Lecrae Research Papers
The Life of the Most Famous Christian Icon of Modern Music If you mention Lecrae to almost every Christian teen they'll know exactly who you are talking about. Having 1,950,00+ likes on Facebook, his popularity is evident in both the Christian and non-Christian youth. Lecrae’s label, Reach Records, and his logo 116, are amongst the most known within the Christian industry. His music has revolutionized the Christian Hip Hop genre, and has exposed Christian ideals to the non-Christian community. Many of Lecrae’s music has attracted non-Christian listeners because his music not only speaks about God, but also about social issues such as teen pregnancy, rape, gangs, police brutality, and racism. Lecrae has opened new doors for Christian Hip Hop/Rap, and his logo 116, is one to be remembered for
…show more content…
generations to come.
Lecrae was born in Houston, Texas on October 9, 1979.
His full name is Lecrae Devaughn Moore. As as child Lecrae’s father left his mother, and this left a huge scar on Lecrae’s youth. As he states in an interview with CBN “I wrestled with a sense of self-worth, because my dad decided drugs would be better than hanging out with his own son”.(Hull) Lecrae thought be found sense of self out “on the streets” and immersed himself in drugs. “By the age of 16 he was drinking , doing drugs, stealing, fighting, and he was also drug dealer. He was arrested while still in high school and it looked like he was going to end up as another statistic”.(Jones) When Lecrae was 19, a friend invited him to a special youth service. Lecrae reluctantly agreed, and when he heard the preaching he suddenly became motivated to change his life. He asked God to help him change his way of living, and a few weeks later, Lecrae was involved in a huge car accident that should have killed him, but he walked out without a scratch. To him this was the ultimate sign and he then became a Christian and dedicated his life to God. He soon started preaching the word of God by rapping at jails, and youth
services.
Before Lecrae entered Christian Hip Hop was Virtually non-existent. Sure groups like Grits and The Cross Movement existed, but none had gained fame. While “both The Cross Movement and Grits were nominated by The Recording Academy for Best Rock Gospel Album before the turn of the century”, they were pretty much unknown to the non-Christian world. (Daniels) These groups were only known to the Christian community, however they do hold the key to the present time Christian Hip Hop/Rap. These 2 groups motivated and inspired artists such as Tedashii, Trip Lee, KB, and most of all Lecrae. In an interview Lecrae stated “When I was younger I was heavily influenced by rappers like: Tupac, Nas, Dj Quik, and Scarface. I pretty much listened to anything Hip Hop related. When I became Christian I found out about Cross Movement who really influenced me as a Christian and a rap artist”, proving his admiration of the group, and sharing the impact this group had on him.(Jones)
Lecrae started rapping at a young age. In his interview with Essence he states “I started rapping at like 8 or 9 year old”, so when he released his first album Real Talk, he many years of experience already.(Jones) This might be the answer to why his first album was such a success. The Christian community loved it and wanted more, however Christians weren't the only ones listening to Lecrae. A few of non-Christian listeners became curious at the new buzzing sensation and began to tune in. A little later Lecrae released his second album After the Music Stops and once again it was a hit. The next album Rebel followed the same pattern, but it was his next album, Rehab that really broke ground. The album had extreme popularity and won Lecrae 2 awards, one being a grammy. By now the non-Christian community was aware of the uprising star, and when his first mixtape Church Clothes was released there were just as many non-Christian as there were Christian listeners. Now in present day Lecrae has his own record label and is claimed, by many, to be the face of modern Christian Hip Hop. As a matter a fact even Essence called him so when they asked “You are the face of Christian Hip Hop right now. Do you feel any pressure being as success as you have become?”, during their interview with him.(Jones)
Lecrae and his music left a big impact on Christian Hip Hop. Rapzilla, a well known Christian Hip Hop/Rap website, made a list of Reach records most influential songs and 4 of those songs are Lecrae’s. The songs that made the list are: Don't waste your life, Just like you, Go Hard, and Jesus Muzik. Rapzilla even states “Most recognizable song in Christian Hip Hop”, and “The song that started it all”, when talking about Lecrae’s song Jesus Muzik.(Burns) Lecrae also impacted other Christian artists as well and the most noticeable is Trip Lee. In an interview, Trip Lee was asked when he meet Lecrae and how he impacted his life, to which he responded ‘I met him when I was about 15 or 16 at a concert… I found a way to stay in contact with them and build a relationship with him. He mentored me and discipled me. it was very helpful.After a while we started to collaborate on some music. I was still in high school when I had the chance to record a song for a compilation and then I started working on my first song for Reach Records”.(Bonham) Trip Lee wasn't the only one inspired by Lecrae. Lecrae’s motto 116, which stands for Roman 1:16, has been the inspiration for many songs such as Andy Mineo’s Uno Uno Sies, Trip Lee’s One Sixteen, and Derek Minor’s 116. Lecrae’s motto has also started a movement called the Unashamed Movement, in which not only artists participate in as well.
