Lecrae

Biography

Lecrae Devaughn Moore (born October 9, 1979) is an American Christian rapper, singer-songwriter, actor, and record producer. Beginning his career in 2004, he has released ten studio albums and four mixtapes as a solo artist, as well as recording with the hip-hop collective 116, which he co-founded.
Lecrae's first two studio albums, Real Talk×Real Talk20 May 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Souled Out4:442We Don't4:103Aliens3:584Crossover3:525Represent3:286Real Talk (interlude)0:417Take Me as I Am4:498Tha Church5:049Nothin'4:1710The Line4:0011Who U Wit3:5612Heaven or Hell3:4513Wait (intro)0:5014Wait3:3515Faithful4:30 (2004) and After the Music Stops×After the Music Stops8 August 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1After the Music Stops4:062Jesus Muzik4:463I Did It for You4:534The Truth4:195Run3:526Send Me4:567It's Your World4:108Grateful3:309King Intro0:5410The King3:3411Invisible4:1712Get Low2:5013Prayin for You3:2914Nobody4:3215Death Story3:4916Unashamed3:3417El Shaddai4:2618Jump3:21 (2006), were both self-released and met with critical praise. His third album, Rebel×Rebel30 September 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Rebel (intro)3:072Don't Waste Your Life4:063Go Hard4:584Identity3:455Indwelling Sin3:456Breathin' to Death4:087Truth4:508Desperate4:439Change4:0610Fall Back4:2711Live Free4:2612Got Paper4:2013I'm a Saint4:2214The Bride4:2115Beautiful Feet4:39 (2008), became the first Christian hip-hop album to peak atop the Billboard Top Gospel Albums, and his first to enter the Billboard 200. After the release of his fourth album, Rehab×Rehab28 September 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Check In2:402Killa3:293Divine Intervention3:524Just Like You5:165Gotta Know4:126Used to Do It Too3:567Children of the Light3:338High3:469New Shalom4:231040 Deep4:1811Walking on Water3:4112God Is Enough3:5613Boasting3:4614Background4:3915New Reality4:0816Release Date3:3417I Love You3:17 (2010), Lecrae began attracting mainstream attention following his performance at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher, and his guest appearance on Statik Selektah's single "Live and Let Live" that same year. His sixth album, Gravity×Gravity4 September 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1The Drop (intro)2:552Gravity3:423Walk With Me3:154Free From It All3:345Falling Down4:586Fakin’4:067Violence3:098Mayday4:539Confe$$ions3:1710Buttons3:4511Power Trip3:5712Lord Have Mercy3:2713I Know3:1714Tell the World3:3615Lucky Ones4:37 (2012), and has been called the most important album in Christian hip hop history by Rapzilla and Atlanta Daily World. Along with continued critical praise, it peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and won Best Gospel Album at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. His seventh album, Anomaly×Anomaly9 September 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks1Outsiders4:472Welcome to America4:223Say I Won’t3:364Nuthin’4:065Fear5:246Anomaly2:307Timepiece3:538Dirty Water3:139Wish3:4510Runners3:0411All I Need Is You3:4512Give In3:4713Good, Bad, Ugly3:2914Broken4:4415Messengers3:37 (2014), became his first to debut atop the Billboard 200, as well as the first album to peak both the Billboard 200 and Top Gospel Album charts simultaneously.
In May 2016, Lecrae signed with Columbia Records. He released his third mixtape, Church Clothes 3×Church Clothes 315 January 2016 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Freedom2:522Gangland3:483Deja Vu4:104Sidelines3:365Cruising3:216It Is What It Is4:067Can't Do You3:288Forever3:049Misconceptions 34:2910I Wouldn't Know3:40 (2016), his eighth album, All Things Work Together×All Things Work Together22 September 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Always Knew3:352Facts4:023Broke3:004Blessings3:515Whatchu Mean4:226Hammer Time3:347Come and Get Me4:138Lucked Up3:419Wish You the Best3:4410Can’t Stop Me Now (Destination)4:1111I’ll Find You3:38128:283:1013Cry for You4:2314Worth It4:55 (2017), and his collaborative album with American record producer Zaytoven, Let the Trap Say Amen×Let the Trap Say Amen22 June 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Get Back Right3:062Preach2:5632 Sides of the Game3:134Plugged In3:125Holy Water3:266Blue Strips3:497Only God Can Judge Me2:578Yet2:589I Can’t Lose3:0610Switch4:0211Can’t Block It2:5812Fly Away3:4913By Chance3:19 (2018). He left Columbia in early 2020, and released his tenth album, Restoration×Restoration21 August 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Restore Me1:162Set Me Free2:573Wheels Up4:034Over the Top3:125Self Discovery2:286Deep End2:407Drown3:208Saturday Night2:089Sunday Morning4:0210Zombie2:3211Keep Going2:2712Still2:5513Only Human3:4914Nothing Left to Hide3:37, in August of that year.
Lecrae received nominations for Artist of the Year at the 43rd, 44th, 45th, and 46th GMA Dove Awards, the last of which he won, and for Best Gospel Artist at the 2013 and 2015 BET Awards, the latter of which he became the first hip-hop artist to win. Lecrae's filmography includes a role in the television film A Cross to Bear (2012) and brief roles in the comedy film Believe Me (2014), crime film Superfly (2018), and Christian drama film Breakthrough (2019). Lecrae has presented on and written about racial tension and injustice in the United States as well as advocated for the preservation of responsibility and fatherhood values among men in the United States. In 2013, he partnered with Dwyane Wade and Joshua DuBois in the multimedia initiative This Is Fatherhood as part of the Obama administration's Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative, and in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic worked with Love Beyond Walls to distribute hand-washing stations and food to homeless people in Atlanta. Lecrae has co-founded three media entities: the record label Reach Records in 2004, the now-defunct non-profit organization ReachLife Ministries in 2007, and the film production studio 3 Strand Films in 2019.

