Kanye West performed a surprise concert of Jesus Is King tracks at a prison in Texas over the weekend.
West performed to 200 male prisoners and staff at Harris County Jail in Houston before accessing a separate jail and performing for a smaller crowd of women inmates.
“This is a mission, not a show,” West reportedly told the audience.
Jason Spencer, a public affairs director for the Harris County Sherrif’s Office, commented: “Say what you want about the man. But Kanye West and his choir brought some light to people who needed it today at the Harris County Jail.”
Say what you want about the man. But @kanyewest and his choir brought some light to people who needed it today at the Harris County Jail. pic.twitter.com/ornRlEldNP
— Jason Spencer (@JSpencer_PR) November 15, 2019
The surprise events occurred two days before West’s service at Pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, during which West explained to TMZ he would be turning his attention to prison reform.
“One in three African-Americans are in prison. Figuring out ways to free people, free the minorities,” West said of his future plans. “Free the people with mental health. To go and open up and have conversations.”
“There’s people that are locked up for a year, sometimes five years, because they can’t afford $1000 bail. So, these are some immediate things that are on our minds today.”
Watch a clip of Yeezy performing at the Houston County Jail below.