Lecrae’s music has given many, a different outlook on the Hip hop category as a whole. Many of the older generations blame Hip Hop for this generation’s demise of traditional values, but “Christian rappers like Lecrae Moore are showing a different side of Hip Hop, and causing a lot of folks to reassess their feelings about this medium”.(Hobbs) Lecrae has also given people a different perspective on Christian Hip Hop as well. In an interview with Chad Bonham Lecrae states “Christianity is not a genre. Its faith”, giving non-Christians a thought that never really crossed people's minds. Lecrae is showing everyone that Christian music is not something that can be out in a certain category, or as he calls it “in a box”, but rather it’s something that flows freely, because of the faith of the believers.
Lecrae and his music are what really attracted me to Christian music. When I was younger I wasn't really interested in Christian music, or any music for that matter, outside of band. One day my mom said she had found a Christian radio and turned on the car radio. One of the first songs we heard was Lecrae’s song Boasting. I loved it and wanted more of his music, so when I got a phone years later, the first thing I searched for was more of his music and sure enough I found it. From then on I became a big fan of Christian Hip Hop and I've even made some songs of my own, hoping that someday in the future I could also be a famous Christian artists. Listening to his music also made me realize that I wanted a career in music, and it helped me develop my taste in music. If it wasn't for Lecrae I wouldn't know about Derek Minor, Trip Lee, Tedashii. Andy Mineo, Thousand Foot Krutch, Skillet, NF, KB, Json, Flame, and Canon.
Lecrae’s career has been one of great success. So far he has released 9 albums and 3 mixtapes. He has also appeared in many t.v shows, interviews, and he has collaborated on countless albums with other artists. He has also appeared in the movies Believe Me and A Cross to Bear, and in the short film Chic. Lecrae has also won the Grammy award for Best Gospel Album 2013, the BET award for Best Gospel Artist 2015, the Grammy award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song 2015, the Billboard music award Top Christian Album 2015, the Grammy award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance 2015,and the Soul Train music award Best Gospel/Inspirational performance 2014 and 2015.
More important than all of Lecrae’s awards, has been the legacy he left in Christian Hip Hop, and the Christian world in general. Lecrae’s music exposed Christian beliefs to the public in a style of music that attracts younger generations. Lecrae also introduces his audience to other Christian artist, and due to this, Lecrae has helped the Christian music industry grow in supporters and fans. Lecrae has also declared that Christian Hip Hop/Rap is not only for Christians, but also for the public audience. Lecrae has stressed that Christian music should also cater to the wants and needs of the non-Christian community, not just of the Christian youth.
generations to come.
Lecrae was born in Houston, Texas on October 9, 1979.
His full name is Lecrae Devaughn Moore. As as child Lecrae’s father left his mother, and this left a huge scar on Lecrae’s youth. As he states in an interview with CBN “I wrestled with a sense of self-worth, because my dad decided drugs would be better than hanging out with his own son”.(Hull) Lecrae thought be found sense of self out “on the streets” and immersed himself in drugs. “By the age of 16 he was drinking , doing drugs, stealing, fighting, and he was also drug dealer. He was arrested while still in high school and it looked like he was going to end up as another statistic”.(Jones) When Lecrae was 19, a friend invited him to a special youth service. Lecrae reluctantly agreed, and when he heard the preaching he suddenly became motivated to change his life. He asked God to help him change his way of living, and a few weeks later, Lecrae was involved in a huge car accident that should have killed him, but he walked out without a scratch. To him this was the ultimate sign and he then became a Christian and dedicated his life to God. He soon started preaching the word of God by rapping at jails, and youth
services.
