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.”
Beautiful Feet
Lecrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was walking down an alley and caught a
Bullet in his head that left him bleeding badly
He lost everything at that moment except his life
He lost his hearing lost his movement and he lost his sight
He laid there in a coma
But man nobody cared
The gospel preached in his neighborhood? nobody dared
A missionary shared the gospel to his open ears
He got saved got trained got discipled
Back to hood
You could find em preaching the bible
He led a homie to christ from his same hood
Part of church plant
Come on now ain't his name good
This is blessing but I'm stressing that this is not the norm
We need leaders and belivers to help carry it on
But who would minister in a sinister part of town
I pray if jesus is calling you that you would be found
Eric used to go to bible study as a kid
He got older and started doing what the hood did
A rival gang caught him slippin tried to take his life
But the jammed up so them beat him nice
He woke up in the hospital singing bible songs
Praise god he had a place to learn the bible from
But then he gets saved and wanna preach christ they
Make him change his whole culture and way of life
He gotta get him a bachelors wear a suit and tie
Go to seminary
By then all of his boys will die
Jesus came to invade culture outta nazereth and used
A couple fisherman who people saw as hazardous
The feet are beautiful if only they'd go
If ain't nobody in hood preaching how will they know?
Eric is better used taught trues in his context
Somebody please plant a church in his projects
In luke 4 16 on down to 21 jesus says
He's messiah says hes the chosen one
But more than that he quotes isaiah
That shows our savior targets oppressed
Captive blind and the broke I'm saying
Had a heart for the poor had a heart for the low
And 1st john 2:6 is way we should go
In dueteronomy even tho they under the law
The tithes every third year the poor got em all
I ain't sayin you wrong if you live in burbs
I'm sayin turn your attention to the hood cause we hurting
Man if you ain't burdened please pick up your word an
Tho this world is going down while we here we can serve him
We bring this to the streets because we knew the streets
I pray that more would be burdend to have beautiful feet
You never knew the streets but truth is what you preach
I pray to god you'd be burdened for beautiful feet
Go, go, go (run with those beautiful feet)
Go, go, go
You hold the truth that saves so run and shout it to the world
They can't believe in something they ain't never heard
Go, go, go and run with those beautiful feet
The song "Beautiful Feet" by Lecrae/Dawntoya speaks on two individuals, Carlos and Eric, who found themselves in dangerous situations in their respective neighborhoods. Carlos was shot in the head and left disabled, until a missionary shared the Gospel with him and he gradually became a preacher in his own neighborhood. Likewise, Eric was attacked by rival gang members and ended up in the hospital, where he began to learn about the Bible. He eventually became a believer in Christ and desired to preach to his own community, but felt inhibited by the pressure to conform to a traditional seminary education.
The song emphasizes the need for believers to not only share the Gospel with others, but to also contextualize it to their specific communities. The lyrics reference Jesus' ministry as an example of contextualized preaching, targeting those who were poor, oppressed, and in need. Additionally, the song calls on more ministers to become involved in the darker, more dangerous parts of town, where many people may not have access to the Word.
In essence, the song is a reminder that the Word of God is meant for everyone, regardless of their neighborhood or circumstances, and that it is the duty of believers to share that Word with others, even if it means stepping outside of their comfort zone.
Line by Line Meaning
Carlos was born in killa cali
Carlos was born in California.
Was walking down an alley and caught a
While walking down an alley, he got shot.
Bullet in his head that left him bleeding badly
The bullet hit his head and caused severe bleeding.
He lost everything at that moment except his life
He lost most of his physical abilities, but he survived.
He lost his hearing lost his movement and he lost his sight
The injury affected his hearing, movement, and sight.
He laid there in a coma
He remained unconscious for a period of time.
But man nobody cared
Nobody paid attention to him.
The gospel preached in his neighborhood? nobody dared
Nobody dared to share the gospel with his community.
But los got up out the coma got and was able to hear
He woke up from the coma and regained his hearing.
A missionary shared the gospel to his open ears
A missionary shared the gospel with him, and he received it with an open heart.
He got saved got trained got discipled
He received salvation, training, and discipleship.
Back to hood
He returned to his community.
You could find em preaching the bible
He started preaching the Bible to his community.
He led a homie to christ from his same hood
He led someone from his community to Christ.
Part of church plant
He became part of a church-planting effort.
Come on now ain't his name good
His reputation and testimony were good.
This is blessing but I'm stressing that this is not the norm
This is a blessing, but unfortunately, it is not common.
We need leaders and belivers to help carry it on
We need more leaders and believers to continue sharing the gospel.
But who would minister in a sinister part of town
It can be challenging to find ministers who would serve in underprivileged communities.
I pray if jesus is calling you that you would be found
If Jesus calls you to serve in these communities, I pray that you will answer the call.
Eric used to go to bible study as a kid
Eric grew up attending Bible study.