Early life

Lecrae was raised by his single mother in a poor neighborhood in southern Houston. Shortly after his birth, he moved to Denver, away from his father, then to San Diego. At the age of 6, he was sexually abused by his babysitter. As a teenager, his role models were the rapper Tupac Shakur and his uncle, a member of a street gang.
At age 16, he began using drugs, trying almost every substance except crack and heroin. He started stealing in high school and dealing drugs, using his grandmother's Bible as a lucky charm. He was arrested for possession of drugs, but the policeman who arrested him discovered his Bible and made him promise that, if he let Lecrae go, he would live according to biblical principles from now on. Subsequently, he began rehab. He dropped drugs but replaced them with alcohol and partying.
Lecrae received a scholarship to study theater at the University of North Texas, and graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in 2002. He also briefly attended Middle Tennessee State University.
At age 19, he went to a Bible study after being invited by a girl from college. He was amazed to see people like himself there, who liked the same books and music, but who were loving. He decided to live for God, but continued to make bad choices. Following a friend's invitation, he attended a Christian conference in Atlanta and was impressed by the performance of a Christian rap group, The Cross Movement. He was also touched by a clear presentation of the gospel by Pastor James White (of Christ Our King Community Church). He then asked forgiveness for his sins and claimed to have experienced a new birth.
Subsequently, he was in a car accident but came out unscathed. In 2003, in a Bible study meeting at Denton Bible Church in Denton, Texas, he met Ben Washer, with whom he would volunteer and sing in a juvenile correctional facility. Young people's positive response to Christian rap encouraged them to start a label.

