Lecrae

I was never really a fan of rap music.  I listened to it for a short period during high school, but that was just because I thought it would make me cool (it didn’t).  Some of my complaints against mainstream hip-hop music were moral, and others were simply preference.

In college, I was part of an after school program at church.  We would open up the church game room to the neighborhood kids and feed them pizza or hot dogs.  We had a 1991 model CD player with speakers and we would play this one Christian rap CD that the pastor’s wife brought.  It was Real Talk by Lecrae.  Although I didn’t care for the style or the genre, the lyrics were phenomenal.  This dude loved the Lord, and he was going to let you know in every track.  It was the most Scripture-filled music I have ever heard.  I was an instant fan.

A couple years later I had the opportunity to see Lecrae perform live at LU.  The atmosphere was more like a revival or a worship service.  He preached the unabashed gospel in and between his songs.  It was a great event.

Recently I have rediscovered this artist.  I bought a couple more of his albums and have been listening to them nonstop for the last month.  His songs are so choked full of truth.  That is an uncommon quality in this age of shallow pop-rock worship songs.  He preaches God’s glory, frequently quoting scriptures of both wrath and grace.  He is theologically sound, emotionally deep, and well rounded.  One song had me tearing up and shouting hallelujah at the same time.

Therefore, I have decided to post some of my favorite lyrics. Enjoy.

Just Like You

I remember the first created being,

And how he shifted the blame on his dame

On fruit he should't have eaten

And now look at us all out of Eden,

And now look at us all that are eating,

Wearing designer fig leaves by Louis Vuitton

Make believe it

But God sees through my foolish pride,

And I'm weak life Adam another victim of Lucifer's foolish lies

But then in steps Jesus,

All men were created to lead but we need somebody to lead us

More than a teacher,

But somebody who buy us back from the darkness,

Say He redeemed us…

I wanna be like you in every way,

So if I gotta die everyday

Unworthy sacrifice

But the least I can do is give the most to me

Because being just like you is what I'm 'spose to be

You said you came for the lame,

I'm the lamest

I made a mess you say you'll erase it,

I'll take it

You said you came for the lame,

I'm the lamest

I broke my life, but you say you'll replace it,

I'll take it.

Jesus Music

You like music from rap to gospel

But ya prolly neva heard nobody rap the gospel

Different sound but the truth's the same

With no choirs no bands but the truth remains

And all they talk about is sinful stuff,
Got everybody actin bad thinkin that they a thug
And they tryna drown me out, but nah they ain't gon count me out
I got a backpack full of tracks plus I keep a Johnny Mac so we can pound it out

After the music stops

Back in the day I was a lunch line rapper, after that I guess I was a punch line rapper, then I got saved and sometime after, ya boy came back as a frontline rapper, and when I say the frontlines, that's not a frontline, I’m out here preachin’ Christ on the frontlines, and no it ain't about rockin' stages ‘coz some of my engagements are out on the pavements yeah.
I'm out to take the bible, create disciples, who make disciples, disciple-cycles,

Prayin for you

'm determined to pray for him Father empty and brake him I pray you'll just have your way with him, coz there's a change in him and the effects are strong, I pray you open up his heart before the next song and when he gets home, I pray he'll open up the sixty-six book love letter you wrote and soak it up