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'''Lecrae Moore''', [[Mononymous person|mononymously]] known as '''Lecrae''', is an American [[Christian hip hop]] artist, [[celebrity]], [[entrepreneur]], [[record producer]], and [[Activism|activist]]. He is the president, co-owner and co-founder of the independent record label Reach Records, and the co-founder and president of the non-profit organization ReachLife Ministries. To date, he has released six studio albums and one mixtape as a solo artist, and has released three studio albums, a remix album, and one studio album as the leader of the rap group [[116 Clique]]. He produced much of his earlier material along with other early Reach Records releases. His filmography includes a documentary, a short film by 116 Clique,and a full-length television film. Moore received a nomination for Artist of the Year at the [[43rd GMA Dove Awards]], and [[BET Award for Best Gospel Artist|Best Gospel Artist]] at the [[BET Awards 2013|2013 BET Awards]]. His work has received two [[Grammy Award]] nominations, one of which he won, one [[Billboard Music Award]] nomination, nine [[GMA Dove Award|Dove Award]] nominations, two of which he won, and four [[Stellar Awards|Stellar Award]] nominations, one of which he won. As a social activist, Lecrae has advocated for the preservation of responsibility and fatherhood as a value among men in the United States. Specifically, his hip-hop group 116 Clique headed a multimedia campaign ''Man Up'' in 2011, and in 2013 Lecrae partnered with [[Dwyane Wade]] and [[Joshua DuBois]] in the multimedia initiative ''This Is Fatherhood'', an initiative which garnered support from U.S. President [[Barack Obama]].
'''Lecrae Moore''', [[Mononymous person|mononymously]] known as '''Lecrae''', is an American [[Christian hip hop]] artist, [[celebrity]], [[entrepreneur]], and [[record producer]]. He is the president, co-owner and co-founder of the independent record label Reach Records, and the co-founder and president of the non-profit organization ReachLife Ministries. To date, he has released six studio albums and one mixtape as a solo artist, and has released three studio albums, a remix album, and one studio album as the leader of the rap group [[116 Clique]]. He produced much of his earlier material along with other early Reach Records releases. His filmography includes a documentary, a short film by 116 Clique,and a full-length television film. Moore received a nomination for Artist of the Year at the [[43rd GMA Dove Awards]], and [[BET Award for Best Gospel Artist|Best Gospel Artist]] at the [[BET Awards 2013|2013 BET Awards]]. His work has received two [[Grammy Award]] nominations, one of which he won, one [[Billboard Music Award]] nomination, nine [[GMA Dove Award|Dove Award]] nominations, two of which he won, and four [[Stellar Awards|Stellar Award]] nominations, one of which he won. In the social sphere, Lecrae has advocated for the preservation of responsibility and fatherhood as a value among men in the United States. Specifically, his hip-hop group 116 Clique headed a multimedia campaign ''Man Up'' in 2011, and in 2013 Lecrae partnered with [[Dwyane Wade]] and [[Joshua DuBois]] in the multimedia initiative ''This Is Fatherhood'', an initiative which garnered support from U.S. President [[Barack Obama]].


Moore debuted with ''[[Real Talk (Lecrae album)|Real Talk]]'' in 2004 through Reach Records, and the album was re-issued the following year by [[Cross Movement Records]]. ''[[After the Music Stops]]'' followed in 2006 and his third solo album, ''[[Rebel (Lecrae album)|Rebel]]'', was released in 2008 and reached No. 1 on the Gospel chart, the first Christian hip-hop album to do so. ''[[Rehab (Lecrae album)|Rehab]]'', his fourth solo album, was released in 2010 and reached No. 1 on the Gospel, Christian, and [[Independent Albums|Independent]] charts and garnered a nomination at the [[53rd Grammy Awards]]. ''[[Rehab: The Overdose]]'', was released on January 11, 2011, and peaked at No. 1 on the Christian and Gospel charts. In September, 2011, Moore played the character King in the short film ''Man Up'' by 116 Clique. Moore began garnering mainstream attention when he performed at the 2011 [[Black Entertainment Television|BET]] Hip Hop Awards Cypher and featured on the [[Statik Selektah]] song "Live and Let Live" from ''[[Population Control (album)|Population Control]]''.
Moore debuted with ''[[Real Talk (Lecrae album)|Real Talk]]'' in 2004 through Reach Records, and [[Cross Movement Records]] re-released the album the following year. ''[[After the Music Stops]]'' followed in 2006, and his third solo album, ''[[Rebel (Lecrae album)|Rebel]]'', was released in 2008 and reached No. 1 on the Gospel chart, the first Christian hip-hop album to do so. ''[[Rehab (Lecrae album)|Rehab]]'', his fourth solo album, was released in 2010 and reached No. 1 on the Gospel, Christian, and [[Independent Albums|Independent]] charts and garnered a nomination at the [[53rd Grammy Awards]]. ''[[Rehab: The Overdose]]'', was released on January 11, 2011, and peaked at No. 1 on the Christian and Gospel charts. In September, 2011, Moore played the character King in the short film ''Man Up'' by 116 Clique. Moore began garnering mainstream attention when he performed at the 2011 [[Black Entertainment Television|BET]] Hip Hop Awards Cypher and featured on the [[Statik Selektah]] song "Live and Let Live" from ''[[Population Control (album)|Population Control]]''.


