Lecrae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lecrae
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Lecrae in 2014
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Lecrae Devaughn Moore
October 9, 1979 Houston, Texas, U.S.
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| Education | Middle Tennessee State University |
| Alma mater | University of North Texas (BAS) |
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| Years active | 2004–present |
| Spouse(s) | Darragh Moore |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Christian hip hop |
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Lecrae Devaughn Moore (born October 9, 1979) is an American Christian rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. He also works as a music executive. Lecrae started his career in 2004. He has released ten studio albums and four mixtapes as a solo artist. He also records with the hip-hop group 116, which he helped create.
Lecrae's first two albums, Real Talk (2004) and After the Music Stops (2006), were released by himself and were praised by critics. His third album, Rebel (2008), was the first Christian hip-hop album to reach number one on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. It was also his first album to appear on the Billboard 200 chart.
After his fourth album, Rehab (2010), Lecrae started getting attention from a wider audience. This happened after he performed at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher. He also appeared on Statik Selektah's song "Live and Let Live" that same year.
His sixth album, Gravity (2012), is considered a very important album in Christian hip hop history. It reached number three on the Billboard 200 chart. With this album, Lecrae became the first hip hop artist to win a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.
His seventh album, Anomaly (2014), was his first to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. It was also the first album to be number one on both the Billboard 200 and Top Gospel Album charts at the same time.
In May 2016, Lecrae signed with Columbia Records. He released his third mixtape, Church Clothes 3 (2016). He then released his eighth album, All Things Work Together (2017). He also made a collaborative album with producer Zaytoven, called Let the Trap Say Amen (2018). He left Columbia Records in early 2020. His tenth album, Restoration, was released in August 2020.
Lecrae has helped start three media companies. These include the record label Reach Records in 2004. He also co-founded ReachLife Ministries in 2007, which is no longer active. In 2019, he started the film production studio 3 Strand Films.
Lecrae has received many awards and nominations. He was nominated for Artist of the Year at the GMA Dove Awards several times, winning in 2015. He also won BET Award for Best Gospel Artist in 2015, being the first rap artist to do so.
Lecrae has appeared in several films. These include the TV movie A Cross to Bear (2012). He also had small roles in the comedy film Believe Me (2014) and the crime film Superfly (2018). He was also in the Christian drama film Breakthrough (2019).
Lecrae has spoken and written about racial tension and injustice in the United States. He also encourages men to be responsible fathers. In 2013, he worked with Dwyane Wade and Joshua DuBois on a project called This Is Fatherhood. This was part of the Obama administration's Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked with Love Beyond Walls. They helped give hand-washing stations and food to homeless people in Atlanta.
Contents
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Growing Up
Lecrae was raised by his single mother in a neighborhood in southern Houston. He moved to Denver and then to San Diego when he was young. As a teenager, he looked up to the rapper Tupac Shakur and his uncle.
When he was 16, he started making some difficult choices. He later began a journey to change his life. He received a scholarship to study theater at the University of North Texas. He earned his degree in 2002. He also attended Middle Tennessee State University for a short time.
At 19, he went to a Bible study after a friend invited him. He was surprised to meet people there who were like him but were also kind and loving. He decided to live his life for God. He later attended a Christian conference in Atlanta. He was inspired by a Christian rap group called The Cross Movement. He also heard a clear message about faith. He then decided to make positive changes in his life.
In 2003, Lecrae met Ben Washer at a Bible study meeting in Denton, Texas. They volunteered together and sang at a juvenile correctional facility. The young people there really liked their Christian rap music. This encouraged Lecrae and Ben to start their own music label.
Starting His Music Journey (2004–2011)
In 2004, Lecrae and Ben Washer started Reach Records. At 25, Lecrae released his first album, Real Talk. The next year, it was re-released and reached No. 29 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart. It stayed on the chart for 12 weeks. The album was nominated for an award in 2007. In 2005, Lecrae also helped start ReachLife Ministries. This group helped Christian leaders use Bible teachings in hip-hop culture. In 2005, the group 116 Clique released their first album, The Compilation Album.
Lecrae released his second album, After the Music Stops, on August 15, 2006. It reached No. 5 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart. It also reached No. 7 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart. The album was nominated for a Dove Award. The song "Jesus Muzik", featuring Trip Lee, also received a nomination. In 2007, 116 Clique released their second album, 13 Letters. It reached No. 10 on the Gospel Albums chart.
