Sunday Service Choir
{{Short description|American gospel group}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sunday Service Choir
| image = Sunday Service At The Mountain.svg
| image_size = 170px
| caption = Logo used for Sunday Service's 2019 Easter Coachella performance
| alias =
| origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|Gospel|Christian hip hop|Christian R&B}}
| years_active = {{start date|2019}}–present
| label =
| associated_acts =
| current_members = * Kanye West
| past_members =
| website = {{url|https://sundayservice.com/}}
}}
The Sunday Service Choir (commonly referred as Sunday Service) is an American gospel group led 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, was released three months later on Christmas Day in 2019.
History
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{{Cite web|url=https://getuperica.com/116782/kanye-wests-sunday-service-choir-director-jason-white-his-wife-geneen-give-insight-on-the-series-exclusive-video/|title=Kanye West's "Sunday Service" Choir Director Jason White & His Wife Geneen Give Insight On The Series|author=Aliya Faust|date=April 2, 2019|access-date=April 19, 2019|publisher=Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406014430/https://getuperica.com/116782/kanye-wests-sunday-service-choir-director-jason-white-his-wife-geneen-give-insight-on-the-series-exclusive-video/|archive-date=April 6, 2019|url-status=live}} and frequent collaborators like Tony Williams, Francis and the Lights, and Ant Clemons.{{Cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/01/kanye-west-sunday-service-gospel-video/|title=Kanye West leads Sunday Service featuring gospel versions of his songs: Watch|publisher=Consequence of Sound|date=January 7, 2019|access-date=March 4, 2019|author=Lake Schatz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202041845/https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/01/kanye-west-sunday-service-gospel-video/|archive-date=February 2, 2019|url-status=live}} During Sunday Service rehearsals, several songs from Yandhi have been performed.{{cite news|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.49972/title.kanye-west-debuts-new-music-during-2nd-sunday-service#|title=Kanye West Debuts New Music During 2nd "Sunday Service"|publisher=HipHopDX|date=January 19, 2019|access-date=January 20, 2019|author=Kyle Eustice|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120062417/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.49972/title.kanye-west-debuts-new-music-during-2nd-sunday-service|archive-date=January 20, 2019|url-status=live}}
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.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8493235/kanye-west-pulled-out-of-coachella-2019-dome|title=Kanye West Pulled Out of Coachella Because the Festival Wouldn't Build Him a Giant Dome: Exclusive|magazine=Billboard|date=January 12, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409104231/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8493235/kanye-west-pulled-out-of-coachella-2019-dome|archive-date=April 9, 2019|url-status=live}} On March 31, 2019, West announced that Sunday Service would perform an Easter set at Coachella.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2037982/kanye-west-sunday-service-coachella-2019/news/|title=Kanye West Bringing "Sunday Service" To Coachella 2019|date=March 31, 2019|publisher=|access-date=May 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406082134/https://www.stereogum.com/2037982/kanye-west-sunday-service-coachella-2019/news/|archive-date=April 6, 2019|url-status=live}} The first public Sunday Service performance was at Coachella for Easter on April 21, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/19/entertainment/kanye-sunday-service-coachella/index.html|title=Kanye's Sunday Service is coming to Coachella, but what is it?|date=April 19, 2019|access-date=April 19, 2019|publisher=CNN|author=Lisa Repers France|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419173907/https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/19/entertainment/kanye-sunday-service-coachella/index.html|archive-date=April 19, 2019|url-status=live}} On October 5, 2019, he brought Sunday Service to The Gateway in Salt Lake City, Utah.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2019/10/06/kanye-west-brings-song/|title=Kanye West brings song, sermon, prayer — and a crowd of thousands — to Salt Lake City's Gateway for 'Sunday Service'|website=The Salt Lake Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-28}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://abc13.com/5701811/|title=Fans resell Kanye West' Sunday Service tickets for up to $500|date=2019-11-16|website=ABC13 Houston|language=en|access-date=2019-11-19}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/news/kanye-west-bringing-sunday-service-experience-to-pigeon-forge/article_528c1fc8-16be-11ea-afb6-2be656562b28.html|title=Kanye West bringing Sunday Service Experience to Pigeon Forge|last=Wilkie|first=Ella|website=FOX Carolina|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}} West's performance was added after comedian John Crist's performance was canceled after Crist was suspected of sexual misconduct.{{Cite web|url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/12/04/how-kanye-west-became-headliner-pigeon-forge-youth-conference/2608673001/|title=How Kanye West became a headliner at Pigeon Forge's Strength to Stand youth conference|last=Jones|first=Maggie|website=Knoxville News Sentinel|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}} 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 5 new tracks composed and produced entirely by West in Latin, based on texts from the Roman Breviary and the Roman Gradual.