He got older and started doing what the hood did
As he grew older, he became involved in negative behaviors common in his community.
A rival gang caught him slippin tried to take his life
A rival gang attacked him and attempted to kill him.
But the jammed up so them beat him nice
The gun malfunctioned, and instead of shooting him, they beat him up badly.
He woke up in the hospital singing bible songs
He woke up in the hospital singing songs he learned in Bible study.
Praise god he had a place to learn the bible from
He was grateful he had a place to learn the Bible.
But then he gets saved and wanna preach christ they
He received salvation and wanted to share the gospel with others.
Make him change his whole culture and way of life
People expected him to change his way of life to better align with Christian values.
He gotta get him a bachelors wear a suit and tie
Some people expected him to pursue a formal education and dress professionally.
Go to seminary
Some people expected him to attend seminary.
By then all of his boys will die
By the time he completes these expectations, his friends might have already died.
Jesus came to invade culture outta nazereth and used
Jesus came to transform culture, and He chose people from Nazareth to help Him with this mission.
A couple fisherman who people saw as hazardous
He chose fishermen who were perceived as dangerous or uneducated.
The feet are beautiful if only they'd go
Those who carry the gospel to others have beautiful feet.
If ain't nobody in hood preaching how will they know?
If nobody shares the gospel with underprivileged communities, they will remain ignorant of Christ's love.
Eric is better used taught trues in his context
Eric is better equipped to share the gospel in his community, given his life experiences.
Somebody please plant a church in his projects
It would be great if someone can establish a church in his community.
In luke 4 16 on down to 21 jesus says
In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus declares Himself the Messiah and cites Isaiah to describe His mission.
He's messiah says hes the chosen one
Jesus declares Himself as the Messiah, the chosen one.
That shows our savior targets oppressed
This also reveals Jesus' mission to target those who are oppressed.
Captive blind and the broke I'm saying
His mission is to reach people who are captive, blind, and poor.
Had a heart for the poor had a heart for the low
Jesus had compassion for the poor and underprivileged.
And 1st john 2:6 is way we should go
1 John 2:6 exhorts Christians to follow Christ's example.
In dueteronomy even tho they under the law
Even in Deuteronomy, God commanded His people to care for the poor.
The tithes every third year the poor got em all
God called His people to tithe, and every third year, the proceeds would go to those in need.
I ain't sayin you wrong if you live in burbs
Living in the suburbs is not inherently wrong.
I'm sayin turn your attention to the hood cause we hurting
However, we should also pay attention to underprivileged communities because they need the gospel.
Man if you ain't burdened please pick up your word an
If you don't feel compelled to share the gospel, please re-examine your priorities.
Tho this world is going down while we here we can serve him
Even though the world might be decaying, we can still serve God by sharing His love with others.
We bring this to the streets because we knew the streets
We share the gospel with underprivileged communities because we understand their struggles.
I pray that more would be burdend to have beautiful feet
I hope and pray that more people would be burdened to share the gospel with others.
You never knew the streets but truth is what you preach
Even if you didn't grow up in underprivileged communities, you can still preach the truth of the gospel.
I pray to god you'd be burdened for beautiful feet
Again, I hope and pray that God would burden you to bring the gospel to those in need.
Go, go, go (run with those beautiful feet)
This is an encouragement to go and preach the gospel.
Go, go, go
Again, an encouragement to go and share the gospel with others.
You hold the truth that saves so run and shout it to the world
The gospel is the truth that saves, so we should proclaim it loudly.
They can't believe in something they ain't never heard
People cannot believe in the gospel if they have never heard it before.
Go, go, go and run with those beautiful feet
Another exhortation to share the gospel with those who need it.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Courtney Peebles, Dawntoya Thomason, Le Crae Devaughn Moore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RedDevils2022
Everything about this song gives me nostalgic memories of when I was younger and was part of my youth group, over 10 years ago. I was very faith driven and was never shy about showing and expressing my faith to others. Honestly, I don’t know how or why I changed so much, but I truly need more of that younger me in my life now.
Kgwitthetea Kisha Green
Yes I feel the same way! This song does that for me as well! Let’s GO! God bless you 😊
Amos Chiwara
Water will still flow on the same path where it once did... Just ask for God to shower you with his living waters, wait and see what happens
UFO
praying for u 🙌
Abel Kaludzu
Still the best to date!! Encourages me to always share the Gospel with others
Matthew Moore
I first heard this while on a mission trip 10 years ago. We could definitely use more gospel preaching right now.
Charlly Nartey
Still one of the best songs ever!
Monika Imhof
Awesome song about reaching out to people that are not even your own. I am a white lady with a lot of black people around me as friends. It's amazing to see what God is doing and had done. Hate has been replaced indeed by love.
Luis Ortiz
This was a hook for me🙏...do it again Crae🙏
Albert Mushipi
Such an anointed song