"Jesus Lord" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his tenth studio album, Donda (2021). The song features vocals from Jay Electronica and Larry Hoover, Jr. West believed in Hoover, Jr.'s father Larry Hoover to make a change and GLC helped him become involved with his son, who then wrote material for West. A second version was released under the title of "Jesus Lord pt 2" as part of the album, featuring vocals from the Lox. The group recorded their verses at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta during August 2021.
Background
West first previewed the song's appearance from Gangster Disciples co-founder Larry Hoover's son Larry Hoover, Jr. during the second listening event for Donda at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 5, 2021.[1][2] Speaking to the Drea O Show in October 2021, Hoover, Jr. revealed that the collaboration was initiated by their mutual friend GLC as a fellow Chicago rapper encouraging West to help his father out and he had already believed the co-founder could make a change. Hoover, Jr. went to see West during a show and the rapper asked him, "Why don't you put something on the album?"[1][3] GLC mentioned the idea again during the album's recording sessions of an appearance from Hoover, Jr., who began songwriting in the studio and then sent a recording to West. The recording was done by Mike Dean after he had recorded for Hoover, Jr.'s father around 20 years ago; he was unsure if it was going to be used initially.[1][3] The song features a verse from rapper Jay Electronica that offers his cryptic worldview of Aztecs, Ottoman Turks, the Nation of Islam, Wakanda, Thelonious Monk, and modern imperialism.[4] "Jesus Lord" was released as the seventeenth track of West's tenth studio album Donda on August 29, 2021.[5]
A second version of the song, titled "Jesus Lord pt 2", was included as the 27th and final track of Donda on August 29, 2021.[5] In an interview with HipHopDX in September 2021, Jadakiss of rap group the Lox explained that West recruited them to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in August when someone from his team reached out to the group member's oldest son. West called the Lox following their appearance on Verzuz and the group flew to Atlanta, recording at the stadium's studio and returning home the next day after attending West's listening event.[6]