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.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8uouhFvokS/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=www.instagram.com}}
According to Kanye West, the logo was changed to the sig runes of the Schutzstaffel in March 2025.{{Cite web |last=Nevares |first=Gabriel Bras |date=2025-03-16 |title=Kanye West Unveils Nazi-Inspired Logos For New Album "Bully" Cover Art & Sunday Service |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/894601-kanye-west-nazi-logos-new-album-bully-cover-art-sunday-service-hip-hop-news |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
= Extended plays =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="width:11em;" | Title ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="width:24em;" | Album details |
| scope="row" | Emmanuel
|
|
|---|
| scope="row" |My Lord Is Here
|
|
| scope="row" |God Is the Lord
|
|
=Charted songs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year !Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Gospel {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sunday-service-choir/chart-history/gsi/|title=Sunday Service Choir Chart History (Hot Gospel Songs)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 26, 2019}} |
| scope="row"| "Father Stretch"
| rowspan="9"| 2020|| 10 | rowspan="9"| Jesus Is Born |
| scope="row"| "Ultralight Beam"
| 11 |
| scope="row"| "Rain"
| 15 |
| scope="row"| "Count Your Blessings"
| 16 |
| scope="row"| "Revelations 19:1"
| 17 |
| scope="row"| "Excellent"
| 20 |
| scope="row"| "Follow Me / Fade"
| 22 |
| scope="row"| "Lift Up Your Voices"
| 24 |
| scope="row"| "More Than Anything"
| 25 |
| colspan="8" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
==As featured artist==
=Guest appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" style="width:22.5em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Other artist(s) ! scope="col" | Notes ! scope="col" | Album |
| scope="row"| "Every Hour"
| rowspan="4"| 2019 | rowspan="2"| Kanye West | Featured vocals | rowspan="4"|Jesus Is King |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Selah"
| rowspan="13"|Additional vocals |
| scope="row"| "Everything We Need"
| Kanye West, Ant Clemons, Ty Dolla Sign |
| scope="row"| "Water"
| Kanye West, Ant Clemons |
| scope="row"| "No Luck"{{Cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/kaycyypluto/no-luck|title=NO LUCK FT SS|accessdate=May 14, 2023|via=soundcloud.com}}
| rowspan="10"| 2021 | KayCyy | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Jail"
| Kanye West, Jay-Z | rowspan="7"| Donda |
| scope="row"| "Hurricane"
| Kanye West, The Weeknd, Lil Baby |
| scope="row"| "24"
| rowspan="2"| Kanye West |
| scope="row"| "Donda" |
| scope="row"| "Jesus Lord"
| Kanye West, Jay Electronica |
| scope="row"| "New Again"
| rowspan="2"|Kanye West |
| scope="row"| "Lord I Need You" |
| scope="row"| "Finish Line"{{cite tweet |author=Stereogum |author-link=Stereogum |user=stereogum |number=1443577756072038408 |date=September 30, 2021 |title=Hear Elton John (@eltonofficial) & @StevieWonder's first-ever straight-up duet "Finish Line," which also features Kanye West's Sunday Service Choir https://t.co/qebLz04KjL https://t.co/pS2Lw7DAol |language=en |access-date=November 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108040038/https://twitter.com/stereogum/status/1443577756072038408 |archive-date=November 8, 2021 |url-status=live}} |
| scope="row"| "Up from the Ashes"
| Kanye West |
| scope="row"| "Fractions of Infinity"
| 2022 | Quadeca | Featured vocals |
| scope="row"| "My Soul"
| 2024 | ¥$, Big TC | Additional vocals |
=Opera performances=
- Nebuchadnezzar (2019){{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/891/2019-11-24/kanye-west-nebuchadnezzar-an-opera|title=Kanye West: Nebuchadnezzar - An Opera|website=Hollywood Bowl|access-date=October 4, 2020}}
- Mary (2019){{cite tweet|user=kanyewest|number=1202747255452602368|title=Twitter post}} {{dead link|date=May 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Sunday Service}}
{{Kanye West}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical groups established in 2019
Category:African-American musical groups
Category:2019 establishments in the United States
Category:American gospel musical groups