they worked together.[1] Hammond also revealed that West's support of 2017-2021 President Donald Trump was not an issue for him, denying any political discussion during their work together.[2]

West, Angel Lopez, Argentinian record producer Federico Vindver, and American record producer Timbaland handled the production of "Hands On", with them also serving as songwriters Hammond and Aaron Butts.[3] In December 2018, Vindver and Timbaland engaged in last-minute sessions with West for his then-upcoming album Yandhi.[a] Vindver recalled that Timbaland would freestyle with West in the studio; the record producer played the drum machine that West sang in time with. West and Vindver were later reunited in the 2019 summer to work on Jesus is King, with him declaring that the rapper "brought faith back into my life".[5] During the sessions, West would engage in multiple freestyles and say what he could hear going with them after listening back, going through this process for the creation of the track. West delivered between 12 and 5 a cappella songs, spending three minutes sitting on a bench to record each with 5 to 10 second breaks before moving into another song. Specifically for "Hands On", West recorded a basic 18-second track, about which Vindver said, "When I heard the melody, I heard chords in my head to go with it, and put in a crazy sound effect on his vocal. It was lo-fi, but Kanye heard it, and he loved it."[5]

Composition and lyrics

An early illustration of the Devil
The song includes West rapping about redemption from the Devil, declaring himself as on a strike against the figure after an entire life working for him.

Musically, "Hands On" is a minimalist ballad,[6][7][8] with elements of R&B and gospel.[9][10] It has a soft beat that is set in a low-key, marking a change from Timbaland's usual bouncy production style.[11][12] The song features chords and coos, which accompany West's vocals.[13] Its outro is performed by Hammond.[14]

In the lyrics of the song, West complains about fellow Christians judging him after his conversion to their religion, addressing their uncertainty around his intentions.[7][12][15][16] West engages in a call-and-response with himself, asking "Said I'm finna [sic] do a gospel album/What have you been hearin' from the Christians?" and replying with, "They'll be the first one to judge me."[13] He later reuses the response line when angrily accusing his doubters of hypocrisy, following with an additional line: "Make it feel like nobody love me."[8][17] West also touches on finding redemption from the Devil, rapping that he told him "I'm going on a strike" and "when I see him, on sight", confessing he has been working for the figure his entire life.[18] Hammond sings the line "I deserve all the criticism you got", which he described as Jesus' message about humility.[1][10]

Release and reception

On October 25, 2019, "Hands On" was included as the ninth track on West's ninth studio album Jesus Is King.[16] West's wife Kim Kardashian first shared a track list for the album in August 2019, including the song as the ninth track, with it originally set to be the penultimate one too.[19] On September 29, 2019, West previewed "Hands On" during a listening event at the United Palace theater in the New York City neighbourhood Washington Heights for his mini-tour Jesus Is King: A Kanye West Experience.[17][20] It was played as the penultimate track and Hammond's feature was revealed.[17][21]

"Hands On" was met with mixed to negative reviews from music critics, with general criticism of West's vocals. Wren Graves was highly negative at Consequence; he cited the song as "the worst of the many meandering rants" on the album, singling out the heavy lack of rhythm or flow and writing off West's rhymes as so simplistic that they "would get a person hissed out of a poetry slam".[22] Carl Lamarre from Billboard named it as the record's worst track, commenting that even though West "plays the sidelines and allows production savant, Timbaland, to run point", the two "land a dud on their mistimed collaboration".[11] Lamarre also admitted that them collaborating "seems fantastic" on paper and noted the repetitiveness of West's lyrics, attributing this to him "rapping about rebuking the Devil for the umpteenth time".[11] Writing for AllMusic, Neil Z. Yeung saw that the rapper shows "his grasp of Christ's teachings is elementary" as he addresses those questioning his "true intentions".[16] HipHopDX's Aaron McKell wrote off West's weak lyricism on the song due to his focus on the religious message, declaring that he is "forgetting to be a clever MC" and rapping plainly.[23] Daniel Bromfield of Spectrum Culture pointed to the song as an example of him sounding "cowed and vulnerable".[24] Entertainment Weekly critic Brian Josephs expressed less negative feelings, not being surprised by the song being about West like much of Jesus Is King, saying the rapper disguises his "insecurities as heathen" and demonstrates "some supposed righteousness" in his struggle as usual.[13] However, he wrote that West "delivers a testimonial over warm chords and coos", yet he does not have the necessary self-reflection "to give his words emotional depth".[13]