2004–2011: Career beginnings

In 2004, five years after his conversion, Lecrae teamed up with Ben Washer to found Reach Records, and at the age of 25 he released his first album, Real Talk×Real Talk20 May 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Souled Out4:442We Don't4:103Aliens3:584Crossover3:525Represent3:286Real Talk (interlude)0:417Take Me as I Am4:498Tha Church5:049Nothin'4:1710The Line4:0011Who U Wit3:5612Heaven or Hell3:4513Wait (intro)0:5014Wait3:3515Faithful4:30. The following year it was re-released by Cross Movement Records and reached number 29 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, staying on the chart for 12 weeks. The album later received a nomination at the 2007 Stellar Awards. In 2005, Lecrae co-founded the non-profit organization ReachLife Ministries (no longer operational since April 2015), which equipped local Christian leaders with tools, media, curriculum, and conferences that were based on the teachings of the Bible and relevant to hip-hop culture. Also in 2005, the debut album of 116 Clique, The Compilation Album, was released.
After the success of Real Talk, Lecrae then released his second studio album on August 15, 2006. After the Music Stops charted at number five on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, number seven on the Billboard Christian Albums chart and number 16 on the Billboard Heatseeker Album charts, and received a nomination for a Dove Award, as did the single "Jesus Muzik", featuring Trip Lee. In 2007, 116 Clique released its second album, 13 Letters, reaching number ten on the Gospel Albums chart and number 29 on the Christian Albums chart. 116 Clique also released the remix EP Amped, which peaked at number 24 on the Gospel Albums chart.
On October 8, 2008, Lecrae's third album, Rebel×Rebel30 September 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Rebel (intro)3:072Don't Waste Your Life4:063Go Hard4:584Identity3:455Indwelling Sin3:456Breathin' to Death4:087Truth4:508Desperate4:439Change4:0610Fall Back4:2711Live Free4:2612Got Paper4:2013I'm a Saint4:2214The Bride4:2115Beautiful Feet4:39, entered the Billboard charts at number 60 with 9,800 units sold and topped the Billboard Gospel Album charts for two weeks, the first hip-hop album to do so. It also charted at number two on the Christian Albums chart and number 15 on the Top Independent charts. In 2009, the album received a nomination at the 40th Dove Awards, as did the Flame song "Joyful Noise", which featured Lecrae and John Reilly. 2009 also saw Lecrae's first film role, when he appeared in the documentary Uprise Presents: Word from the Street by the UK-based TV channel OHTV. In 2009, he moved to Atlanta and he helped establish Blueprint Church (Southern Baptist Convention).
On February 5, 2010, Lecrae released a charity single entitled "Far Away×Far Away8 February 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Far Away3:50", a tribute to the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Lecrae promised that all proceeds from the single's sales would go directly to the Haiti relief effort. On July 7, Lecrae announced on the Reach Records website that the title of his new album would be Rehab×Rehab28 September 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Check In2:402Killa3:293Divine Intervention3:524Just Like You5:165Gotta Know4:126Used to Do It Too3:567Children of the Light3:338High3:469New Shalom4:231040 Deep4:1811Walking on Water3:4112God Is Enough3:5613Boasting3:4614Background4:3915New Reality4:0816Release Date3:3417I Love You3:17. On August 5, 2010, Rapzilla shared a new song from Lecrae called "Amp It Up". Lecrae subsequently clarified on his Twitter account that the song was not a single from Rehab, but rather a theme song for Kanakuk Kamps, a chain of Christian camps for which he writes songs annually. On August 31, 2010, Reach Records revealed the track list for Rehab, released it for pre-order, and premiered a promotional video "Idols". A second promotional video, entitled "I Am Dust", debuted on September 9, 2010. Rehab debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it one of the highest selling Christian hip hop albums at the time.
On September 22, 2010, Rapzilla reported that the Rehab packaging came with an advertisement encouraging buyers to purchase another upcoming album, Rehab: The Overdose×Rehab: The Overdose11 January 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Overdose2:562More4:343Battle Song3:424Anger Management4:555Blow Your High3:296Strung Out3:597Chase That (Intro)0:438Chase That (Ambition)3:459The Good Life4:3310Like That3:4611Going In4:38, which saw release on January 11, 2011. It included 11 new songs and featured several other Christian artists such as Thi'sl and Swoope. Rehab: The Overdose debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200. On August 29, 2011, Lecrae announced through Twitter that on September 27, 2011, he would release a special edition of Rehab, entitled Rehab: Deluxe Edition. On the same day, 116 Clique released their fourth album, entitled Man Up. On September 7, 2011, Rapzilla announced that Lecrae would be featured on the BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher on October 11, 2011. Lecrae gained popularity after his verse on the cypher trended nationwide on Twitter and was featured on AllHipHop. Lecrae then appeared as a feature on Statik Selektah's song "Live and Let Live" from his Population Control album.