On February 18, 2012, Moore made his major acting debut as the character Jerome in the [[Up (TV channel)|GMC TV]] television film ''A Cross To Bear''. On May 10, 2012, Moore released his first mixtape, ''[[Church Clothes]]'', which was hosted by [[DJ Don Cannon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://illhype.com/news/2012/04/26/illhype-exclusive-lecrae-announces-church-clothes-mixtape-hosted-by-don-cannon/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: Lecrae Announces Church Clothes Mixtape Hosted By Don Cannon |publisher=illHype |accessdate=May 3, 2012}}</ref> Considered his breakthrough into mainstream hip-hop, the mixtape was downloaded over 100,000 times in less than 48 hours. On May 2012, Moore began recording his sixth studio album, ''[[Gravity (Lecrae album)|Gravity]]''. Released on September 4, 2012, it and ''Church Clothes'' have been called the most important albums in Christian hip hop history.<ref name=rapzillareview>{{cite web|last=Goss|first=Armond|title=Review – Lecrae 'Gravity'|url=http://rapzilla.com/rz/reviews/4965-review-lecrae-gravity|work=[[Rapzilla]]|publisher=Philip Rood and Chad Horton|accessdate=January 15, 2013|date=August 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The most important album in Christian rap history (Lecrae’s “Church Clothes”) drops tomorrow – and its FREE|url=http://blog.chron.com/jesusmusik/2012/05/the-most-important-album-in-christian-rap-history-church-clothes-drops-tomorrow/|work=Jesus Musik|publisher=[[Houston Chronicle]]|accessdate=January 15, 2013|author=Sketch the Journalist|date=May 9, 2012}}</ref> The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and No. 1 on the Top Rap, Christian, Gospel, and Independent Albums chart, and won the [[Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album]] at the [[2013 Grammy Awards]].
On February 18, 2012, Moore made his major acting debut as the character Jerome in the [[Up (TV channel)|GMC TV]] television film ''A Cross To Bear''. On May 10, 2012, Moore released his first mixtape, ''[[Church Clothes]]'', which was hosted by [[DJ Don Cannon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://illhype.com/news/2012/04/26/illhype-exclusive-lecrae-announces-church-clothes-mixtape-hosted-by-don-cannon/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: Lecrae Announces Church Clothes Mixtape Hosted By Don Cannon |publisher=illHype |accessdate=May 3, 2012}}</ref> Considered his breakthrough into mainstream hip-hop, the mixtape was downloaded over 100,000 times in less than 48 hours. On May 2012, Moore began recording his sixth studio album, ''[[Gravity (Lecrae album)|Gravity]]''. Released on September 4, 2012, it and ''Church Clothes'' have been called the most important albums in Christian hip hop history.<ref name=rapzillareview>{{cite web|last=Goss|first=Armond|title=Review – Lecrae 'Gravity'|url=http://rapzilla.com/rz/reviews/4965-review-lecrae-gravity|work=[[Rapzilla]]|publisher=Philip Rood and Chad Horton|accessdate=January 15, 2013|date=August 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The most important album in Christian rap history (Lecrae’s “Church Clothes”) drops tomorrow – and its FREE|url=http://blog.chron.com/jesusmusik/2012/05/the-most-important-album-in-christian-rap-history-church-clothes-drops-tomorrow/|work=Jesus Musik|publisher=[[Houston Chronicle]]|accessdate=January 15, 2013|author=Sketch the Journalist|date=May 9, 2012}}</ref> The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and No. 1 on the Top Rap, Christian, Gospel, and Independent Albums chart, and won the [[Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album]] at the [[2013 Grammy Awards]], marking the first time that a Christian hip hop artist received this award.


