'Jesus Walks' is about as bold as a song there is.
While it became a smash hit for Kanye West, the first time record executives heard it they laughed and laughed.
In his new book Kanye West Owes Me $300, rapper Hot Karl explains what happened a couple years before College Dropout dropped, when 'Ye pitched 'Jesus Walks' at the now defunct Baseline Studios.
The room, which included DJ Clue, Fabolous and various producers and A&R men, weren't able to take West seriously.
"As the song played, Kanye acted out and mouthed his lyrics, something he always did while his own music played, and I assume still does," Karl writes. "He acted as if a music video was always being filmed around him, displaying yet another example of the unaware enthusiasm (and egotism) that would make him the butt of almost every joke at Baseline. "A few people even mocked him, mimicking his rap voice and making fun of his over-the-top zeal. One major producer in the room even asked his assistant to make sure Kanye never performed like that again.”Karl, who worked with West around the turn of the century, describes 'Ye has "nerdy" and "dorky" throughout his book's excerpts. But it's also clear he has a lot of respect for the talent which a lot folks missed at first.