Neither does hip hop n… Read Full Bio ↴“History does not happen in a straight line…”
Neither does hip hop nor its prolific breakout rhymist/activist/author/voice of conscience Lecrae.
Never afraid to move the needle, few would argue that his much anticipated Columbia Records debut album (due out this summer) comes at a pivotal moment for the artist, as hip hop’s torrent now moves to him.
Surging or insurgent - depending on your point of view - he’s blessed with a visionary verbal arsenal and an abiding faith that’s piloted a unique career trajectory defying the typical hip hop storyline. ‘The system may not have planned for this,’ wrote Vibe about Lecrae, ‘but it’s definitely coming around.’ “More caught than taught,” is how the artist describes his incredible journey that includes two Grammys, a history-making #1 album with his masterful 2014 offering, Anomaly (topped multiple categories, including the Billboard 200 and is RIAA Gold certified), and a compelling live resume, most recently notching a headlining 2016 ‘Destination’ tour which Lecrae says was about “real unity, not pretend unity.” He continues to thoughtfully engage the culture, reeling off a NY Times Bestseller (last year’s riveting memoir ‘Unashamed’) and a breakthrough spoken word performance at the BET Hip Hop Awards last fall that had the twittersphere heralding his arrival as truth-telling firebrand. BET hailed it as an “epic poem,” of “necessary affirmations.”
Lecrae relishes his purpose-driven career arc as inspired ‘catalyzer’ - going “from artist to architect” on the new album, widening the close-knit comfort zone of Reach Records (the label he co-founded) by partnering with Columbia Records and expanding his creative outreach. “I sought influences and collaborators I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to work with,” he says. The patient growth process was born out of a “gumbo” of more than 50 songs, “some to just get off my chest,” he says - “I don’t know if they were all meant to be heard but I know they were meant to be written.”
One song that has already seen the light of day is the powerfully uplifting “Blessings,” (featuring Ty Dolla $ign) which iHeartRadio chose for their ‘On The Verge’ platform which connects breaking artists with new listeners. Lecrae cites a refreshed perspective throughout the making of the new album after surviving one of the most tumultuous years he’s experienced since his turbulent teens. Among the hardships was the passing of his longtime friend and collaborator DJ Official, some “painful personal” ramifications after the publication of the unvarnished‘Unashamed,’ trusting friendships that went south, andchronic social media sparring from those attacking Lecrae for his candid and heartfelt perspective in response to theheartbreaking social justice issues making headlines in 2016. “Some people felt that maybe I shouldn’t be articulating the pain when it comes to the structural and systemic issues that have created barriers and disparity in regard to race,” he says. “But I came out of it feeling more confident in making this album then at any other time in my life.”
With trusted friend and Grammy winning producer S1 serving as a key production contributor, Lecrae says it was healing for him to weave some of the more nuanced, complex themes of the new album and come out the other side. “It’s about giving hope to people that they can overcome the fear and the insecurity when things do fall apart,” he says. “The before and after of it all. It may get ugly in your life, but there’s a point of rediscovery where the fear can actually drive the faith and restore you. Sometimes you have to acknowledge where you are at before it can get better.”
Such authenticity has been the hallmark of his 7 studio albums and multiple mixtapes, now nearing the 2 million mark in sales, with the acclaimed artist winning a Billboard Music Award, multiple BET, Soul Train, and Dove awards and even an Honorary Doctorate of music to go along with his 2 Grammy wins. Past signature songs like the ultra-relatable “Church Clothes,” and the prophetic, multi-perspective of “Welcome To America” revealed a Lecrae exploring the plight of the disconnected in all of us. Critics have praised the sociological component of his work and his heightened sensitivity toward the disenfranchised.
On the upcoming album, Lecrae hints he’s still mindful of the outsider role that’s enabled him to work the edges of hip hop stardom, but also conscious of the world coming into his space, now. “I don’t fit in to any one category,” he says. “The BET performance showed I can compete on the highest level and excel at it. I’ve already proven I’m part of the hip hop narrative. On this album I’m taking liberties.”