==Life and career==
==Life and career==
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==Social activism==
==Social activism==
In 2011, [[116 Clique]] and ReachLife Ministries, both headed by Lecrae, launched a media campaign entitled ''Man Up'', intended to mentor male urban youths on fatherhood and the responsibilities of men. It featured a curriculum centered on a short film and a studio album, both titled ''Man Up''.
In 2011, [[116 Clique]] and ReachLife Ministries, both headed by Lecrae, launched a media campaign entitled ''Man Up'', intended to mentor male urban youths on fatherhood and biblical manhood.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":0" />


In May 2013, Lecrae partnered with [[NBA]] player [[Dwyane Wade]], filmmaker Art Hooker, and [[Joshua DuBois]], the former head of the [[White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships|Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships]] under the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]], to create the national media campaign ''This Is Fatherhood'', an initiative "devoted to restoring America’s commitment to healthy fatherhood."<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.wltx.com/news/watercooler/article/237346/363/Dwyane-Wade-Launches-Fatherhood-Challenge|title = Dwyane Wade & Hip-Hop Artist Lecrae Launch Fatherhood Challenge|last = Brown|first = Celeste|date = May 20, 2013|website = [[WLTX]]|publisher = [[Gannett Company]]|accessdate = July 8, 2013}}</ref> The campaign began on May 1st with a "This is Fatherhood Challenge", in which contestants could submit videos, songs, and essays about fatherhood through June 10.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":0" /> Lecrae, Wade, DuBois, [[Jay-Z]], and U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] all made appearances in the campaign's promotional videos.<ref name=":0" />
In May 2013, Lecrae partnered with [[NBA]] player [[Dwyane Wade]], filmmaker Art Hooker, and [[Joshua DuBois]], the former head of the [[White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships|Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships]] under the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]], to create the national media campaign ''This Is Fatherhood'', an initiative "devoted to restoring America’s commitment to healthy fatherhood."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url = http://www.wltx.com/news/watercooler/article/237346/363/Dwyane-Wade-Launches-Fatherhood-Challenge|title = Dwyane Wade & Hip-Hop Artist Lecrae Launch Fatherhood Challenge|last = Brown|first = Celeste|date = May 20, 2013|website = [[WLTX]]|publisher = [[Gannett Company]]|accessdate = July 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://rapzilla.com/rz/news/1-press/6343-dwyane-wade-and-grammy-winning-artist-lecrae-join-forces-to-champion-fatherhood|title = Dwyane Wade and Grammy Winning Artist Lecrae Join Forces to Champion Fatherhood|last = Rapzilla|date = May 24, 2013|website = [[Rapzilla]]|publisher = Philip Rood and Chad Horton|accessdate = July 9, 2013}}</ref> The campaign began on May 1st 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.<ref name=":1" /> Lecrae, Wade, DuBois, [[Jay-Z]], and U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] all made appearances in the campaign's promotional public service announcements.<ref name=":2" />
==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Moore currently resides in Atlanta since 2009. He is married and has three children.<ref name=familychristian>{{cite web|title=Pulling No Punches - an interview with Lecrae|url=http://www.familychristian.com/blog/pulling-no-punches-an-interview-with-lecrae|publisher=Family Christian Stores|accessdate=August 21, 2012|author=[[Family Christian Stores]]|format=Web|date=July 10, 2012}}</ref> In an interview with Hip Hop DX, Lecrae has stated that [[Clipse]] member No Malice sought him out as a spiritual adviser.<ref name=hiphopdx>{{cite web|last=Arnold|first=Paul W|title=Lecrae Clarifies His "Gimme A Second" Line About Jay-Z & Lil Wayne, Details Spiritual Advisor Role To No Malice|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.19706/title.lecrae-clarifies-his-gimme-a-second-line-about-jay-z-lil-wayne-details-spiritual-advisor-role-to-no-malice|work=Hip Hop DX|publisher=Cheryl Media Group|accessdate=15 September 2012|format=Web|date=May 11, 2012}}</ref>
Moore currently resides in Atlanta since relocating there from Houston in 2009. He is married to Darragh Moore and has three children.<ref name=familychristian>{{cite web|title=Pulling No Punches - an interview with Lecrae|url=http://www.familychristian.com/blog/pulling-no-punches-an-interview-with-lecrae|publisher=Family Christian Stores|accessdate=August 21, 2012|author=[[Family Christian Stores]]|format=Web|date=July 10, 2012}}</ref> In an interview with Hip Hop DX, Lecrae has stated that [[Clipse]] member No Malice sought him out as a spiritual adviser.<ref name=hiphopdx>{{cite web|last=Arnold|first=Paul W|title=Lecrae Clarifies His "Gimme A Second" Line About Jay-Z & Lil Wayne, Details Spiritual Advisor Role To No Malice|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.19706/title.lecrae-clarifies-his-gimme-a-second-line-about-jay-z-lil-wayne-details-spiritual-advisor-role-to-no-malice|work=Hip Hop DX|publisher=Cheryl Media Group|accessdate=15 September 2012|format=Web|date=May 11, 2012}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
Line 143: Line 143:
|''Man Up''
|''Man Up''
|King<ref>{{cite web|title=Reach Life - 'Man Up' Movie - trailer (@reachlife @reachrecords @rapzilla)|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHO7PM-Y0RM|publisher=[[YouTube]]|author=[[Rapzilla]]|format=Video/Web|date=June 30, 2011}}</ref>
|King<ref>{{cite web|title=Reach Life - 'Man Up' Movie - trailer (@reachlife @reachrecords @rapzilla)|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHO7PM-Y0RM|publisher=[[YouTube]]|author=[[Rapzilla]]|format=Video/Web|date=June 30, 2011}}</ref>
| Short film by [[116 Clique]]<ref>{{cite web|title='Man Up' - What Will You Do With This Life?|url=http://rapzilla.com/rz/news/1-press/3315-man-up-what-will-you-do-with-this-life|work=[[Rapzilla]]|accessdate=August 5, 2012|format=Web|date=June 30, 2011}}</ref>
| Short film by [[116 Clique]]<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title='Man Up' - What Will You Do With This Life?|url=http://rapzilla.com/rz/news/1-press/3315-man-up-what-will-you-do-with-this-life|work=[[Rapzilla]]|accessdate=August 5, 2012|format=Web|date=June 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|-
|rowspan="2" | 2012
|rowspan="2" | 2012

