This week, news broke that Rapper and Entrepreneur Kanye West would be headlining a massive prayer rally in Arizona named ‘AWAKEN2020’, organized by a group of anti-gay/LGBTQ pastors.
Some Americans, including Kanye’s fans, criticized the rapper, with some declaring his career dead and others stating that he had been ‘canceled’, indicating they would boycott his music and shows (Read HERE)
On Sunday, Kanye, now a born-again Christian who released two gospel albums last year – Jesus is King and Jesus is Born, performed on stage with his Sunday service choir.
At the 10-hour long prayer rally in Arizona, West opened up about the specific moment he decided to quit alcohol during his performance with his choir.
“There was some vodka in the refrigerator at my office, and sometimes I would just go ahead and take a drink from it in the middle of the day. I was walking toward that kitchenette area, and I stopped myself and I said, ‘Devil you’re not gonna finna beat me today,’ and it’s something that we take on, day by day. Every day that I don’t pick up that drink, I beat the devil.”
The rapper performed his hit song “Jesus Walks” before speaking directly to the audience, calling himself a “Trojan horse for God” and discussing how his spiritual journey has improved his mental health.
“I’ve been to the mental hospital and back, working for the devil,” he said.
“But Jesus saves. No matter how long you’ve been away, no matter how long you’ve been in the dark, the light is right there, ready to save. To give you the confidence.”
Kanye also referenced the infamous 2009 Video Music Awards when he held a Hennessy bottle on the red carpet and later crashed the stage as Taylor Swift was accepting an award.
“I was drinking on the red carpet, and then running on stage a few minutes later,” he said about the evening in question. “And everyone around said, ‘Nah, he ain’t really no alcoholic.'”
Watch the video below.