Rap has changed and evolved in many ways throughout the years. According to one’s liking, that could be good or bad. Interestingly, when you search around for something different sometimes you are lead to a brighter light. Christian Hip Hop artist, Lecrae, helps bring that light. Lecrae, like other rappers of this genre, have gone through the hardest of times and struggled for a better life. He tells it how it exactly is from a dead end lifestyle, through perseverance, and finally redemption. A lifestyle that revolved around the street but after prayer and a fatal accident, he turned from the life he was living towards a life connected and committed to Christ. In his newfound path, he has started his own independent record label, Reach Records, and has won various awards. He is the first Hip Hop artist to win the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album in 2013 for his album, Gravity, and the first Hip Hop artist to win the BET Award for Best Gospel Artist in 2015.This genre that is rising and becoming more accepted than throughout the decades provides another alternative to your mainstream rap songs. Do a search on Youtube.com for “Christian rap”. You will find among the top artists in this genre today, an interesting and very talented Christian rapper named Lecrae. Now, hold on! I know, I know, many people will think that all they will hear is praise in the Hip Hop lyrical form and… yes, it’s true. But that’s not the only things you will hear in these very expressive and passionate forms of music, poem and biblical scripture. Unlike some of today’s mainstream rap artists who rap about riches, parties, or whatever else goes with that kind of lifestyle, Christian rappers express themselves in a lifestyle that we can all relate to---struggles in life, disturbing current events, or continuous problems in society. Things we all face on a daily basis. Even mainstream rappers can relate to that. The lyrics hit you with the realism of temptation around drugs, sex, gangs, corruption, etc. All of this blended well into beats that still have that street-tough sound. The story Christian rappers so deeply convey is not of rags to riches or becoming successful through hustlin’ but ultimately finding a better life through acceptance and their connection with God despite the struggles that surround us. The genre tackles issues of today’s society and youth. With Christian rappers like Lecrae, I find myself more and more lured to listening to their songs and what they have to say. I am pretty confident that if I were to blast their tracks in my not-so-customized car audio system, I’d get a, “Ey! What’s that track you bumpin’?” If you were in my shoes, you can think of many ways to respond. Oh, remember to smile while you wait for their reaction.Here's a track on his Youtube channel and independent record label, Reach Records. Freedom by Lecrae featuring N'Dambi.