Revision as of 13:01, 9 July 2013

Lecrae
Background information
Birth nameLecrae Moore
Also known asCrae, Creezie, Creazy, Crayola, "Crazy 'Crae"
Born (1979-10-09) October 9, 1979 (age 44)
Houston, Texas, USA
OriginAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.
GenresChristian hip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper
Singer
Record producer
Actor
President and co-owner of Reach Records
Co-founder of Reach Records
President and co-founder of ReachLife Ministries
Years active2004 – present
LabelsReach, Cross Movement
Websitewww.reachrecords.com

Lecrae Moore, mononymously known as Lecrae, is an American Christian hip hop artist, celebrity, entrepreneur, and record producer. He is the president, co-owner and co-founder of the independent record label Reach Records, and the co-founder and president of the non-profit organization ReachLife Ministries. To date, he has released six studio albums and one mixtape as a solo artist, and has released three studio albums, a remix album, and one studio album as the leader of the rap group 116 Clique. He produced much of his earlier material along with other early Reach Records releases. His filmography includes a documentary, a short film by 116 Clique,and a full-length television film. Moore received a nomination for Artist of the Year at the 43rd GMA Dove Awards, and Best Gospel Artist at the 2013 BET Awards. His work has received two Grammy Award nominations, one of which he won, one Billboard Music Award nomination, nine Dove Award nominations, two of which he won, and four Stellar Award nominations, one of which he won. In the social sphere, Lecrae has advocated for the preservation of responsibility and fatherhood as a value among men in the United States. Specifically, his hip-hop group 116 Clique headed a multimedia campaign Man Up in 2011, and in 2013 Lecrae partnered with Dwyane Wade and Joshua DuBois in the multimedia initiative This Is Fatherhood, an initiative which garnered support from U.S. President Barack Obama.

Moore debuted with Real Talk in 2004 through Reach Records, and Cross Movement Records re-released the album the following year. After the Music Stops followed in 2006, and his third solo album, Rebel, was released in 2008 and reached No. 1 on the Gospel chart, the first Christian hip-hop album to do so. Rehab, his fourth solo album, was released in 2010 and reached No. 1 on the Gospel, Christian, and Independent charts and garnered a nomination at the 53rd Grammy Awards. Rehab: The Overdose, was released on January 11, 2011, and peaked at No. 1 on the Christian and Gospel charts. In September, 2011, Moore played the character King in the short film Man Up by 116 Clique. Moore began garnering mainstream attention when he performed at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher and featured on the Statik Selektah song "Live and Let Live" from Population Control.