APB
Lecrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While you was in the crib playing with legos I was out there trying to give blocks
Momma gone, daddy gone, it's just me and my hood, dawg
Su-woopin', beamed up, like I'm bout to go play baseball
Before you heard about Jeezy, boy. I was already on some Trap-or-Die
What it's done? For all is cool. You can still see the pain in my eye
What you know about sitting in a jail cell, felonies, murder case,
Best friend, rolled on me, take the stand, turned state.
I am a fellon, I tell no lies, hand on the Bible, head to the sky
I want to live, I ain't wanna die when they roll upon me and let them bullets fly
They could have been the end, dawg
One way, hell's gate but the Lord stepped in
Chose to, show grace. Could have been layed in the box, dawg
6 of my homeboys carry me, but I'm alive and the old me gone
'Cause everyday, dawg I bury me.
[x2:]
10-4 shawty, I think we got a problem,
That boy right there a dawg, put an APB out em,
You seen em', he gone
Seen em', he gone
You seen em', he out here
Seen em' he gone
I can't
Hydro-plonic lungs, Top shelf liver
Limbo low tender, I can chop down timber
I was no pretender certified offender, never know surrender.
My amnesia's circumstantial, there're some things I can't remember
Those who knew me be like "who he? ", they're trippin off the new me
They like man where the old 'Crae. You crazy, you can't fool me.
I'm a party so hard that the law tryin' to find me
I pray to God they ain't find me. But then I hear a {whoo-whoo}
Lookin' in the rear view when they are right behind me
Roll down my window, "Boy, what's your name?"
'Cause you was doing 85 in the passing lane with no traffic, man
Then I give them my ID, and guess what they say
"This boy here crazy, now that's just Crae"
And I was psycho, wild as the hun is
I go like the Chi, doing whatever I wanted
Until I was confronted, heard about Jesus and I changed
They're like man what you do, somethin' bout you just ain't the same.
I was dead. The old me was nothing but a sucker
Sucked the life out of my mother, just to get the stuff I wanted
Now I'm milk carton status and different, can't explain it
Put the APB out on me, if they find me, that's amazing.
[x2:]
10-4 shawty, I think we got a problem,
That boy right there a dawg, put an APB out em,
You seen em', he gone
Seen em', he gone
You seen em', he out here
Seen em' he gone
In the song APB, Lecrae featuring Thi'sl reflects on his past experiences and how they have shaped him into the person he is now. He starts by talking about his origins in Saint Louis, where he grew up in the West Side. He mentions the challenges that he faced early on in his life, with his parents gone and only his hood friends around him. As a result, he was drawn into a life of crime and violence, and he has faced the consequences of his actions, including jail time and the betrayal of a trusted friend.
Despite this, Lecrae recognizes that he has been given a second chance at life. He acknowledges his mistakes, and asks for forgiveness from God, vowing to live a better life. He uses the metaphor of an APB (All Points Bulletin) to suggest that he is a changed man and people should be looking for the new him. He emphasizes that he is no longer the person he used to be, and that he wants to leave that old life behind.
The song is a powerful reminder that it is possible to turn your life around, no matter how dark things may seem. The lyrics also offer a cautionary tale to others who may be facing similar challenges, urging them to learn from his mistakes and choose a better path.
Line by Line Meaning
Saint Louis my city dawg. West side was the block
I come from the West side of Saint Louis and my neighborhood was my home
While you was in the crib playing with legos I was out there trying to give blocks
While you were still young and playing, I was already hustling to make a living
Momma gone, daddy gone, it's just me and my hood, dawg
My parents are not around anymore, and all I have left is my neighborhood
Su-woopin', beamed up, like I'm bout to go play baseball
I show my gang affiliation and readiness to fight, as if I were gearing up for a baseball game
Before you heard about Jeezy, boy. I was already on some Trap-or-Die
I was already living the life of a trap artist before Young Jeezy popularized the genre
What it's done? For all is cool. You can still see the pain in my eye
I may look cool, but the trauma and pain I've experienced can still be seen in my eyes
What you know about sitting in a jail cell, felonies, murder case,
Do you know what it's like to be locked up for a felony or face murder charges?
Best friend, rolled on me, take the stand, turned state.
My betrayal was unsettling when my best friend testified against me in court after being caught.
