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.”
Background ft. C-Lite
Lecrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could play the background
'Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead
You take the leading role, and I'll play the background
I know I miss my cues, know I forget my lines
I'm sticking to your script, and I'm reading all your signs (Aye)
I don't need my name in lights, (Aye) I don't need a starring role
Why gain the whole wide world, If I'm just going lose my soul?
And my ways ain't purified, don't live according to Your Word
I can't endure this life without Your wisdom being heard
So word to every dancer for a pop star
'Cause we all play the background, but mine's a rockstar
Yeah, so if you need me I'll be stage right
Praying the whole world would start embracing stage fright
So let me fall back, stop giving my suggestions
'Cause when I follow my obsessions, I end up confessin'
That I'm not that impressive, matter of fact
I'm who I are, a trail of stardust leading to the superstar
I could play the background
I could play the background
'Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead
Yo, I had a dream that I was captain of my soul
I was master of my fate, lost control, and then I sank
So I don't want to take the lead, 'cause I'm prone to make mistakes
All these folks who follow me, goin' end up in the wrong place
So just let me shadow you, just let me trace your lines
Matter of fact, just take my pen, here, you create my rhymes
'Cause if I do this by myself, I'm scared that I'll succeed
And no longer trust in You, 'cause I only trust in me
And see, that's how you end up headed to destruction
Paving a road to nowhere, pour your life out for nothin'
You pulled my card, I'm bluffin', You know what's in my hand
Me, I just roll and trust you, You cause the dice to land
I'm in control of nothing, follow You at any cost
Some call it sovereign will, all I know is you the boss
And man, I'm so at ease, I'm so content
I'll play the background, like it's an instrument
I could play the background
I could play the background
'Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead
I know I'm safest when I'm in Your will, and trust Your Word
I know I'm dangerous when I trust myself, my vision blurred
And I ain't got no time to play life's foolish games
Got plenty aims, but do they really Glorify Your name?
And it's a shame, the way I want to do these things for You, yeet
Don't even cling to you, take time to sit and glean from You
It seems like You were patient in my ignorance
If ignorance is bliss, it's 'cause she never heard of this
I could play the background
I could play the background
'Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead
I could play the background
I could play the background
'Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead
In "Background," Lecrae explores the idea of playing a supporting role in God's plan for his life. He acknowledges that sometimes he gets in the way and misses his cues, but he is committed to sticking to God's script and following His lead. He recognizes that he doesn't need to seek fame and worldly success but instead let God take the lead. Lecrae embraces the freedom that comes with surrendering control and trusting in God's plan.
The song also speaks to the idea of humility, acknowledging that sometimes we need to take a step back and allow others to lead. Lecrae invites others to join him in the background, as they support God's plan and play their role in His Kingdom. The song ends with a realization that playing the background is a safe and content place to be, as it allows for God's wisdom and guidance to shine through.
Line by Line Meaning
I could play the background
I am willing to take a lesser role
I could play the background
I am willing to not be in the spotlight
'Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
I recognize that my ego can interfere with what You want
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
May You guide and direct me
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
May You take the forefront and make decisions for me
And I could play the background, background
I am happy to take a supporting role
And you could take the lead
You can take control and guide me
It's evident you run the show, so let me back down
I acknowledge that You are in charge, so let me step aside
You take the leading role, and I'll play the background
You take the lead, and I will support
I know I miss my cues, know I forget my lines
I am aware of my flaws and mistakes
I'm sticking to your script, and I'm reading all your signs (Aye)
I will follow Your guidance and direction
I don't need my name in lights, (Aye) I don't need a starring role
I don't need to be the center of attention
Why gain the whole wide world, If I'm just going lose my soul?
What is the point in gaining worldly success if it comes at the cost of my soul?