On February 18, 2012, Moore made his major acting debut as the character Jerome in the GMC TV television film A Cross To Bear. On May 10, 2012, Moore released his first mixtape, Church Clothes, which was hosted by DJ Don Cannon.[1] Considered his breakthrough into mainstream hip-hop, the mixtape was downloaded over 100,000 times in less than 48 hours. On May 2012, Moore began recording his sixth studio album, Gravity. Released on September 4, 2012, it and Church Clothes have been called the most important albums in Christian hip hop history.[2][3] The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and No. 1 on the Top Rap, Christian, Gospel, and Independent Albums chart, and won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards, marking the first time that a Christian hip hop artist received this award.

Life and career

Early life

Born and raised by his single mother in Southern Houston, Texas, Moore moved often early in life, living in San Diego, Denver, and Dallas. He remembers going to church with his Christian grandmother, but said that it was "older people" and "wasn't for me."[4] Lecrae never met his father, who ended up becoming a drug addict. Experiencing abuse and neglect during his childhood, Moore used his ability to rap as a source of significance.[4] According to Moore, his grandmother would not allow him watch rap music videos on television, but he would sneak in late at night. It was in these videos that Moore found individuals to look up to. Moore states that "there were no Barack Obamas, Martin Luther Kings or Malcom Xs, they had all passed away so I had Tupac."[4] After being shown a gun by his uncle, Moore began looking up to gangsters and turned to a life of crime.[4] Moore remembers taking a bb gun and standing in the street pointing it to a car, frightening the female driver, simply for fun.[4] At the age of 16, he started taking drugs, fighting, was arrested in high school for stealing, and eventually ended up on a gang list.[4] Moore tried "pretty much every drug there was to try" except for heroin and crack cocaine.[5]

According to CNN, he became a drug dealer and used the Bible that his grandmother gave him as a good luck charm.[6] After being arrested for drug possession, the officer saw the Bible and let Moore go on a promise that he would agree to live by it.[6] He eventually turned from drugs to alcohol consumption and a party lifestyle and became a "misfit of a person."[4] He has described himself during this period as a thrill-seeker, he would pull stunts such as jumping from a third-story building, and gained the nickname "Crazy 'Crae".[5] Encouraged by his concerned mother to read his Bible, Moore said that "I remember ripping the pages out of the Bible and throwing it on the floor. I don’t want this Bible. I couldn’t wrap my hands around this being true or real."[4] He began to drink and smoke more and look for more women "as the emptiness became more profound."[4] At age 17, his personal, financial, and relationship troubles convinced him that he was at a "dead end."[5][7] Wanting to do the "mature thing," the influence of his grandmother gave him a desire to attend church.[7] A girl Moore attended high school with was there, and she invited him to a Bible study, where he met his future wife.[7] Moore was surprised to find that the members of the Bible study "were just people like me. They read the same books and listened to the same music. Their character was just different. They were loving and that’s really what drew me in."[5] Moore says that it was "right after high school" at age 19 that he finally decided to live for God, though "it wasn't overnight" and he "spent a lot of time making bad decisions."[5]

Conversion

He attended a conference after being invited by a friend, though Moore admits that his interest was to meet girls and experience the big city. When he arrived at the conference, Moore was awed by the performance of the Christian hip-hop group The Cross Movement. Lecrae says that he saw "guys who had been shot from being in gangs, girls who were extremely promiscuous in the past, I see rappers, dancers and singers; I see people who came from the same background I came from, and they still embodied who they were culturally, but they were all in love with Jesus and I had never seen that before."[4] After hearing Pastor James White of Christ Our King Community Church speak on how Christians are bought with a price and the suffering that Jesus underwent in the Crucifixion, Moore says that he remembers articulating 'God get me out of this, don't kill me; do whatever you have to do to get me out of this, just don’t kill me.'[4][8] Later, Moore was driving on a highway when he turned too quickly and his car went into a roll. He had no seatbelt and the roof and windshield of the car caved in, his glasses were molded into the frame of the car, but he survived completely uninjured.[4] This incident finally convinced him to commit his life to Christ. At the age of 19, Moore became a Christian and went back to his college, the University of North Texas, with a printed version of his testimony to pass out on campus.[8] He started volunteering and performing at a juvenile detention center, and the reception he received convinced him that offering "hope and encouragement" through music was what he wanted to do.[4]

2004–05: Early career

Five years after his conversion, Moore teamed up with Ben Washer to found Reach Records, and at the age of 25 he released his first album, Real Talk.[8] The following year it was re-released by Cross Movement Records and reached No. 29 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, staying on the chart for 12 weeks.[9] The album later received a nomination at the 2007 Stellar Awards. Moore co-founded the non-profit organization ReachLife Ministries in 2005 to help reform urban culture. The stated goals of this organization is to help equip local Christian leaders with tools, media, curriculum, and conferences that are based on the teachings of the Bible and relevant to hip-hop culture.[10] Also in 2005, the debut album of 116 Clique, The Compilation Album, was released.[11]

