Jamaican gospel singer Kevin Downswell states that he takes no issue with hip-hop superstars Kanye West and Nicki Minaj reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Gospel chart, emphasizing that it doesn’t matter who preaches the gospel, as long as the message is heard.
“Well, the Bible says whether the Gospel is preached by one with righteous intent or one who doesn’t, it is still preached,” Downswell said, adding, “we cannot contain God’s mind; His ways are not our ways, and He can use anybody He chooses.”
Rapper Nicki Minaj achieves her second No. 1 gospel song, collaborating with gospel star Tasha Cobbs Leonard on “Blessings,” from her Billboard 200 chart-topping album “Pink Friday 2.” The song debuted at the summit of Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart (dated Dec. 23), marking Leonard’s fifth chart-topper. It also debuted at No. 22 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100.
The duo had previously collaborated on “I’m Getting Ready,” which claimed the top spot on Hot Gospel Songs during its debut week in September 2017. Despite overall positive chart success, Cobbs faced some pushback from sections of the gospel community.
Tasha Cobbs Leonard, in an interview with Essence, defends her collaboration, stating her aim is to reach new audiences and introduce them to God. Downswell agrees with Cobbs’ statement, emphasizing, “I remember when in the Bible, the Lord used many different things men would consider ‘unworthy’ to accomplish his ultimate purpose, and I don’t have a right to judge or dictate who the almighty God chooses to use to accomplish His mission.”
Kanye West, set to release an explicit hip-hop album titled “Vultures” on December 31 with Ty Dolla $ign, secures Billboard’s Top Gospel Artist of 2023 for a third consecutive year, becoming the first act to achieve this feat since gospel singer Tamela Mann in 2017. West also won the 2023 Billboard Music Award for Top Gospel Artist.
West’s “Donda” album debuted at the top of the Top Gospel Albums and Top Christian Albums, earning 309,000 equivalent album units in the U.S., according to Luminate. “Donda” holds the record as the longest-running No. 1 on Top Gospel Albums (over 100 weeks) while his other album “Jesus Is King” has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify.
Regarding the absence of Jamaican gospel acts on the Billboard charts, Downswell suggests a lack of knowledge on how to transcend or push past the glass ceiling. He encourages a mindset shift, urging Jamaican gospel artists to seek, ask, find, and act to tap into a larger sphere.
“We cannot be on one side burning with disgust about one man who is singing Gospel music and what’s his intentions, when those who have been saved by it are on the other filled with gratitude that someone came through their “Samaria”, and said to them, come see a man…” Kevin said.
While Nicki and Kanye are dominating the Gospel charts due to the celebrity pull, CeCe Winans leads female artists in 2023, ranking as the year-end Top Gospel Artist – Female and securing the No. 3 spot on the overall Top Gospel Artists recap. The Hampton Roads, Va.-based choir Voices of Fire, led by Bishop Ezekiel Williams, Pharrell Williams’ uncle, is Billboard’s Top New Gospel artist of the year.
Billboard’s year-end music charts represent aggregated metrics from November 19, 2022, through October 21, 2023.
Downswell concludes by emphasizing gratitude for the transformative power of gospel music, appreciating its impact on those who have been saved by it. “This is why I thank God for Grace,” he concluded.
The leading Jamaican gospel artist released a pair of albums earlier this year: his second live recording titled “Shift” and his fourth studio album, “Grace (Brought Me Here).” Lead by the titled track, latter made its debut at No. 86 on the Apple Music Jamaica daily chart on Saturday, July 8, 2023 and peaked at No. 17 in Grenada on Friday, July 7, 2023, just a week after its initial release on June 30.
Listen to Grace below