And my ways ain't purified, don't live according to Your Word
I am not perfect and often fail to live up to Your standards
I can't endure this life without Your wisdom being heard
I need Your guidance to navigate through life's challenges
So word to every dancer for a pop star
A message to those who support famous artists
'Cause we all play the background, but mine's a rockstar
We all have a supporting role, but mine is significant
Yeah, so if you need me I'll be stage right
If I am needed, I will be ready to support from the side
Praying the whole world would start embracing stage fright
Hoping that people will recognize the importance of a supporting role
So let me fall back, stop giving my suggestions
I will step aside and not offer my opinions
'Cause when I follow my obsessions, I end up confessin'
When I pursue my selfish desires, I often end up confessing my wrongs
That I'm not that impressive, matter of fact
I am not as impressive as I originally thought
I'm who I are, a trail of stardust leading to the superstar
I am who I am, following the trail left by the actual superstar
Yo, I had a dream that I was captain of my soul
I once thought I was in control of my life
I was master of my fate, lost control, and then I sank
I quickly realized that I was not as in control as I thought I was
So I don't want to take the lead, 'cause I'm prone to make mistakes
I would rather not be in charge because I know I am fallible
All these folks who follow me, goin' end up in the wrong place
If I lead, I may lead people down the wrong path
So just let me shadow you, just let me trace your lines
Let me follow Your lead and direction
Matter of fact, just take my pen, here, you create my rhymes
Allow me to surrender control to You and let You create through me
'Cause if I do this by myself, I'm scared that I'll succeed
If I pursue my own desires, I may achieve what I want, but I may lose sight of what really matters
And no longer trust in You, 'cause I only trust in me
If I become too focused on myself, I may lose faith in You
And see, that's how you end up headed to destruction
Putting too much trust in myself leads to ruin
Paving a road to nowhere, pour your life out for nothin'
If I continue on this path, I will not achieve anything meaningful
You pulled my card, I'm bluffin', You know what's in my hand
You know me better than I know myself
Me, I just roll and trust you, You cause the dice to land
I will let You guide my life and trust that You have a plan
I'm in control of nothing, follow You at any cost
I have realized that true control comes from following You, even when it is difficult
Some call it sovereign will, all I know is you the boss
You are in charge of everything, and I trust Your plan for my life
And man, I'm so at ease, I'm so content
I am at peace knowing that You are in control
I'll play the background, like it's an instrument
I will take joy in playing a supporting role, contributing to a bigger picture
I know I'm safest when I'm in Your will, and trust Your Word
I feel the most secure when I am following Your plan and trusting in Your teachings
I know I'm dangerous when I trust myself, my vision blurred
I am aware that putting too much faith in myself can lead to blurred judgment
And I ain't got no time to play life's foolish games
I do not want to waste my time on meaningless pursuits
Got plenty aims, but do they really Glorify Your name?
Although I have goals, I want to make sure they align with Your will and glorify You
And it's a shame, the way I want to do these things for You, yeet
It's unfortunate that I sometimes want to serve You for my own benefit
Don't even cling to you, take time to sit and glean from You
I want to spend time getting to know You better and learning from You
It seems like You were patient in my ignorance
You have been patient and understanding with me, even when I was not aware of it
If ignorance is bliss, it's 'cause she never heard of this
If ignorance is truly bliss, it's because the person has not heard the truth
Lyrics © THE ADMINISTRATION MP INC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Alex G Medina, Andy Mineo, George Ramirez, Joseph Ryan Prielozny, Le Crae Devaughn Moore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GhostMonkey772
I started drinking when I was 16. I would
drink at parties, but I also started drinking alone because I was unhappy, and
I was in a lot of emotional pain all the time. My mom was very aggressive when
I was younger, and my brother hated her and so did I. He started hanging out
with shady people, he started failing all his classes, he was never home, and
my parents fought all the time. I also ran away several times. I was always
trying to figure out a reason as to why I was here or what the purpose of life was.
So, I started looking at different philosophies, religions, and beliefs. When I
was 18 after I was hungover, I got on my knees and I prayed for the first time.