On October 8, 2008, Lecrae's third album, Rebel, sold 9,800 copies in its first week. It became the first hip-hop album to top the Billboard Gospel Album charts. It also reached No. 2 on the Christian Albums chart. In 2009, the album was nominated for an award. Lecrae also appeared in a TV documentary called Uprise Presents: Word from the Street.
In 2009, Lecrae moved to Atlanta. He helped start Blueprint Church there.
On February 5, 2010, Lecrae released a song called "Far Away". This song was a tribute to the people affected by the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Lecrae promised that all money from the song's sales would go to help Haiti. On August 31, 2010, his album Rehab was released. It reached No. 16 on the Billboard 200 chart. This made it one of the best-selling Christian hip hop albums at that time.
..... It included 11 new songs and featured other Christian artists. This album debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200. On September 27, 2011, Lecrae released a special edition of Rehab. On the same day, 116 Clique released their album, Man Up. Lecrae gained more popularity after his performance at the BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher on October 11, 2011.
Major Success and Recognition (2012–2016)
On February 16, 2012, Lecrae announced his first mixtape, Church Clothes. On May 3, 2012, he released the music video for the title track. The video featured famous artists like Kendrick Lamar and DJ Premier. Church Clothes was downloaded over 100,000 times in less than 48 hours. A shorter version of the mixtape was released for sale on iTunes. It debuted on the Billboard charts at No. 10 on both the Christian Albums and Gospel Albums charts.
On April 27, Lecrae announced his next album, Gravity, would be released in late 2012. Gravity was released on September 4, 2012. It was highly praised by critics. It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, selling 72,000 copies. The album also reached No. 1 on the Christian, Gospel, Independent, and Rap Album charts.
On November 7, 2013, Lecrae released his second mixtape, Church Clothes Vol. 2. It debuted at No. 21 on the Billboard 200. It also reached No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums and Gospel Albums charts.
On June 3, 2014, Lecrae announced his seventh studio album would be called Anomaly. The album was released on September 9, 2014. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling over 88,000 copies in its first week. This was the first time an album topped both the Billboard 200 and the Gospel Albums chart. Anomaly sold over 500,000 copies and was certified Gold in 2016. The song "All I Need Is You" from the album was nominated for a Grammy Award.
To promote Anomaly, Lecrae appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in September 2014. He performed with The Roots, the show's band. He appeared again in January 2015. On January 15, 2016, Lecrae released his third mixtape Church Clothes 3. It debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200.
Columbia Records and Restoration (2016–Present)
In August 2015, Lecrae announced a book called Unashamed. It was published on May 3, 2016. It reached No. 19 on The New York Times Best Seller list. In May 2016, Lecrae signed with Columbia Records. He explained that this deal would help Reach Records reach more people around the world. In September 2016, Lecrae announced his tour, The Destination Tour.
On October 21, 2016, Lecrae released the song "Can't Stop Me Now (Destination)". On January 27, 2017, he released "Blessings", featuring Ty Dolla Sign. He then released "I'll Find You", featuring Tori Kelly, on June 8, 2017. On August 7, 2017, Lecrae announced his eighth album, All Things Work Together. The album was released on September 22, 2017. "Blessings" and "I'll Find You" both became certified Gold and Platinum, respectively.
On May 24, 2018, Lecrae announced a collaborative album with producer Zaytoven. It was called Let the Trap Say Amen and was released on June 22, 2018. In December 2019, news about a new Lecrae album called Restoration was shared. Lecrae said he was excited to release music that brings healing. He also discussed his second book, I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion but Found My Faith, which was released on October 13, 2020.
The first song from Restoration, "Set Me Free", featuring YK Osiris, was released on March 20, 2020. In May 2020, Lecrae left Columbia Records. He said this would give him more artistic freedom. Restoration was released on August 21, 2020. On December 3, 2021, Lecrae released No Church In a While, a collaboration album with 1K Phew.
With American Christian rapper Andy Mineo, he released "Coming In Hot". This song became very popular on social media. It was even used by famous people like Kim Kardashian and Will Smith. It was certified Digital Gold in August 2021 and Digital Platinum in 2023.