2006–07: After the Music Stops

After the success of Real Talk, Moore released his second studio album on August 15, 2006. After the Music Stops charted at No. 5 On the Billboard 'Gospel Albums' chart, No. 7 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart and No. 16 on the Billboard Heatseeker Album charts.[12] The album was nominated for a Dove Award, as was the single "Jesus Muzik". In 2007, the second 116 Clique album, 13 Letters, was released.[11] It reached No. 10 on the Gospel Albums chart and No. 29 on the Christian Albums chart.[13] The 116 Clique remix EP Amped was also released that year, and peaked at No. 24 on the Gospel Albums chart.[13]

2008–09:Rebel

On October 8, 2008, Moore's third album, Rebel, entered the Billboard charts at No. 60 with 9,800 units sold, and topped the Billboard Gospel Album charts for two weeks, the first hip-hop album to do so.[14][15] It also charted at No. 2 on the Christian Albums chart and No. 15 on the Top Independent charts.[16] 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.[17] 2009 also saw Moore's first film role, when he appeared in the documentary Uprise Presents: Word from the Street by the UK-based TV channel OHTV.[18]

2010–11: Rehab series

On February 5, 2010, Moore released a charity single entitled "Far Away". The song was a tribute to the victims of the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, and Moore promised that all proceeds from the single's sales would go directly to the Haiti relief effort.[19] A music video was released for the song on February 10, 2010.

In January 2010, Moore confirmed that he was working on a new album that would be due out September 28, 2010. On July 7, in a blog post on the Reach Records website, Moore announced that the title of his new album would be Rehab.[20] On August 5, 2010, a new song from Moore called "Amp It Up" was released on Rapzilla.com.[21] Moore would clarify on his Twitter account that the song was not a single from Rehab, but rather a theme song that he wrote for Camp Kanakuk, which he now writes theme songs for annually.[22][23] On August 31, 2010, the tracklist for Rehab was revealed, the album became available for preorder, and a promotional video for the album called "Idols" was released.[24][25] The second promotional video, entitled "I Am Dust", was released on September 9, 2010.[26] Rehab debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it one of the highest selling Christian Rap/Hip Hop albums of all 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, which was released on January 11, 2011. It included 11 new songs, which featured several other Christian artists such as Thi'sl and Swoope.[27] The album was released as planned, peaking at No. 1 on iTunes and No. 1 on the Hip-Hop and Christian Hip-Hop chart, before settling at the No. 4 position through its debut week.

On August 29, 2011, on his Twitter account, Moore officially set September 27, 2011 as the release date for the deluxe edition of Rehab, entitled Rehab: Deluxe Edition, which included five new songs and extensive DVD coverage.[28] This was also the date on which the collaborative group 116 Clique would release their fourth album, entitled Man Up.[29]

On September 7, 2011, Rapzilla announced that Moore would be featured on the BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher on October 11, 2011.[30] Moore gained popularity after his verse on the cypher, trended nationwide on Twitter, and was featured on AllHipHop.[31] Moore then appeared as a feature on Statik Selektah's song "Live and Let Live" from his Population Control album.[32]

2012–present: Mainstream breakthrough and Gravity

On February 16, 2012, Rapzilla announced that Moore was preparing to release his first mixtape, Church Clothes. On May 3, 2012, Lecrae premiered his music video for the title-track of his Church Clothes mixtape online on XXL.[33] The video was noted for including cameos by Kendrick Lamar and DJ Premier, and attracted almost 20,000 views in less than a day.[33] Hosted by Don Cannon, the mixtape featured the song Darkest Hour, in which Lecrae collaborated with No Malice of Clipse.[34][35][36] 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 Datpiff.com.[37][38] On June 25, 2012, a remastered version of the mixtape, without DJ Don Cannon, was released as an EP for sale on iTunes.[39] Due to issues with sampling, this version was much shorter with only seven songs.[39] Upon its release, the EP debuted on the Billboard charts at No. 10 on both the Christian Albums and Gospel Albums charts for the week of July 14, 2012.[40][41][42]

On April 27, Moore announced that his next album, Gravity, was to be released in late 2012, and recording sessions began in May.[43] On June 21, 2012 Moore appeared live at the Apple Store in Chicago for Black Music Month.[44]

The release date for Gravity, September 4, 2012, as well as the album artwork was announced on July 19, 2012 via Rapzilla.[45]

