Kanye West Billboard Award Win Sparks Confusion

Ye has just won his 22nd Billboard Music Award, but some fans are scratching their heads as to why.

Known for his work as a rapper and producer, the artist who now goes by the name Ye, picked up the gong for Best Gospel Artist. He beat out other major gospel artists including Kirk Franklin and CeCe Winans to win the award.

But people following the awards ceremony and its winners were confused as to why Ye would win in that category.

Kanye West in Washington, D.C. on October 11, 2018. He recently won the award for Best Gospel Artist at the Billboard Music Awards.AFP VIA GETTY/SAUL LOEB

“Por favor, did the definition of the gospel or ‘gospel artist’ change?” wrote one person on X, formerly Twitter.

Another added: “Kanye West winning the Best Gospel award so funny to me.”

And a third wrote: “In what universe is kanye west a gospel artist.”

Others pointed out Ye turned his hand to gospel music in 2019 with the release of his album Jesus Is King and for a long time hosted Sunday Service concerts with a gospel choir and band.

“2019 album JESUS IS KING is a gospel album,” posted one person.

A second commented: “I’m sure you don’t listen to Kanye, so, Kanye dropped a curse free gospel album in 2019, then dropped one in 2021, moreso centered around his Mother but had alot of Gospel in it.”

Newsweek contacted Ye’s representatives by email for comment.

Ye has not released a new album since Donda in 2021 but Billboard gives out its awards to “the hottest names in music today.”

“Billboard Music Awards finalists are based on key interactions with music fans, as well as album and digital songs sales, radio airplay, streaming, touring and social engagement. The awards are based on a 12-month reporting period,” according to Billboard’s website.

Ye, however, did release new music recently, with a song called “Vultures” which tackles the controversy surrounding his antisemitic comments and features Ty Dolla Sign and Lil Durk. The song is part of a new album Ye is recording in Saudi Arabia, according to Ty Dolla Sign, who made the revelation during a live show that was posted to social media.

Ye lost major brand deals over his antisemitic rants, including his deal with Adidas for his Yeezy streetwear line which he said cost him $1 billion. Forbes had valued his Yeezy deal at $1.5 billion, but without it, his fortune dropped to $400 million.

He received a temporary ban from Twitter in 2022 for his comments where he wrote he wanted to go “defcon 3” on Jewish people.

Ye also said he loved Nazi leader Adolf Hitler during an appearance on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ podcast, where he also declared that “Nazis did good things.”

In the new song “Vultures”, which premiered on Chicago radio on Friday, Ye addresses the furor with controversial lyrics. He raps, “How am I antisemitic? I just f***** a Jewish b****.”