2012–2016: Breakthrough

On February 16, 2012, Rapzilla announced that Lecrae was preparing to release his first mixtape, Church Clothes×Church Clothes10 May 2012 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Co-Sign3:102APB3:323Church Clothes2:244Cold World3:345Welcome to H-Town4:326Inspiration2:307Rise3:128Darkest Hour2:379Black Rose2:5610The Price of Life4:0011Special3:2912No Regrets3:3113Gimme a Second3:3414Long Time Coming3:1715Misconception4:3116Spazz3:2417Sacrifice3:5818Rejects3:32. On May 3, 2012, Lecrae premiered his music video for the title track of his Church Clothes mixtape online on XXL. The video was noted for including cameos by Kendrick Lamar and DJ Premier, and attracted almost 20,000 views in less than a day. Hosted by Don Cannon, the mixtape featured the song Darkest Hour, in which Lecrae collaborated with No Malice of Clipse. Church Clothes was downloaded more than 100,000 times in less than 48 hours on DatPiff.com, and in less than a month reached 250,000 downloads, a platinum rating on the website. On June 25, 2012, a remastered version of the mixtape, without DJ Don Cannon, was released as an EP for sale on iTunes. Due to issues with sampling, this version was much shorter with only seven songs. Upon its release, the EP debuted on the Billboard charts at number ten on both the Christian Albums and Gospel Albums charts for the week of July 14, 2012.
On April 27, Lecrae announced that his next album, Gravity×Gravity4 September 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1The Drop (intro)2:552Gravity3:423Walk With Me3:154Free From It All3:345Falling Down4:586Fakin’4:067Violence3:098Mayday4:539Confe$$ions3:1710Buttons3:4511Power Trip3:5712Lord Have Mercy3:2713I Know3:1714Tell the World3:3615Lucky Ones4:37, was to be released in late 2012, and recording sessions began in May. On June 21, 2012, Lecrae appeared live at the Apple Store in Chicago for Black Music Month. The release date for Gravity, September 4, 2012, as well as the album artwork was announced on July 19, 2012, via Rapzilla. On August 30, the rapper Saigon announced that Lecrae would be one of the featured artists on his upcoming album The Greatest Story Never Told Chapter 2: Bread and Circuses, due to release on November 6, 2012.
Gravity was released on September 4, 2012, to critical acclaim. Upon its release, Gravity debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, with 72,000 units sold. The album also debuted at number one on the Christian, Gospel, Independent, and Rap Album charts, number three on the Digital Albums chart, and 24 on the Canadian Albums Chart. After the iTunes deluxe version of the album reached number one on that vendor's charts, and the regular version at number two, Time wrote an article about Lecrae and his success with the album.
On November 7, 2013, Lecrae released his second mixtape, entitled Church Clothes Vol. 2, hosted once again by Don Cannon. The mixtape debuted at number 21 on the Billboard 200, number one on the Billboard Christian Albums and Gospel Albums charts, and number three on the Rap Albums chart. On Datpiff.com, the album was download over 146,000 times by November 26, 2013.
On June 3, 2014, Lecrae announced through social media that his seventh studio album would be titled Anomaly×Anomaly9 September 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks1Outsiders4:472Welcome to America4:223Say I Won’t3:364Nuthin’4:065Fear5:246Anomaly2:307Timepiece3:538Dirty Water3:139Wish3:4510Runners3:0411All I Need Is You3:4512Give In3:4713Good, Bad, Ugly3:2914Broken4:4415Messengers3:37. The album released on September 9, 2014. It is supported by the single "Nuthin". It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with over 88,000 copies sold through the first week. It is the first time an album tops both the Billboard 200 and the Gospel Albums chart. Lecrae also became the fifth artist following Chris Tomlin (2013), TobyMac (2012), LeAnn Rimes (1997) and Bob Carlisle (1997) to score a number one album on both Christian Albums and the Billboard 200. Anomaly also marks the sixth time that Lecrae topped the Gospel Albums chart and the fifth time he topped the Christian Albums chart. In its second week of sales, the album sold 31,000 copies, bringing the total to 120,000 copies sold. In its third week of sales, the album sold another 17,000 copies, bringing the total to 137,000 copies. Anomaly went on to sell over 500,000 copies, and was certified Gold by the RIAA on August 26, 2016. As a reward to fans for their support in helping his album go number one on Billboard, Lecrae released a new song, "Non-Fiction", as a free download on September 17. The song was subsequently released on October 21, 2014, in the iTunes store. The single "All I Need Is You" from the album was nominated for Best Rap Performance at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, and on June 12, 2019, the song was certified Gold by the RIAA.
To promote Anomaly, on September 18, 2014, Lecrae appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, performing alongside the Roots, the program's house band. He made a subsequent appearance the following year, on January 9, 2015, this time as a featured performer. On January 15, 2016, Lecrae released his third mixtape Church Clothes 3×Church Clothes 315 January 2016 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Freedom2:522Gangland3:483Deja Vu4:104Sidelines3:365Cruising3:216It Is What It Is4:067Can't Do You3:288Forever3:049Misconceptions 34:2910I Wouldn't Know3:40. The mixtape debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Christian, Rap, and Independent charts, selling some 29,207 units.

