- Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West have been organizing a "Sunday Service" every week since the beginning of January.
- During the services, West performs with a choir, often singing and rapping gospel versions of his own songs.
- The services may be part of a promotional strategy for West's upcoming album, "Yandhi."
- The weekly tradition also appears to be connected to West's partnership with Adidas.
- Aside from members of the Kardashian-Jenner family, guests have also included Kid Cudi, David Letterman, and various West collaborators.
If you follow Kim Kardashian West, Kanye West, or any other member of the extended Kardashian-Jenner clan, chances are good that you've seen clips of the family's current Sunday morning routine.
Kardashian West has been habitually documenting their new tradition, which they call "Sunday Service." During the services, West will often sing and rap gospel versions of his own songs, accompanied by a large choir.
Here's everything we know about the mysterious and exclusive ritual.
"Sunday Service" was launched on the first Sunday of this year.
Kardashian West began posting videos of "Sunday Service" on January 6, 2019.
It appears that Kardashian West and West have continued to host the service every week since then, and they don't show any signs of stopping.
Just hearing music as our Sunday Service was super inspiring. See you next Sunday ✨
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) January 6, 2019
West performs at the services, backed by a gospel choir.
Judging by the various videos posted by Kardashian West and other attendees, West tends to prefer performing his own songs. These are typically his more religious tracks, including "Jesus Walks,""Ultralight Beam," and "Reborn"— although he has also performed some that are less pious, like "Violent Crimes,""I Wonder" and "Bound 2."
Next time I'm in the club, everybody screamin' out... 🔥
— Def Jam Recordings (@defjam) March 10, 2019
🎥: @DjPharrispic.twitter.com/tdQHNciUWd
In addition to singing and rapping, he has also been recorded giving mini rants with a musical backdrop, as one might expect.
“They say you’re acting crazy. Oh, that’s not an act. I act normal, I ACT normal. We all unpaid actors anyway. You know, when you’re two years old screaming the whole restaurant say, ‘teach him how to act.’” - KW #SundayServicepic.twitter.com/a3ho4F23iU
— TeamKanyeDaily (@TeamKanyeDaily) January 14, 2019
West will occasionally yield the mic to collaborators like Charlie Wilson, Kid Cudi, and Francis and the Lights.
Other times, the choir performs arrangements with West acting more as a producer or conductor.
Beautiful Morning. Thank you @kanyewest. pic.twitter.com/5WbvylWQd0
— Tracy Nguyen Romulus (@tracyromulus) January 6, 2019
This the only time we allow dope on Sundays pic.twitter.com/tBmejGju06
— CYHI THE PRYNCE (@CyhiThePrynce) February 24, 2019
There's also evidence that West has been performing unreleased songs, speculated to appear on his upcoming album "Yandhi."
The most notable example is a song with the prominent lyric, "We have everything we need," which has been performed consistently at multiple different services. 5-year-old North West even appears to know the words.
My videos of Sunday Service due it no justice of the vibe we feel in that room, but this little video shows How much North loves our Sunday mornings ✨💖 pic.twitter.com/bhVN2x97JK
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) February 4, 2019
The purpose of the services is unclear.
Some members of the extended Kardashian-Jenner family are more vocal about religion than others. Kourtney Kardashian, for example, often posts Biblical passages on her Instagram story. Khloe Kardashian has repeatedly thanked God for her blessings on social media.
So while "Sunday Service" appears to be more of a weekly concert with a loose religious theme, it's certainly possible that Kardashian West and West simply wanted to put their own spin on a traditional Sunday worship.
Tony Williams — a jazz drummer, Grammy-winning vocalist, and West collaborator — tried to explain the purpose of "Sunday Service" in a clip posted online.
.@TWFTonyWilliams explaining the meaning behind the #SundayService gatherings. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/qRdKBTdYKv
— TeamKanyeDaily (@TeamKanyeDaily) January 14, 2019
"The goal is to be able to communicate the message of love effectively," he said. "Carry the church to go with you out into the world... We just want to be mindful of spreading the message, administering the message of love effectively, and so that is what we hope you take from this."
The concert series could be part of a promotional strategy for West's upcoming album.
When announcing her family's new weekly tradition, Kardashian West referred to it as "rehearsals."
Our new Sunday Service is starting. Check out the rehearsals on my Instagram stories ✨
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) January 6, 2019
Many fans have theorized that "Sunday Service" mirrors a new concert format that West will use to promote his forthcoming ninth studio album, "Yandhi."
Hoping @kanyewest’s Sunday Service is lowkey a marketing ploy for his future concerts ‘cause I’m gonna be spending top money to see that live 😫🙏🏻👏🏻
— Bea delos Reyes (@beyyydelrey) March 3, 2019
It's also worth noting that West appears to have already produced merchandise themed around the weekly services, which points towards some kind of marketing strategy.
T-SHIRTS via 📸 @TWFTonyWilliamspic.twitter.com/FTi6tece0I
— TeamKanyeDaily (@TeamKanyeDaily) March 3, 2019
"Sunday Service" also appears to be connected to West's partnership with Adidas.
While a few services have taken place outdoors, most appear to be stationed at the Adidas North America headquarters in Portland, Oregon.
The multi-color setup was designed by TrasK House, a lighting design company launched by John McGuire in 2016. McGuire was responsible for the floating stage during West's "Saint Pablo Tour" and the floating box for the Kids See Ghosts's performance at the 2018 Camp Flog Gnaw festival.
Kardashian West has been known to add the hashtags #Portland and #Adidas to her posts about "Sunday Service" (which doesn't always take place on a Sunday, by the way).
Uncle Charlie!!!! @CharlieWilson#SundayServiceOnATuesday#Portland#Adidashttps://t.co/g2kJw6Ua18
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) March 5, 2019
Notably, an Adidas executive named Jon Wexler is also a regular attendee.
Back To Life #SundayService /// pic.twitter.com/nTXnUHT1Jt
— jon wexler (@wex1200) March 6, 2019
The Wests are typically all in attendance, including the couple's children.
Kardashian West has posted multiple videos of the couple's eldest daughter dancing and enjoying herself during the services.
Part 3 Jesus Walks 😂 North’s dancing pic.twitter.com/dUjJhvI6LH
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) February 10, 2019
It's unclear whether the Wests also include their two younger children, 3-year-old son Saint and 1-year-old daughter Chicago.
Most of the Kardashian-Jenner family members are regular attendees.
Kourtney Kardashian appears to be the mostconsistent attendee.
"Our #sundayservice puts everything into perspective and fills my heart back up," she once wrote on her Instagram story.
Kylie Jenner has been known to stop by with friends in tow, while Khloe Kardashian and Kendall Jenner have both posted videos of the service on their Instagram stories at least once each.
There have been other celebrity guests.
David Letterman has been spotted attending a service, in addition to Kardashian family friends like Jen Atkin. Frequent West collaborators, including artists Vanessa Beecroft and Nick Knight, have also secured invitations.