Lecrae

Lecrae stands among the foremost voices shaping the gospel-rap movement, presenting Christ-focused verses through a mainstream lens while working with up-to-date beats that draw listeners across the faith divide. Romans 1:16 inspired his approach, prompting the 2004 self-release of Real Talk on Reach Records, the label he established. Rebel reached the summit of the Christian charts in 2008, and Gravity earned the Grammy for Best Gospel Album in 2012. Anomaly advanced that crossover push by claiming the top spot on the Billboard 200 in 2014, after which Lecrae joined Columbia Records in 2016. He has recorded with E-40, Ty Dolla $ign, and Tori Kelly, then joined forces with trap producer Zaytoven for the 2018 Christian chart leader Let the Trap Say Amen. Restoration, his ninth project and seventh Christian number one, appeared in 2020. The full-length partnership No Church in a While with 1K Phew followed in 2021, succeeded by the 2022 mixtape Church Clothes 4 and 2023 singles including “Walk” with Hulvey and “Your Power” with Tasha Cobbs Leonard.

Although born on Houston’s south side, Lecrae Devaughn Moore spent his formative years in Denver, Colorado, and San Diego, California before committing his life to Christ at nineteen. He initially advanced the Gospel through conventional ministry roles, later serving as president of ReachLife Ministries, where he led Bible studies and additional outreach programs. His wider recognition nevertheless stemmed from his rising Christian rap output. In 2004 he co-founded Reach Records alongside Ben Washer, and the following year the imprint issued his debut album Real Talk. As a member of the 116 Clique he also contributed to 116 Clique: The Compilation Album.

After the Music Stops, his breakthrough release, arrived in July 2006 and immediately claimed the top position on the Christian Music Trade Association’s R&B/Hip-Hop chart while reaching number five on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart. Rebel held the same summit for two weeks in 2008, and Rehab did so for one week in 2010; the latter also earned a nomination for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album at the 53rd Grammy Awards. Rehab: The Overdose followed in 2011 and secured Lecrae’s first two Dove Awards, for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year and Rap/Hip-Hop Song of the Year for “Hallelujah.”

Gravity, his sixth album, surfaced in September 2012 with appearances from Big K.R.I.T., Mali Music, Trip Lee, and Andy Mineo. The project quickly became the highest-selling Christian rap album to date, entering at number three on the overall charts, topping digital rankings, and capturing the Grammy for Best Gospel Album early the next year—the first time a Christian rapper had received that honor. Later in 2012 Lecrae launched the Church Clothes mixtape series, with Church Clothes 2 arriving in 2013.

Anomaly, his seventh album, surpassed its predecessor by debuting at number one on both the gospel and overall Billboard charts—the first release to achieve that feat. It garnered further critical praise and another Dove Award. In 2016 Lecrae appeared on Lindsey Stirling’s Brave Enough and supplied “River of Jordan” with Breyan Isaac to the soundtrack for The Shack. He also entered a Columbia agreement intended to broaden Reach Records’ reach. The first Columbia single, “Can't Stop Me Now (Destination),” emerged in October 2016, followed in February 2017 by the Ty Dolla $ign-assisted “Blessings” and then “Hammer Time.” All Things Work Together arrived on Columbia in September 2017. Early 2018 brought the single “Get Right Back” ahead of Let the Trap Say Amen, the Zaytoven collaboration that also yielded the hit “Plugged In,” entered the Billboard 200’s Top 50, and extended Lecrae’s streak of Christian chart-toppers to six.

The 2020 single “Set Me Free” featuring Florida rapper YK Osiris preceded Restoration, Lecrae’s ninth full-length, which closed with “Nothing Left to Hide” and included guest spots from John Legend, Kirk Franklin, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Marc E. Bassy. That mainstream-oriented set became his seventh consecutive Christian number one. One year later he joined fellow Christian rapper 1K Phew for the full-length No Church in a While. Church Clothes 4 closed the mixtape series in 2022, while the non-album single “Your Power” with Tasha Cobbs Leonard appeared in 2023.