2016–2020: Signing with Columbia

In August 2015, Lecrae announced an upcoming memoir titled Unashamed, which on May 3, 2016, was published through B&H Publishing Group, a subsidiary of LifeWay Christian Resources. It opened at number 19 on The New York Times Best Seller list. In May 2016, Lecrae signed to Columbia Records, which will release future recordings in conjunction with Reach. Lecrae explained that he signed this deal in order to increase the international audience for Reach, since his label peaked nationally with the release of Anomaly. In September 2016, Reach Records announced Lecrae's upcoming tour schedule, The Destination Tour (You're Accepted), which ran through October and November. On October 21, 2016, Lecrae released the single "Can't Stop Me Now (Destination)", the lead single from his upcoming studio album. On January 27, 2017, he released the second single "Blessings×Blessings27 January 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Blessings3:51", featuring Ty Dolla Sign. Lecrae followed this up with the third single "I'll Find You", featuring Tori Kelly, on June 8, 2017. Then, on June 23, 2017, he released a promotional single "Hammer Time", featuring 1K Phew. On August 7, 2017, Lecrae announced his eighth studio album, All Things Work Together×All Things Work Together22 September 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Always Knew3:352Facts4:023Broke3:004Blessings3:515Whatchu Mean4:226Hammer Time3:347Come and Get Me4:138Lucked Up3:419Wish You the Best3:4410Can’t Stop Me Now (Destination)4:1111I’ll Find You3:38128:283:1013Cry for You4:2314Worth It4:55, his major label debut. The album was released on September 22, 2017. "Blessings" went on to be certified Gold on April 30, 2019, and "I'll Find You" was certified Platinum on February 26, 2020.
On May 24, 2018, he announced in a DJ Booth editorial that he and producer Zaytoven would release a collaborative album called Let the Trap Say Amen×Let the Trap Say Amen22 June 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Get Back Right3:062Preach2:5632 Sides of the Game3:134Plugged In3:125Holy Water3:266Blue Strips3:497Only God Can Judge Me2:578Yet2:589I Can’t Lose3:0610Switch4:0211Can’t Block It2:5812Fly Away3:4913By Chance3:19. The album was released on June 22, 2018. In December 2019, the Atlanta Hawks accidentally leaked information about a new Lecrae album coming March 2020 when they posted about a Lecrae performance—also in March—that included information about the album: Restoration×Restoration21 August 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Restore Me1:162Set Me Free2:573Wheels Up4:034Over the Top3:125Self Discovery2:286Deep End2:407Drown3:208Saturday Night2:089Sunday Morning4:0210Zombie2:3211Keep Going2:2712Still2:5513Only Human3:4914Nothing Left to Hide3:37. In an interview with Black Enterprise, Lecrae said that he is excited to put out some healing music, that there is always "hope, healing, and restoration available if you seek it". In the same interview, Lecrae discussed his forthcoming second book, I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion but Found My Faith, which will be a follow-up to his first book Unashamed. I Am Restored was released October 13, 2020. The first single to Restoration, "Set Me Free×Set Me Free20 March 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Set Me Free2:58", featuring YK Osiris, and the accompanying music video, was released on March 20, 2020.

2020–present: Departure from Columbia

In May 2020, Lecrae left Columbia, and stated that this would give him more artistic freedom and control. Restoration was released on August 21, 2020. On December 3, 2021, Lecrae released No Church In a While, a ten-track collaboration album with 1K Phew.
With American Christian rapper Andy Mineo, he released "Coming In Hot×Coming in Hot20 July 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Coming in Hot3:20" as a single, later included on the Reach Records collaborative album titled Summer Eighteen, as well as Mineo's 2021 album Never Land II. It has been certified RIAA Digital Gold for more than 500,000 downloads and on-demand streams in August 2021, and Digital Platinum in 2023 for exceeding one million, also becoming a viral song on social networks, used by personalities like Kim Kardashian and Will Smith. It managed to position itself on Billboard three years after its release, a rare occurrence in music.
In August 2025, Lecrae released his tenth studio album Reconstruction×Reconstruction22 August 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Reconstruction2:382My Story2:283Tell No Lie2:254Brick for Brick2:375Bless You3:276LIFE1:577Die for the Party2:338Headphones3:429There for You3:2610H2O2:1911Holidaze3:3912Pray for Me3:1913Too Much2:3214Mad at Today2:2815Politicking2:2816Better Sober3:2117Cross the Ocean2:4618Erase Me3:1819Still Here2:56. Later in 2025, announced his upcoming documentary, Unashamed, which premiered at the Nashville Film Festival on September 21, 2025.

