Kanye West raised a bit of controversy Tuesday when it was reported that his new album was to be titled I Am God. But now it appears the initial rumor was incorrect, the result of a parenthetical in a BBC article about West and Kim Kardashian possibly naming their unborn child “North West.”
The parenthetical in question read, “[N]either the rapper nor his possibly even more famous partner, Kim Kardashian, are best known for their self-deprecating sallies, although the title Kanye is supposed to be contemplating for his new album, I Am God , is said to be ‘half tongue-in-cheek.’”
There was no attribution for this claim, but that didn’t stop the rumor that West was naming his upcoming album I Am God from spreading like wildfire, only to be doused by those who actually know the rapper and father-to-be.
A source in West’s camp told The Huffington Post that the title was misinterpreted and is for an upcoming single that is actually named “I Am A God.”
“We would never be so presumptuous or sacrilegious to call ourselves the supreme being,” the source said. The title is also taken from Psalm 82, which reads, “I said, ‘You are gods,’ and all of you are children of the Most High.”
This reference was confirmed by West’s songwriter Malik Yusef, who wrote on Twitter in response to a fan:
@teamkanyechi its “I am(A) GOD” FAMO #psalms 82
— Malik Yusef (@malikyusef) March 26, 2013
That West’s upcoming single has a religious theme shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the rapper. West released the song “ Jesus Walks ” as the first single from his debut album College Dropout . The single album cover featured a photo of the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Then there is the matter of his Rolling Stone cover that features the 35-year-old wearing a crown of thrones.
Are you relieved that Kanye West isn’t naming his album I Am God ?
[Photo credit: NPK P3 / Flickr.com ]