I am a fellon, I tell no lies, hand on the Bible, head to the sky
I admit to being a felon but swear to tell the truth with my hand on the Bible and my eyes on the heavens
I want to live, I ain't wanna die when they roll upon me and let them bullets fly
Facing death and bullets, I choose to live and not die
They could have been the end, dawg
I could have died but I didn't
One way, hell's gate but the Lord stepped in
I would have gone to hell but the Lord saved me
Chose to, show grace. Could have been layed in the box, dawg
God chose to extend grace and give me a second chance. Otherwise, I would have been dead and buried
6 of my homeboys carry me, but I'm alive and the old me gone
I was carried by six of my friends, but the old version of myself is no longer present
'Cause everyday, dawg I bury me.
Every day, I strive to leave my old self behind and become a better person
10-4 shawty, I think we got a problem,
I think we have a problem, over
That boy right there a dawg, put an APB out em,
The guy over there is a problem, put an APB (All Points Bulletin) out on him
You seen em', he gone
Have you seen him? He's gone
You seen em', he out here
Have you seen him? He's still around here somewhere
Seen em' he gone
If you have seen him, he's no longer around here
I can't
I am unable to
Hydro-plonic lungs, Top shelf liver
I have strong lungs and a healthy liver
Limbo low tender, I can chop down timber
I am quick and efficient, and I can chop down trees with ease
I was no pretender certified offender, never know surrender.
I am a certified offender and always live up to my reputation without giving up or pretending to be someone I am not
My amnesia's circumstantial, there're some things I can't remember
My memory loss is due to circumstances, and there are things I cannot recollect
Those who knew me be like "who he? ", they're trippin off the new me
People who knew me wonder who I am now because of the change in me
They like man where the old 'Crae. You crazy, you can't fool me.
People find it difficult to believe that I am the same person I used to be, and they cannot be easily fooled
I'm a party so hard that the law tryin' to find me
I party hard and attract the attention of the law enforcement agencies
I pray to God they ain't find me. But then I hear a {whoo-whoo}
I hope that the police don't find me, but then I hear a police siren
Lookin' in the rear view when they are right behind me
I look at the rearview mirror and see them right behind me
Roll down my window, "Boy, what's your name?"
I lower my window and hear the cop asking for my name
'Cause you was doing 85 in the passing lane with no traffic, man
You were going too fast in the passing lane with no cars around
Then I give them my ID, and guess what they say
Then I show them my ID, and guess what they say
"This boy here crazy, now that's just Crae"
"This boy is crazy, but that's just how Lecrae is"
And I was psycho, wild as the hun is
I was crazy and wild like a hunter
I go like the Chi, doing whatever I wanted
I live like I'm from Chicago, free to do whatever I want
Until I was confronted, heard about Jesus and I changed
Until I had a spiritual awakening and learned about Jesus, leading to a transformation
They're like man what you do, somethin' bout you just ain't the same.
People ask what happened to me, as something about me is noticeably different
I was dead. The old me was nothing but a sucker
I was dead to my old self, who was nothing but a loser
Sucked the life out of my mother, just to get the stuff I wanted
I was draining the life out of my mother by asking for things that were not essential
Now I'm milk carton status and different, can't explain it
Now I am a different person, undergoing an unexplainable transformation like a picture on a milk carton
Put the APB out on me, if they find me, that's amazing.
Put the APB out on me; if they find me, it will be amazing.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DARREN LOCKINGS, ERNEST BROWN, LE CRAE DEVAUGHN MOORE, TRAVIS TREMAYNE TYLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Reach Records
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David Singleten
I used to have Thisl verse on repeat when this first came out.
I make honest music
Denis Mugume
I am a fellon, I tell no lies, hand on the Bible, head to the sky
I want to live, I ain't wanna die when they roll upon me and let them bullets fly this is the realest line for me!
David Singleten
@Denis Mugume me too!
Musculus Pulveri
Y'all should upload all the other songs off the mixtape. Sacrifice is really good.
K-crae
this is the ep version
Makayla Johnson
I love this song
El Jefe
When you hear this for the first time but its seven years old. smh
Emmanuel Muembi
Lol same God bless!🙏
Richard Temple
This is a classic now