I asked if God was real that he would show me he was real because I couldn’t
take it anymore. I was crying when I prayed for this. At that moment I felt a
presence come over me like a wind. It was barely noticeable, but it was unlike
anything in my life I had experienced up until that point. I was surprised when
I felt it and I remember saying “what was that?” after that experience I pretty
much forgot what happened and kept partying, until my senior year when I got
arrested. After my arrest, my parents lost all their trust in me and I was
expelled from high school. I was told never to come back. At that time, I felt
afraid and hopeless. That’s when I started looking for God, and I prayed that
he would reveal himself in my life and that he would give me signs. My prayers
began getting answered so consistently that I couldn’t deny that God was doing something.
It was mysterious and compelling. I ended up in Church and started reading the
bible hours a day. I stopped hanging out with all my other friends because they
were continually getting arrested. I was able to forgive my family and myself
and to ask to be forgiven. I noticed how at Church people were judgmental and
how they formed cliques but were afraid to be around anyone else different from
them. It increased my faith because I realized Jesus was not like that and ever
since I was young, I saw people as people regardless of who they were. After a
while, it’s like I could see God's presence was in my life and then it felt
like he wasn’t, and then he was, and then he wasn’t. One day I woke up and felt
more depressed than I ever have in my entire life. I felt like I was dying on
the inside. That night I prayed, and I said, God, I don’t see my life five
years from now I'm going to die Jesus save me Lord, please save me. I was
weeping when I said it and when I asked him to save me, I felt a presence inside
of me like a heartbeat, and I felt it once like a pulse, and I said Lord please
save me and I felt it again even stronger. It was like radiance. When I woke up
the next morning, I had transformed everything felt brand new like I was a kid
again. All my fears and all my racing thoughts everything was gone. I looked at
my hands, and I said this can’t be real it’s impossible. When I looked at
myself in the mirror, I saw a different person. I started praying, and the holy
spirit became entirely real to me it was washing over me and inside of me. It
was total love and peace, and I heard a voice but not an audible one, it was an
inner voice. It said I am with you; I love you, I will never leave you, it’s
done it’s finished. That was May 3rd, 2009, and ever since then I’ve followed
God, I have seen many things change and many things I know wouldn’t have
changed without faith and belief. I know what it’s like to be lost to feel you
have no hope. Don’t ever think you’re stuck, or life can’t change because it can.
My mom is a Christian now, Its night and day. Some of the things that went away
during that period were severe anxiety and my addiction to alcohol. I’ve seen
and experienced so many things that are miraculous and seen how God has worked
in my life. When we ask God to forgive us for what we’ve done and turn away
from our sins and wrongdoings and we believe in Christ's sacrifice everything
changes. His word says if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and
believe in our hearts that he died and rose again we will have eternal life but
not just life after death but abundant life in the present. Our sins are erased
not only past, present, and future but our burdens and fears are lifted also.
Our thoughts, our minds, our hearts, our souls are transformed and united with
God and we know his spirit lives in us. If you seek, pray, and knock you will
know JESUS IS KING!!! HE LIVES!
@reachrecords
Never miss a beat! Subscribe to Lecrae's channel for the latest tracks! 💯
http://bit.ly/LecraeVEVO
@liltboi8713
Aye fr tho speak da truth
@karinaguillen4679
Reach Records Y’all doing something beautifully lyrical melodies for Our Heavenly Father GOD!! May he bless you and your record company with many more abundant blessings ☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️🎶🎶🦋🇸🇻
@brenettasmith9338
Lacrae God is truly using you young brother. You remind me of my son. Please continue to follow God and be blessed.
@odettedelgado1467
Reach Records
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@lissettecolon7311
Reach Records
You ggff its shoulders make a frontround
@isblessed5785
2024? 🙋🏽♀️🙋🏽♀️🙋🏽♀️🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
@funtimesistertime6362
🙋🏽♀️🙋🏽♀️❤😊
@ViliamiLatu
I’ve looking for this song for many years, finally find it today 2023 . ❤ thank you 🙏🏾
@keithtorres5743
Amen!