Kanye West, also known as Ye, is considered one of the most influential rappers of his generation. Raised in Chicago, Kanye West began producing music in the early 2000s and released his debut album in 2004. Since then, West has experimented with a variety of different music styles. His music has been heavily influenced by soul, pop, electronica, hip hop and gospel. Kanye's wide range of musical influences helped him win 21 Grammy Awards and become one of the best-selling musical artists of all time. Kanye West is well known for his gospel-affiliated rap songs, in which he is eminently candid about his relationship with God. He makes strong allusions to God, spirituality and redemption in many of his most popular songs. On February 14, 2016, Kanye West released an album called The Life of Pablo, which quickly reached the top of the charts. “Ultralight Beam” quickly became a fan favorite due to both its gospel influences and biblical references. The song features a number of different artists, including Kirk Franklin, The-Dream, Kelly Price and Chance the Rapper. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay West's Biblical Allusions in His 'Ultralight Beam' 'Ultralight Beam' draws on additional information to illustrate Kanye West's faith and relationship with God. In “Ultralight Beam,” Kanye West draws parallels between his life and that of the Apostle Saint Paul. In the Bible, the apostle Saint Paul, originally known as Saul, traveled to Damascus to persecute believers in Christ. Along the way, he was struck by an ultralight beam sent from the sky and was blinded for three days. After regaining his sight, Saul changed his name to Paul and decided to devote the rest of his life to serving the Lord. As a result, he became a huge influence on early religious ideology and is now credited with writing 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. Kanye wants to live a life similar to that of Saint Paul in the sense that he wants to have a big influence in Christianity. Kanye wants to enlighten people the same way God enlightened Saul. “Ultralight Beam” is Kanye’s way of explaining his struggles in his faith and his relationship with God. Kanye sings in the chorus: “We're on an ultralight beam, it's God's dream” (West). He hopes that through this song, people can relate to his experiences and grow in their faith. The story of Saint Paul the Apostle is ultimately what the song takes its name from and is what Kanye frequently alludes to throughout the song. In addition to the Apostle Saint Paul, "Ultralight Beam" continues to rely on additional information as it references several other biblical stories. Chance the Rapper, an element of the song, uses verses from the Bible and implements them into his rap in a unique way. For example, Chance the Rapper refers to Saint Michael the Archangel when he says "foot on the devil's neck until he drifts to Pangea" (West). In the Bible, Saint Michael the Archangel was the leader of the Army of God who defeated Satan and therefore banished him from heaven. He is often depicted standing over Satan in a moment of triumph and victory. Thinking about Chance the Rapper's verse, he imagines himself with his foot on the devil's neck, just like Saint Michael. He says it exerts so much pressure that it causes continental drift. This reference sheds light on Kanye and his relationship with God. Kanye wants to be a leader of God and help drive away.