Follow God

"Follow God" is a deeply personal and multi-layered song that explores Kanye West's complex journey with his Christian faith. The central theme revolves around the difficulty of living a devout, 'Christ-like' life in the face of fame, public scrutiny, and personal relationships. The lyrics detail an internal and external struggle, referencing both God the Father and his biological father, Ray West. An argument with his father, where he is told his behavior isn't "Christ-like," serves as a pivotal moment in the song, highlighting the tension between his spiritual aspirations and his human imperfections. West touches on the pressures of social media, his public image, and the feeling of being misunderstood. Ultimately, the song is an honest expression of his spiritual wrestling, acknowledging his flaws while simultaneously stretching his hands out to God for guidance.

The song captures a moment of intense spiritual and personal conflict for Kanye West. He begins with a declaration of reaching out to a higher power, immediately followed by a reflection on the surreal and often scrutinized nature of his life, which feels like a movie yet is painfully real. He grapples with the constant pressure and criticism, feeling like people are always trying to provoke a reaction from him. This is juxtaposed with his internal struggle to live a righteous, 'Christ-like' life.

A central theme is a heated argument with his father, Ray West. His father admonishes him for his angry outbursts, telling him they are not 'Christ-like'. This criticism strikes a nerve, and Kanye's frustration is palpable. He feels misunderstood, pointing out that no one seems to acknowledge when he is trying to live righteously, only when he falters. People seem to only turn to him when they need something, a feeling he compares to people wanting free access to everything.

This leads to a broader reflection on his search for a new way to handle the pressures of his life and his faith. He is actively trying to break old habits and not react in a foolish or predictable manner. He is wrestling with God, not wanting to rest or find easy answers. The song culminates in a raw expression of this internal and external conflict, with Kanye screaming out in frustration during another argument with his father about what it means to be 'Christ-like'. The cycle of conflict, self-reflection, and spiritual seeking is left unresolved, highlighting the ongoing nature of his struggle.

"Follow God" is a track from Kanye West's ninth studio album, Jesus Is King, released in 2019. The song was produced by West himself, alongside BoogzDaBeast and Xcelence. The song's title was first revealed by West's then-wife, Kim Kardashian, in a tracklist she shared on Twitter on September 27, 2019. It was one of the tracks that caused a delay in the album's release due to last-minute mixing modifications. The song heavily samples the 1969 gospel track "Can You Lose by Following God" by Whole Truth. The writers of the original sample, Calvin and Curtis Eubanks, are credited as songwriters on "Follow God". The song was previewed at a listening party for the album at The Forum in Los Angeles on October 23, 2019, before being officially released as a single to UK mainstream radio on November 8, 2019. A music video, featuring Kanye and his father, Ray West, was filmed in Wyoming and released on November 7, 2019. At the end of the video, West shares that it took him 42 years to realize his father was his best friend, a realization that came after his father's visit to his Wyoming ranch.

"Follow God" features a driving, up-tempo beat with a prominent, looping drum pattern. The rhythm is largely dictated by the chopped sample of "Can You Lose by Following God," which creates a soulful and energetic backdrop for Kanye's vocals. West's rapping is characterized by a fast-paced, almost breathless delivery that mirrors the lyrical content's sense of urgency and internal conflict. The rhyme scheme is not strictly formal but relies on couplets and internal rhymes to create a cohesive flow. For example, in the lines, "Lifelike, this is what your life like, try to live your life right / People really know you, push your buttons like typewrite," the repetition of the 'ike' sound creates a strong rhyming connection. The song maintains a consistent, driving rhythm throughout its short runtime, which contributes to its feeling of a continuous, impassioned thought. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the sampled beat creates a dense and layered sonic experience.

Musically, "Follow God" is characterized by its prominent use of a chopped-up soul sample from Whole Truth's "Can You Lose by Following God". This technique of flipping gospel and soul samples is a hallmark of Kanye West's earlier production style, and its use here was noted by many critics as a return to form. The beat is described as bouncing and thundering, creating a sense of urgency and drive. Lyrically, West employs a fast-paced, stream-of-consciousness flow. He uses repetition effectively, particularly with the phrase "it ain't Christ-like," which becomes a central, recurring motif. There are also instances of internal rhyme and assonance that contribute to the song's rhythmic quality. The track's structure is somewhat unconventional, feeling more like a continuous verse that builds to a climactic, raw scream, which emphasizes the emotional intensity of the song.

Upon its release, "Follow God" was widely regarded by critics and fans as one of the standout tracks on the album Jesus Is King. Many praised it for its production, which was seen as a return to Kanye West's classic sample-based sound. The song was a commercial success, debuting at number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and reaching the top 10 in nine other countries. It won several awards, including Top Gospel Song at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards and Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year at the 51st GMA Dove Awards. The song and its accompanying music video, which featured a rare appearance by West's father, sparked conversations about faith, family, and what it means to be a Christian artist in the hip-hop world. Its popularity on streaming services and social media platforms like Twitter solidified its status as a fan favorite from the album. Jay-Z also included the track on a playlist of his favorite songs of 2019.

The central metaphor in "Follow God" is the dual reference to 'father'—meaning both God and his biological father, Ray West. This conflation symbolizes the interconnectedness of spiritual guidance and earthly, paternal relationships in Kanye's life. The opening line, "Father, I stretch my hands to you," which is also a sample from the original song, is a direct and powerful symbol of prayer, surrender, and seeking divine help. The music video adds another layer of symbolism, with Ray West advising to walk in the footprints he has already made in the snow, a metaphor for following the path of a trusted guide, which can be interpreted as following God's will. Kanye also uses the metaphor of his life being "like a movie," which underscores the surreal and performative aspects of his existence under the constant watch of the public. His reference to screaming at a referee "just like Mike" (Michael Jordan) serves as a metaphor for his own passionate, and sometimes contentious, nature in the face of perceived injustice.

The most significant recurring phrase in "Follow God" is the line "it ain't Christ-like." This phrase, spoken by his father, acts as the song's central thematic anchor, highlighting the conflict between Kanye's actions and his spiritual ideals. The opening line and sampled lyric, "Father, I stretch my hands to you," is another key recurring motif that frames the entire song as an act of prayer and a plea for divine guidance. The question "what your life like" also appears, which has been compared to a phrase used by battle rapper Shotgun Suge. This phrase serves to question the nature of his own reality and the way he is living. The repetition of these phrases and motifs reinforces the song's core themes of spiritual struggle, self-examination, and the search for righteousness.