Musical style and influences

Lecrae's musical genre is predominantly Southern hip hop and has been described as falling under the styles of crunk, gangsta rap, and hardcore hip hop. On his third release, Rebel, Lecrae slowed down his style on many songs. Rehab was noted for its stylistic diversity, particularly on the song "Children of the Light×Children of the Light3 September 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Children of the Light3:33", which featured Dillavou and Sonny Sandoval and incorporated rock, and reggae influences. With the release Gravity, Billboard described Lecrae as incorporating reggae and soul influences into his "signature brash sound." Let the Trap Say Amen blended Lecrae's spiritual lyrics with Zaytoven's trap-style production.
Regarding which musical artists have influenced him, Lecrae, in an interview with Essence, cited Tupac, Nas, DJ Quik, Scarface, and The Cross Movement. In an interview with The Christian Post, Lecrae listed his top favorite five hip hop artists as Tupac, Nas, The Ambassador, Snoop Dogg, and Jay Z, though he admires Jay-Z for his business approach rather than his music. Lecrae also names Outkast and Lauryn Hill as major influences, particularly their albums Aquemini and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, respectively. He considers Hill's song "Adam Lives in Theory" the top song that nourishes him spiritually. In the song "Non-Fiction", he lists the Tunnel Rats alongside The Cross Movement as an influence when he was newly converted to Christianity. Theologically, Lecrae follows the Reformed tradition and is considered an influential figure in the New Calvinist movement. He cites Tommy Nelson, John MacArthur, and John Piper, among others, as early influences on his Christian faith, and Lecrae even titled one of his songs, "Don't Waste Your Life", after the book of the same name by Piper. Lecrae explains that through Nelson, MacArthur, and Piper, he subsequently discovered Charles Spurgeon, John Calvin, and Francis Schaeffer, the last of whom Lecrae calls his "personal hero". Other theologians cited by Lecrae include Tim Keller, Andy Crouch, Randy Alcorn, and Abraham Kuyper. He also looks to Martin Luther King Jr. for inspiration on working out faith in application to social issues.
According to Miami New Times, he frequently tells the press: "My music is not Christian, Lecrae is." He continues: "I think Christian is a wonderful noun, but a terrible adjective. Are there Christian shoes, Christian clothes, Christian plumbers, Christian pipes? I think if you're going to, you should label it hip-hop... hip-hop is a particular poetic style. Labeling it with the faith assumes that the song is going to be some kind of sermon, but there's a lot of social and political things that I don't think make it gospel or Christian music." He also stated, "I like to wrap my mind around a total situation. I'm a social anthropologist. If I never been homeless, let me try to be homeless for a week and soak up that information. More like a method actor. So for me it's spending time with people and talking about things from their perspective."

In popular culture

Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin recommended Lecrae and Hillsong in an interview when asked about his pre-game music. Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow and professional wrestler Ezekiel Jackson have also endorsed Lecrae. During March 2014, Lecrae signed a ten-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks, and on April 4, 2014, he performed live at Philips Arena after the Hawks game. "Dum Dum", a song by Tedashii featuring Lecrae, was used on an episode of So You Think You Can Dance. Lecrae also created the theme song for a new ESPN SportsCenter block called "Coast to Coast". In September 2024, Kendrick Lamar mentioned Lecrae in an untitled song that media outlets referred to as "Watch the Party Die", to which Lecrae responded with his own track, "Die For The Party".

Personal life

Lecrae currently resides in Atlanta since relocating there from Memphis in 2009, and is married to Darragh Moore. The couple have three children together. In an interview with HipHopDX, Lecrae stated that Clipse member No Malice sought him out as a spiritual advisor. On October 20, 2016, Lecrae wrote in The Huffington Post that he has been struggling with depression and doubt, which was partly caused by the backlash he received from many American evangelicals who are critical of his public stance on race-related issues. On August 14, 2020, Lecrae posted a video on his YouTube channel that includes footage of him reconnecting with his long-absent father who now resides in San Diego.