Musical Style and Influences
Lecrae's music is mostly Southern hip hop. It has been described as having elements of crunk and hardcore hip hop. On his album Rebel, he used a slower style on many songs. With Gravity, Billboard noted that Lecrae added reggae and soul influences to his sound. His album Let the Trap Say Amen mixed Lecrae's spiritual lyrics with Zaytoven's trap style.
Lecrae has said that artists like Tupac, Nas, DJ Quik, Scarface, and The Cross Movement have influenced his music. He also admires Jay Z for his business skills. Lecrae considers Outkast and Lauryn Hill as major influences, especially their albums Aquemini and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. He believes Hill's song "Adam Lives in Theory" helps him spiritually.
Lecrae often says, "My music is not Christian, Lecrae is." He explains that calling music "Christian" can make people think it's always like a sermon. He believes hip-hop is a style of poetry and can cover many topics, not just religious ones.
Social Activism and Community Work
In 2011, 116 Clique and ReachLife Ministries, led by Lecrae, started a campaign called Man Up. This project aimed to mentor young men about fatherhood and positive values. It included concerts and a learning program based on a short film and an album, both called Man Up.
In May 2013, Lecrae worked with NBA player Dwyane Wade and Joshua DuBois to create This Is Fatherhood. This campaign aimed to encourage healthy fatherhood in America. It included a challenge where people could submit videos, songs, and essays about fatherhood. Winners received prizes and a trip to Washington, D.C. Lecrae, Wade, DuBois, Jay Z, and U.S. President Barack Obama appeared in promotional videos for the campaign.
Lecrae has also written articles for Billboard about race relations in the United States. He wrote about events like the 2014 Ferguson unrest and the 2015 Charleston church shooting. In these articles, Lecrae has asked for understanding and kindness between different racial groups. He also stressed the need for spiritual healing. In 2016, Lecrae gave a talk at Yale University about racial understanding. He also spoke at a TEDx conference about hip hop culture. He talked about using hip hop to bring about positive social change. At the 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards, Lecrae performed a song about racial injustice.
In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lecrae worked with Love Beyond Walls. They helped give hand-washing stations and food to homeless people in Atlanta. He also wrote an essay for Billboard about the importance of kindness during difficult times. After the murder of George Floyd, Lecrae was inspired to write the song "Deep End".
Lecrae also serves on the board of Peace Preparatory Academy in Atlanta. This school helps students and their community.
Other Projects
Lecrae is an investor and co-owner of MXD, an audio production software. In 2020, Lecrae and Adam Thomason started the film production studio 3 Strand Films. He is also involved in real estate projects in English Avenue, Atlanta. These projects aim to improve the community.
Personal Life
Lecrae lives in Atlanta with his wife, Darragh Moore. They have three children. Lecrae has shared that he has faced challenges with sadness and doubt. This was partly due to criticism he received for speaking out on race-related issues. In August 2020, Lecrae shared a video of himself reconnecting with his father.
Discography
- Real Talk (2004)
- After the Music Stops (2006)
- Rebel (2008)
- Rehab (2010)
- Gravity (2012)
- Anomaly (2014)
- All Things Work Together (2017)
- Let the Trap Say Amen (with Zaytoven) (2018)
- Restoration (2020)
- No Church in a While (with 1k Phew) (2021)
- Reconstruction (2025)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 2009 | Uprise Presents: Word from the Street | Himself | TV documentary special |
| 2011 | Man Up | King | Short film by 116 Clique |
| 2012 | A Cross to Bear | Jerome | Television film |
| Welcome to the Family Documentary | Himself | Short documentary web film | |
| 2013 | Everything Must Go | Short documentary web film | |
| The Cross | Short documentary web film by Billy Graham | ||
| 2014 | Believe Me | Dr. Malmquist | Feature comedy film |
| 2015 | Chic | Himself | Documentary film |
| 2018 | Superfly | Funeral Rapper | Feature crime film |
| 2019 | Breakthrough | Himself | Feature drama film |
| 2023 | Journey to Bethlehem | Gabriel | Feature musical film |
Books
- Unashamed (B&H Books, May 3, 2016)
- I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion but Found My Faith (October 13, 2020)
Awards and Achievements
In 2016, Lecrae received an honorary doctorate in music. This was for his work in sharing a message of hope with young people.
Lecrae has won many music awards. These include four Grammy Awards and twelve Dove Awards. In 2013, he was the first hip hop artist to win the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album for his album Gravity. In 2015, he became the first rapper to win the BET Award for Best Gospel Artist.