Before Lecrae entered Christian Hip Hop was Virtually non-existent. Sure groups like Grits and The Cross Movement existed, but none had gained fame. While “both The Cross Movement and Grits were nominated by The Recording Academy for Best Rock Gospel Album before the turn of the century”, they were pretty much unknown to the non-Christian world. (Daniels) These groups were only known to the Christian community, however they do hold the key to the present time Christian Hip Hop/Rap. These 2 groups motivated and inspired artists such as Tedashii, Trip Lee, KB, and most of all Lecrae. In an interview Lecrae stated “When I was younger I was heavily influenced by rappers like: Tupac, Nas, Dj Quik, and Scarface. I pretty much listened to anything Hip Hop related. When I became Christian I found out about Cross Movement who really influenced me as a Christian and a rap artist”, proving his admiration of the group, and sharing the impact this group had on him.(Jones)
Lecrae started rapping at a young age. In his interview with Essence he states “I started rapping at like 8 or 9 year old”, so when he released his first album Real Talk, he many years of experience already.(Jones) This might be the answer to why his first album was such a success. The Christian community loved it and wanted more, however Christians weren't the only ones listening to Lecrae. A few of non-Christian listeners became curious at the new buzzing sensation and began to tune in. A little later Lecrae released his second album After the Music Stops and once again it was a hit. The next album Rebel followed the same pattern, but it was his next album, Rehab that really broke ground. The album had extreme popularity and won Lecrae 2 awards, one being a grammy. By now the non-Christian community was aware of the uprising star, and when his first mixtape Church Clothes was released there were just as many non-Christian as there were Christian listeners. Now in present day Lecrae has his own record label and is claimed, by many, to be the face of modern Christian Hip Hop. As a matter a fact even Essence called him so when they asked “You are the face of Christian Hip Hop right now. Do you feel any pressure being as success as you have become?”, during their interview with him.(Jones)
Lecrae and his music left a big impact on Christian Hip Hop. Rapzilla, a well known Christian Hip Hop/Rap website, made a list of Reach records most influential songs and 4 of those songs are Lecrae’s. The songs that made the list are: Don't waste your life, Just like you, Go Hard, and Jesus Muzik. Rapzilla even states “Most recognizable song in Christian Hip Hop”, and “The song that started it all”, when talking about Lecrae’s song Jesus Muzik.(Burns) Lecrae also impacted other Christian artists as well and the most noticeable is Trip Lee. In an interview, Trip Lee was asked when he meet Lecrae and how he impacted his life, to which he responded ‘I met him when I was about 15 or 16 at a concert… I found a way to stay in contact with them and build a relationship with him. He mentored me and discipled me. it was very helpful.After a while we started to collaborate on some music. I was still in high school when I had the chance to record a song for a compilation and then I started working on my first song for Reach Records”.(Bonham) Trip Lee wasn't the only one inspired by Lecrae. Lecrae’s motto 116, which stands for Roman 1:16, has been the inspiration for many songs such as Andy Mineo’s Uno Uno Sies, Trip Lee’s One Sixteen, and Derek Minor’s 116. Lecrae’s motto has also started a movement called the Unashamed Movement, in which not only artists participate in as well.
Lecrae’s music has given many, a different outlook on the Hip hop category as a whole. Many of the older generations blame Hip Hop for this generation’s demise of traditional values, but “Christian rappers like Lecrae Moore are showing a different side of Hip Hop, and causing a lot of folks to reassess their feelings about this medium”.(Hobbs) Lecrae has also given people a different perspective on Christian Hip Hop as well. In an interview with Chad Bonham Lecrae states “Christianity is not a genre. Its faith”, giving non-Christians a thought that never really crossed people's minds. Lecrae is showing everyone that Christian music is not something that can be out in a certain category, or as he calls it “in a box”, but rather it’s something that flows freely, because of the faith of the believers.
Lecrae and his music are what really attracted me to Christian music. When I was younger I wasn't really interested in Christian music, or any music for that matter, outside of band. One day my mom said she had found a Christian radio and turned on the car radio. One of the first songs we heard was Lecrae’s song Boasting. I loved it and wanted more of his music, so when I got a phone years later, the first thing I searched for was more of his music and sure enough I found it. From then on I became a big fan of Christian Hip Hop and I've even made some songs of my own, hoping that someday in the future I could also be a famous Christian artists. Listening to his music also made me realize that I wanted a career in music, and it helped me develop my taste in music. If it wasn't for Lecrae I wouldn't know about Derek Minor, Trip Lee, Tedashii. Andy Mineo, Thousand Foot Krutch, Skillet, NF, KB, Json, Flame, and Canon.
Lecrae’s career has been one of great success. So far he has released 9 albums and 3 mixtapes. He has also appeared in many t.v shows, interviews, and he has collaborated on countless albums with other artists. He has also appeared in the movies Believe Me and A Cross to Bear, and in the short film Chic. Lecrae has also won the Grammy award for Best Gospel Album 2013, the BET award for Best Gospel Artist 2015, the Grammy award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song 2015, the Billboard music award Top Christian Album 2015, the Grammy award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance 2015,and the Soul Train music award Best Gospel/Inspirational performance 2014 and 2015.
More important than all of Lecrae’s awards, has been the legacy he left in Christian Hip Hop, and the Christian world in general. Lecrae’s music exposed Christian beliefs to the public in a style of music that attracts younger generations. Lecrae also introduces his audience to other Christian artist, and due to this, Lecrae has helped the Christian music industry grow in supporters and fans. Lecrae has also declared that Christian Hip Hop/Rap is not only for Christians, but also for the public audience. Lecrae has stressed that Christian music should also cater to the wants and needs of the non-Christian community, not just of the Christian youth.