On August 30, 2012, 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 November 6, 2012.[46]

Gravity was released on September 4, 2012 to critical acclaim.[47] Upon its release, Gravity debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, with 72,000 units sold.[48] The album also debuted at No. 1 on the Christian, Gospel, Independent, and Rap Album charts, No. 3 on the Digital Albums chart, and 24 on the Canadian Albums Chart.[49] After the iTunes deluxe version of the album hit No. 1 on that vendors charts, and the regular version at number No. 2, Time wrote an article about Lecrae and his success with the album.[50]

Musical style

Moore'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.[51][52][53][54][55][56] On his third release, Rebel, Lecrae slowed down his style on many songs.[57] Rehab was noted for its stylistic diversity, particularly on the song "Children of the Light", which featured Dillavou and Sonny Sandoval and incorporated rock, reggae, and reggaeton influences.[58][59][60] With the release Gravity, Billboard stated that Lecrae incorporated reggae and soul influences into his "signature brash sound."[61]

Popular culture

Houston Rockets guard Jeremy Lin recommended Lecrae and Hillsong in an interview when asked about his pre-game music.[62] Golfer Bubba Watson, NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, and professional wrestler Ezekiel Jackson have also endorsed Lecrae.[63][64]

Social activism

In 2011, 116 Clique and ReachLife Ministries, both headed by Lecrae, launched a media campaign entitled Man Up, intended to mentor male urban youths on fatherhood and biblical manhood.[65] 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.[65]

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."[66][67] The campaign began on May 1st 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.[66] Lecrae, Wade, DuBois, Jay-Z, and U.S. President Barack Obama all made appearances in the campaign's promotional public service announcements.[68]

Personal life

Moore currently resides in Atlanta since relocating there from Houston in 2009. He is married to Darragh Moore and has three children.[7] In an interview with Hip Hop DX, Lecrae has stated that Clipse member No Malice sought him out as a spiritual adviser.[69]

Discography

Main articles: Lecrae discography and 116 Clique § Discography

Albums

Mixtapes

Production discography

2004

Self-release - Real Talk

2005

Json - The Seasoning

2006

Self-release - After the Music Stops
  • With So Hot Productions, Mac the Doulous, DJ Official, and Tony Stone
Trip Lee - If They Only Knew
  • With DJ Official, Tony Stone, Mac the Doulous, So Hot Productions
Tedashii - Kingdom People
02. "Houston We Have a Problem"
04. "Off Da Hook"
09. "Lifestyle"
15. "No More"
19. "In Ya Hood (Cypha Remix)"

2007

Sho Baraka - Turn My Life Up
  • With Bobby Taylor, DJ Official, BenJah, and So Hot Productions

2008

Self-release - Rebel
09. "Change"

2012

Self-release - Gravity

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Uprise Presents: Word from the Street Himself[71] TV documentary special
2011 Man Up King[72] Short film by 116 Clique[65]
2012 A Cross to Bear Jerome[73] Television film
Welcome to the Family Documentary Himself[74] Short documentary web film by R.M.G.
2013 Everything Must Go[75] Documentary web film by Andy Mineo

Awards

BET Award nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013 Lecrae Best Gospel Artist Nominated

Billboard Music Award nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013 Gravity Top Christian Album Nominated

GMA Dove Award nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2007 After the Music Stops Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year Nominated
"Jesus Muzik" (featuring Trip Lee) Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year Nominated
2009 Rebel Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year Nominated
"Joyful Noise" (Flame featuring Lecrae and John Reilly) Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year Nominated
2011 Rehab Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year Nominated
"Background" (featuring C-Lite) Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year Nominated
2012 Lecrae Artist of the Year Nominated
Rehab: The Overdose Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year Won
"Hallelujah" Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year Won
"Overdose" Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year Nominated

Grammy Award nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011 Rehab Best Rock Gospel Album Nominated
2013 Gravity Best Gospel Album Won

Stellar Award nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2007 Real Talk Rap/Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year Nominated
2010 Rebel Rap, Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year Nominated
2012 Rehab Rap, Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year Nominated
Rehab: The Overdose Rap, Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year Won

