Follow God

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"Follow God"
File:Follow God Lyric Thumbnail.jpg
Thumbnail of the lyric video
Single by Kanye West
from the album Jesus Is King
Released November 12, 2019
Genre
Length 1:45
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Kanye West
  • Aaron Butts
  • Bryant Bell
  • Calvin Eubanks
  • Curtis Eubanks
  • Jahmal Gwin
Producer(s)
  • West
  • BoogzDaBeast
  • Xcelence
Script error: The function "ucfirst" does not exist. singles chronology
"Take Me to the Light"
(2019)		 "Follow God"
(2019)		 "Closed on Sunday"
(2019)
Music video
"Follow God" on YouTube

"Follow God" is a song by American recording artist Kanye West from his ninth studio album, Jesus Is King (2019). The song was written by West, Jahmal Gwin, Bryant Bell, Aaron Butts, Calvin Eubanks and Curtis Eubanks, while produced by West, Xcelence and Boogz.[1] It was released to US rhythmic contemporary radio stations through GOOD Music and Def Jam as the lead single from the album on November 12, 2019. A lyric video was released for the song in October 2019, shortly followed by a music video on November 8.

Background

On September 27, 2019, "Follow God" was first announced through a revised track listing for Jesus Is King shared by West's wife Kim Kardashian via Twitter.[2] On October 23, 2019, West previewed "Follow God" at a listening party at The Forum in Los Angeles, stating to the crowd that he wanted the song "to come out since Yeezus."[3]

Composition

"Follow God" is a hip hop track that incorporates sampling reminiscent of how West did so in his earlier work, with the song including a sample of the recording "Can You Lose by Following God" by Whole Truth.[4][5] The sample begins the song with the declaration "Father, I stretch/Stretch my hands to You."[5] After the opening, the sample is chopped up over a trap beat.[6] The song sees West discuss connecting to his father, though West references God under this connection as well as his real father Ray West.[5]

Release and promotion

"Follow God" was released on October 25, 2019, as the third track on Kanye West's ninth studio album Jesus Is King.[7] On November 5, West made the decision to release the song as the lead single from the album in the United States, with it being slated for such a release the next week and standing as the most streamed song from the album at the time of his decision.[8] The song was serviced to UK mainstream radio stations by West's labels GOOD Music and Def Jam as the lead single in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2019.[9] Four days later, it was serviced to US rhythmic contemporary radio stations through the labels, following through with the planned lead single release in the US.[8] Alongside releasing the song across radio stations, West's labels pushed it elsewhere.[8]

A lyric video was officially released for "Follow God" on October 26, 2019.[10] In Louisiana on November 1, West's gospel-rap group Sunday Service performed the song.[11] West performed the song at American musician Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival in Houston on November 9, 2019, though his appearance at the festival was a surprise.[12] During West's "Sunday Service Experience" at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church on November 17, the song was performed by him.[13] The performance saw West name-check American convict Rodney Reed, who West's wife Kim Kardashian helped to get a stay of execution.[13]

Critical reception

The song has received universal acclaim from critics, with many citing it as one of the album’s highlights. Brendan Klinkenberg from Rolling Stone claimed that the Whole Truth sample "is neck-snappingly good, the kind of textured punch that, still, only West seems capable of."[14] Writing for The Guardian, Dean Van Nguyen cited the song as the best track on the album and praised the "lean soul sample."[15] In Consequence of Sound, Wren Graves cited the song as being among the best tracks on Jesus Is King, while directing praise towards its production and the Whole Truth sample.[16]

Music video

Kardashian shared a preview of an accompanying music video for the song via her Instagram stories on November 7, 2019, though the release date was unknown at the time.[17] That same day, West screened the visual at the New York Burberry Store.[18] The video was shared by West on November 8, 2019, and features a cameo from Ray West.[19]

Commercial performance

"Follow God" debuted at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 upon the release of Jesus Is King as the Hot Shot Debut of the week, while standing behind American singer Selena Gomez's single "Lose You to Love Me" at number one as the second highest entry in the top ten and following on from YNW Melly's track "Mixed Personalities" as the second track including Kanye West to chart on the Hot 100 in 2019.[20][21][22] This stood as West's 18th track to reach the top ten of the chart, though marked his eighth debut in the top ten, and his first since the Lil Pump collaboration "I Love It" reached number six in 2018.[21] West's 18th top ten tied him with Ludacris for the fifth-most among rappers.[22] The song entered at number two on the US Streaming Songs chart with 34 million streams and debuted at number 13 on the US Digital Song Sales chart, selling 8,000 digital copies.[21] The following week, it descended 30 places to number 37 on the Hot 100.[23]

The song entered at number seven on the ARIA Singles Chart, marking the highest debut of a track from the album in Australia.[24] On the UK Singles Chart, "Follow God" debuted at number six, standing as the highest charting track from Jesus Is King in the UK.[25] It also marked one of three new entries in the top ten of the chart for that week and gave West his 23rd top ten single.[26]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[1]

  • Writer(s) – Kanye West, Aaron Butts, Bryant Bell, Calvin Eubanks, Curtis Eubanks, Jahmal Gwin
  • Production – West, BoogzDaBeast, Xcelence

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[61] Gold 500,000

xunspecified figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales/streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
United Kingdom November 8, 2019 Mainstream radio
[9]
United States November 12, 2019 Rhythmic contemporary radio [8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Kanye West – Follow God". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Kanye West – Follow God" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kanye West – Follow God" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  30. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kanye West – Follow God" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kanye West – Follow God" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Kanye West – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Kanye West. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  33. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201944 into search. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  34. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Kanye West – Follow God". Tracklisten. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Kanye West – Follow God" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Kanye West – Follow God". Top Digital Download. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kanye West – Follow God" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  44. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Kanye West – Follow God". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  45. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Kanye West – Follow God". VG-lista. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201944 into search. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  48. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Kanye West – Follow God". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  49. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Kanye West – Follow God". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  50. ↑ "Archive Chart: 20191101" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  51. ↑ "Archive Chart: 20191101" UK R&B Chart. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  52. ↑ "Kanye West – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Kanye West. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  53. ↑ "Kanye West – Chart history" Billboard Christian Songs for Kanye West. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ "Kanye West – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Kanye West. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  56. ↑ "Kanye West – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Kanye West. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  60. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  61. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH

External links

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