Social activism

In 2011, 116 Clique and ReachLife Ministries, both headed by Lecrae, launched a media campaign titled Man Up, intended to mentor male urban youths on fatherhood and biblical manhood. It features concert tours and a curriculum centered on a short film and a studio album, both titled Man Up, and since 2012 has also featured a string of conference events.
In May 2013, Lecrae partnered with NBA player Dwyane Wade, filmmaker Art Hooker, and Joshua DuBois, the former head of the Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships under the Obama administration, to create the national media campaign This Is Fatherhood, an initiative "devoted to restoring America's commitment to healthy fatherhood." The campaign began on May 1 with a "This is Fatherhood Challenge", in which contestants could submit videos, songs, and essays about fatherhood through June 10. The winners received cash prizes and a trip to Washington, D.C., for a ceremony on Father's Day. In addition, Lecrae offered studio time and mentoring to the grand prize winner. Lecrae, Wade, DuBois, Jay Z, and U.S. President Barack Obama all made appearances in the campaign's promotional public service announcements.
Lecrae has also contributed op-ed articles to Billboard dealing with race relations in the United States, including the 2014 Ferguson unrest, 2015 Charleston church shooting, and 2016 shootings of Alton Stirling, Philando Castile, and five Dallas police officers. In these articles, Lecrae has called for understanding and empathy across racial divides and willingness to listen to the oppressed, and also pointed out the need for spiritual healing through Jesus Christ. In mid 2016, Lecrae did a talk about racial reconciliation at Yale University, titled "Knowledge through Narrative: Bridging the Racial Divide in America". He also spoke on hip hop culture at a Nashville TEDx conference, decrying the misogyny and violence rampant in much of hip hop's lyrics but advocating for hip hop to be used as an agent for social change. At the 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards, Lecrae performed an original composition addressing racial injustice in the United States, referencing the shooting of Philando Castile.
In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lecrae worked with a local non-profit, Love Beyond Walls, to distribute hand-washing stations and food to homeless people in Atlanta. He also wrote an essay for Billboard in which he discussed the need for humane behavior in the midst of widespread social panic due to the outbreak. After the murder of George Floyd, Lecrae was inspired to write "Deep End×Deep End24 June 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Deep End2:39", which was a late addition to Restoration. Lecrae also serves on the board of Peace Preparatory Academy in Atlanta, a nonprofit school dedicated to the care of those in their school and in their community.

Other ventures

Lecrae has partnered with Oust Labs to be an investor and co-owner of the audio production software MXD, which was founded by Jacob "Biz" Morris. In 2020, Lecrae teamed up with Adam Thomason to found the film production studio 3 Strand Films. He is a venture partner in Collab Capital, and has participated in several real estate ventures, including Invest Atlanta and Peace Preparatory Academy, intended to revitalize English Avenue.

Production discography

Self-release – Real Talk (2004) – Executive producer with John K. Wells, Ben Washer, and Chris Carreker
01. "Souled Out"
02. "We Don't"
03. "Aliens"
05. "Represent"
07. "Take Me As I Am"
09. "Nothin'"
11. "Who U WIt"
13. "Wait Intro"
14. "Wait"
Json – The Seasoning (2005) – co-produced with So Hot Productions and C.I.
Self-release – After the Music Stops (2006)
10. "The King"
16. "Unashamed"
Trip Lee – If They Only Knew (2006) – co-produced with DJ Official, Tony Stone, Mac the Doulous, So Hot Productions
Tedashii – Kingdom People (2006) – Executive producer with Ben Washer
02. "Houston We Have a Problem"
04. "Off Da Hook"
09. "Lifestyle"
15. "No More"
19. "In Ya Hood (Cypha Remix)"
Sho Baraka – Turn My Life Up (2007) – co-produced with Bobby Taylor, DJ Official, BenJah, and So Hot Productions
Self-release – Rebel (2008)
09. "Change"
Self-release – Gravity (2012) – Executive producer
Self-release – Anomaly (2014) – Executive producer
Church Clothes 4 (2022)
10. "Fear Not" – co-produced with Juberlee, CuBeatz, Vinnyforgood, and Luis Bacqué