Kingdom Rising (Pt. 4): Lecrae

Lecrae: Uncommon Messenger

A pre-album release article by Vibe speaks of the hopes Lecrae had for his seventh studio recording, Anomaly. Among those hopes, one that the artist had was to produce greater, truthful content that would also result in people being liberated by it.¹ Months have passed since the album groundbreakingly debuted at #1 and, well, I would say that the lyricist has succeeded in his task to do such a thing. In actuality, he actually exceeded my expectations on both a creative level and more notably on a connectional level. Through his transcendent talent as well as his candid honesty and vulnerability, Lecrae not only proves that he can produce genuinely good music that is not bound by Christian approval; he also showcases what it means to be an uncommon brother. For these reasons, I am liberated indeed.

The Heart

“That’s right plenty people like me/All love me despite me/And all unashamed and all unafraid/To speak out for what we might see” 

– Lecrae – “Outsiders”

In Anomaly, Lecrae reveals the heart of what I believe is the plight of many individuals who have to exist within the rigid confines of faith, culture, and embodiment while fully staying true to self. If I can be more specific, I believe that he expresses something that is considerably common to the black male Christian struggle. Of course, the concept of being an anomaly does not have to be limited to someone of this experience; however, I would argue that it hits home with those of us who share this reality. Just as Lecrae has to navigate the spheres of evangelical Christianity, hip-hop culture, and African American masculinity, I have also found myself as an artistic, black, born-again male wrestling with the ability to fully fit into an arena that I could truly call my own. Truth be told, I can’t find that place. Although I can find some level of purpose, expression, and connection while operating in these fields, I still feel like a round circle trying to fit into a square peg. But as the artist seems to convey in his latest musical undertaking, that’s okay. Maybe the way I am created is for a reason beyond my understanding and for a purpose beyond the limitations that attempt to conform me. What an assurance it is for me to hear that someone else who shares a similar physical makeup, confesses the same faith tradition, and operates out of a creative soul can still find a way to be himself when the forces surrounding him try to mold him into something he is not. Because of Lecrae’s ability to convey his self-realization in a relevant way, I can see the artist’s personal transparency as a call for others to be agents of impact through the unique, one-of-a-kind position they have in the world. Thus, the message of the album to the listener appears to be birthed from the sharing of his lived experience.

The Message

“I said there’s plenty people like me/All outsiders like me/And all unashamed and all unafraid/To live out what they supposed to be/Outsiders”

– Lecrae – “Outsiders”

The Liberation

“See I realize that I’m free/And I realize that I’m me/And I found out that I’m not alone/And there’s plenty people like me”

– Lecrae – “Outsiders”