See also

References

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  2. ^ Goss, Armond (August 28, 2012). "Review – Lecrae 'Gravity'". Rapzilla. Philip Rood and Chad Horton. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  3. ^ Sketch the Journalist (May 9, 2012). "The most important album in Christian rap history (Lecrae's "Church Clothes") drops tomorrow – and its FREE". Jesus Musik. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Moore, Lecrae. "Seconds". I Am Second. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e Wete, Brian (June 8, 2012). "Interview: Lecrae Talks About Going From "Crazy Crae" To Christian Rapper" (Web). Complex. Complex Media. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "For the rapper, a new life, a new message", CNN, November 10, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d "Pulling No Punches – an interview with Lecrae". Family Christian. Family Christian Stores. July 10, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2012. Cite error: The named reference "familychristian" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c "Reach Records". Reach Records. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  9. ^ https://www.billboard.com/artist/lecrae/chart-history/
  10. ^ "About". Reach Life. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  11. ^ a b Thomas, Vincent. "116 Clique". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  12. ^ After The Music Stops Billboard
  13. ^ a b "116 Clique" (Web). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  14. ^ Lecrae Rebel still #1 on Billboard's Top Gospel Album Chart. Rapzilla. October 16, 2008.
  15. ^ "Chart Topper: Lecrae makes number one on Top Gospel Albums chart", Cross Rhythms, UK.
  16. ^ Rebel Billboard
  17. ^ "GMA 40th Dove Award Nominees". Rapzilla. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  18. ^ UpriseMusicTV (October 11, 2009). "Uprise Presents: Word from the Street" (Video/Web). UpriseMusic. YouTube. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  19. ^ Rapzilla (February 09, 2010). "Lecrae "Far Away" hits #42 on iTunes Hip Hop singles chart". Rapzilla. Retrieved August 29, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Reach Records >> Blog[dead link]
  21. ^ "Lecrae "Amp It Up" ft. Tedashii". Rapzilla. August 3, 2010. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  22. ^ "@Rapzilla FYI Amp it up is". Lecrae. Twitter. August 3, 2010. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
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  27. ^ Lecrae's Next Album 'Rehab: The Overdose' 1.11.11 Rapzilla
  28. ^ "Lecrae 'Rehab' Deluxe 2CD/DVD Album Cover & Tracklisting". Rapzilla. September 27, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  29. ^ Review – 116 Man Up Film & DVD Rapzilla
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  31. ^ Sims, Seandra (October 12, 2011). "Lecrae: The "God Son" of the Cypher". AllHipHop. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  32. ^ Statik Selektah & Lecrae Single Rapzilla
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  48. ^ Caulfield, Keith (September 12, 2012). "Matchbox Twenty Gets First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart" (Web). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved September 12, 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  49. ^ "Gravity - Lecrae" (Web). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  50. ^ Newcomb, Tim (September 6, 2012). "Meet Lecrae, the Christian Rapper Tearing Up the Charts" (Web). Time. Time, Inc. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  51. ^ Hayes, Steve (November 20, 2008). "Lecrae – Rebel". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  52. ^ Cordor, Cyril. "Lecrae". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  53. ^ Tognazzini, Anthony. "Rebel". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
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  55. ^ Hayes, Steve (November 20, 2008). "Lecrae - Rebel" (Web). Cross Rhythms. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  56. ^ "Events 10/09: Lecrae" (Print). Cincinnati Magazine. Cincinnati: Emmis Communications: 234. 2009issn=0746-8210. Retrieved August 7, 2012. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  57. ^ Moore, C.E. (September 30, 2008). "Lecrae's "Rebel": A Review" (Web). The Christian Manifesto. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  58. ^ Jeffries, David. "Rehab" (Web). AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
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  64. ^ Horton, Chad (April 19, 2012). "6 Reasons Why Lecrae Should've Won Dove Awards Artist of the Year" (Web). Rapzilla. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  65. ^ a b c "'Man Up' - What Will You Do With This Life?" (Web). Rapzilla. June 30, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  66. ^ a b Brown, Celeste (May 20, 2013). "Dwyane Wade & Hip-Hop Artist Lecrae Launch Fatherhood Challenge". WLTX. Gannett Company. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  67. ^ Rapzilla (May 24, 2013). "Dwyane Wade and Grammy Winning Artist Lecrae Join Forces to Champion Fatherhood". Rapzilla. Philip Rood and Chad Horton. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  68. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  69. ^ Arnold, Paul W (May 11, 2012). "Lecrae Clarifies His "Gimme A Second" Line About Jay-Z & Lil Wayne, Details Spiritual Advisor Role To No Malice" (Web). Hip Hop DX. Cheryl Media Group. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
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  72. ^ Rapzilla (June 30, 2011). "Reach Life - 'Man Up' Movie - trailer (@reachlife @reachrecords @rapzilla)" (Video/Web). YouTube.
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  75. ^ Reach Records (April 9, 2013). "Andy Mineo - Everything Must Go (@AndyMineo @reachrecords)". YouTube. Retrieved April 9, 2013.

External links

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