Ben Devlin was more mixed in musicOMH; he noted that the song's "lush and minimal" production is "completely beatless", but viewed West's rambling of sorts as resembling fellow rapper will.i.am "at his most awkward".[6] For Variety, Andrew Barker praised the song's "moody, low-key beat" and Hammond's feature, yet felt West ruins it with his "persecution complex" by "fall[ing] into a sour funk whining" about other Christians judging him.[12] Aidy James Stevens from God Is in the TV called the song "a stripped-back affair" and said the main purpose is "a vehicle for Ye's frustrations" with Christians judging him after beginning his religious conversion, naming it "a vital part of the narrative" in the context of a concept album.[7] He explained that the song is not a particularly essential number, concluding how it could have possibly "been elaborated upon".[7] In a glowing review for NOW Magazine, Matthew Progress wrote the song contains "some of the most captivating melodies ever found on a West project" and noted it as part of Jesus Is King's "vein of R&B-leaning, wavy church ballads" that begins with the vocals on "Everything We Need".[9]

Commercial performance

Following Jesus Is King's release, "Hands On" entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 60, becoming Hammond's first appearance on the chart.[25][26] Simultaneously, the song reached number 9 on the US Christian Songs chart. It debuted at number 10 on the US Gospel Songs chart, rounding out the chart's top 10 that was fully occupied by entries from the album.[27] The song also charted at number 29 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[28]

Elsewhere in North America, the song reached number 63 on the Canadian Hot 100 in Canada.[29] "Hands On" experience its strongest performance in Australia, entering the ARIA Singles Chart at number 46.[30] The song charted similarly in Lithuania to Canada, peaking at number 64 on the Lithuania Top 100.[31] It peaked at numbers 77 and 87 on the Portugese Singles Chart and Singles Digitál Top 100 in Portugal and Slovakia, respectively.[32][33]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[3]

  • Kanye West – producer, songwriter
  • Angel Lopez – producer, songwriter
  • Federico Vindver – producer, songwriter
  • Timbaland – producer, songwriter
  • Fred Hammond – songwriter, featured artist
  • Aaron Butts – songwriter
  • Mike Dean – mastering engineer, mixer
  • Jess Jackson – mixer
  • Jamie Peters – recording engineer
  • Josh Bales – recording engineer
  • Josh Berg – recording engineer
  • Randy Urbanski – recording engineer

Charts

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ Yandhi was ultimately scrapped and replaced with Jesus Is King.[4]

Citations

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  2. ^ Jackson, Cheryl. "Fred Hammond Says He Doesn't Care That Kanye West Supports Donald Trump". Praise 104.1 FM. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
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  4. ^ Carr, Debbie (October 1, 2019). "What the hell is going on with Kanye's new album, Jesus Is King?". Triple J. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Leight, Elias (December 10, 2019). "How an Argentinean Jazz Pianist Became Kanye West and Coldplay's Go-To Producer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
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  8. ^ a b Wehner, Cyclone (October 26, 2019). "''Jesus Is King' Will Be A Touchstone': A Track-by-track Of Kanye West's New Album". The Music. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
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  18. ^ Caramanica, Jon (October 28, 2019). "Kanye West, Heretic by Nature, Finds God". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 28, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
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  20. ^ Saponara, Michael (September 30, 2019). "Kanye West Brings 'Jesus Is King' Experience to NYC to Play Latest Version of Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
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  22. ^ Graves, Wren (October 28, 2019). "Kanye West Even Bores God with the Passionless Jesus Is King". Consequence. Archived from the original on October 28, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
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