Update: Lecrae drops a new single exclusively on Spotify about this very topic that we covered below. The new track is called “Can’t Stop Me Now (Destination)” and it’s the first single that he’s dropped with Columbia Records. Listen here.
This morning, Lecrae published a very personal and honest article on the Huffington Post talking about how racism, police brutality, a cousin who died, and the betrayal of a friend have led him to believe “the pains of humanity have been draining me.” For those who follow Lecrae on social media, for the last year or so, he has been vocal about his disappointment about the racism that has surfaced in the country, especially surrounding the police shooting deaths of Mike Brown, Eric Garner, and more. It was clear that he was struggling with things, and even songs off of his recent release have taken a more social tone. Given this recent article in the Huffington Post, it’s clear that he will be headed even more in this direction. He says, “I hit a serious low on tour at one point; I was done with American Christian culture.” Admittedly, many in the Christian hip hop community have been critical of him for years now for seeking approval from secular artists and outlets. Many have dished out criticism because of his success. We, here at Jam the Hype, have been supporters of Lecrae from the beginning of his career and through many abandoning him. Our radio show has even been dropped by Christian radio stations because we stood behind him, which we think is crazy. We have interviewed Lecrae on several occasions and every time we ask him, his mission has been clear: to share the Gospel with as many as who will listen. Watch this…
But in this morning’s article, and given the treatment he’s received from many in his own music community, and then recent life events, he may be turning a corner to become an activist and convey a broader message of racial equality and extending justice to all. It doesn’t mean that he is losing his Christian values or worldview, but he may become a leading voice about the issues that he covers in the Huffington article. This interview that we did shows the beginning of the process as Lecrae began to struggle how to process the racism…
Where do you think that Lecrae is headed both as a musician, and now, an activist? Do you see his message as positive? What would do you if you were in his shoes?
About Lecrae:
Lecrae is a two-time GRAMMY Award winning hip-hop artist whose 2014 album, Anomaly, debuted at 1 on the Billboard Top 200, Rap, Digital, Christian, Gospel, and Independent charts. His seven studio albums and mixtapes have sold more than 1.9 million copies and he has co-headlined some of the best-selling tours in the U.S., according to Pollstar. Lecrae has been nominated for five GRAMMY Awards, including Best Rap Performance 2014, a win for Best Gospel Album in 2013 and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song in 2015, as well as won seven Dove Awards, a Billboard Music Award, two Soul Train Music Awards and garnered BET Hip Hop Awards and BET Awards nominations. Lecrae’s call for redemption through positive change has placed him at the forefront of causes close to his heart. Referring to himself as a ‘social anthropologist,’ Lecrae seeks the most authentic connection possible with fans around the world who embrace his music. Lecrae resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife and three children.
