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.”
Gotta know
Lecrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You ever feel like life just comin' at ya a million miles an hour?
(You just gotta know)
You just gotta know
Somebody's holdin' it all together
Life is like an elevator, a lot of ups and downs
People pushin' your buttons and gettin' jerked around
Workin' so that I could hit the ground with the perfect sound
Even perfect sound sounds like work
When you spend your time flirtin' with the crown in the perp
I was bound for Berzerk with a layover in Crazy,
Got lazy Jay-Z hopin' rocker fellas paid me
Or rockin' ladies were caught me a Mercedes
But that whole dream was in â??80's baby
Missed that shot like the cop that's crooked
TV goes off, third eye still lookin'
Mom still cookin', I can always go home
Even though I'm five years past grown (five years past grown)
Here I go again, I'm still chasin' the wind, I can't win
When it gets hot, it boils down to sin
If Heaven ain't a gift, then I ain't getting' in (man)
I can't even find the words for the way I feel
So I paint a picture, I paint a picture
I've been goin' down this road, seen some crazy things
So I paint a picture, you gots to see it
You just gotta know
You just gotta know
You just gotta know
You just gotta know
(Yeah) I sit and hear the guitars play,
Wonder if they could, what would stars say or Venus and Mars say
Or say that we want it our way,
Stars so desperate to shine that they go on livin' the hard way
The intellect to travel to Mars but so blind,
We worship Venus but she don't even know who we are
And she never cared why cuz she wasn't there
When I was tryin' to drown my sorrows in a pool of despair
I ain't perfect, sometimes I feel worthless,
Worth less than that is the image that I'da purchased
Man, from the shades to the shirt to the shoes,
Just another fool tryin' to cover he's confused, that ain't cool
Sometimes I hate the man in the mirror
Cuz I know he's a liar and a cheater and a killer
People say they love him but they love what he can give 'em,
But deep inside he knows that there's a reason for him livin'
I can't even find the words for the way I feel
So I paint a picture, I paint a picture
I've been goin' down this road, seen some crazy things
So I paint a picture, you gots to see it
You just gotta know
You just gotta know
You just gotta know
You just gotta know
(Uh) You know I need you like aqua,
Day without ya got me so nauseous,
If I ain't cautious, I'm gonna self-inflict my sickness
You know it's true, you as my witness
At how you witness my inconsistence
Yes, the ovation when I need your assistance
And I just gotta know that even though I'm a misfit
I'm still worth more than calamity's French kiss
Yes I'm loved, and I'm pursued
And though I can't feel it, still I know that it's true
Somebody woke me up, and yeah, I know it was you
And yet I keep tryin' to steer clear of your view
Cuz if you get me, I know that you got me
But I'm so insecure I can't believe that you want me
But then I heard you went on your way to adopt me
Well you can have my all if you swear you won't drop me
Cuz I gotta know (yeah)
You just gotta know (gotta know, gotta know)
You just gotta know (gotta know, gotta know that it's real)
You just gotta know (gotta know, gotta know that it's real)
You just gotta know (hey, hey, gotta know that it's real)
You just gotta know (gotta know, gotta know)
You just gotta know (gotta know, gotta know that it's real)
You just gotta know (gotta know, gotta know that it's real)
You just gotta know (hey, hey, gotta know that it's real)
In "Gotta Know" by Lecrae feat. Benjah, the lyrics express the feeling of being overwhelmed by the weight of life, and the need for a higher power to hold everything together. Life is portrayed as an elevator with ups and downs, and people pushing each other's buttons, causing chaos and confusion. The artist talks about his own personal struggles with trying to find success in the music industry, pursuing fame and fortune, but eventually realizing that Heaven is the ultimate goal.
The lyrics also touch on themes of self-doubt and insecurity, expressed through the line "Sometimes I hate the man in the mirror, cuz I know he's a liar and a cheater and a killer." The artist acknowledges his flaws and imperfections, but also realizes that there is a higher power who loves and pursues him, despite his shortcomings.
Overall, the song speaks to the human need for a higher power to hold everything together in the chaos of life, and the struggle to find purpose and meaning amidst the ups and downs.
Line by Line Meaning
You ever feel like life just comin' at ya a million miles an hour?
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the speed and complexity of life?
Somebody's holdin' it all together
There is someone who is in control of everything
Life is like an elevator, a lot of ups and downs
Life has its ups and downs, like riding in an elevator
People pushin' your buttons and gettin' jerked around
People can aggravate and frustrate you, leaving you feeling out of control
Even perfect sound sounds like work
Even when you achieve something you're striving for, it can still require effort
When you spend your time flirtin' with the crown in the perp
When you focus on impressing others and seeking attention, it can distract you from what's truly important
I was bound for Berzerk with a layover in Crazy,
My life was headed towards self-destructive behavior and mental instability
Got lazy Jay-Z hopin' rocker fellas paid me
I became complacent and relied on the hope of fame and fortune
But that whole dream was in â??80's baby
The dream of achieving rockstar fame and wealth was from a bygone era, and was not realistic anymore
Missed that shot like the cop that's crooked
I missed my opportunity, like a corrupt police officer who fails to catch a criminal
TV goes off, third eye still lookin'
Even when the distractions of TV and entertainment are gone, I still struggle to find meaning and purpose
Mom still cookin', I can always go home
Despite my challenges and failures, my mother is a constant source of support and comfort for me
Here I go again, I'm still chasin' the wind, I can't win
I feel stuck in a cycle of chasing unattainable goals and experiencing failure
When it gets hot, it boils down to sin
When life gets tough, it can lead to moral failures and wrongdoing
If Heaven ain't a gift, then I ain't getting' in (man)
If getting into heaven is not based on grace but on our own efforts, I know I will not make it
I can't even find the words for the way I feel
It's difficult to articulate my emotions
So I paint a picture, I paint a picture
I express myself through art
Seen some crazy things
I have experienced some disturbing situations
You just gotta see it
You have to witness it to truly understand
Wonder if they could, what would stars say or Venus and Mars say
I wonder how celebrities or even planets would react in certain situations
Or say that we want it our way,
Or acknowledge our desire for things to go our way
Stars so desperate to shine that they go on livin' the hard way
Celebrities often struggle with maintaining their fame and significance in the public eye
The intellect to travel to Mars but so blind,
We have the capability to achieve great things, but we are still limited by our own biases and ignorance
We worship Venus but she don't even know who we are
We focus our attention on things that are irrelevant and not concerned about us
I ain't perfect, sometimes I feel worthless,
I am flawed and sometimes feel like I have no value
Man, from the shades to the shirt to the shoes,
I try to project an image of coolness with my clothing and accessories
Just another fool tryin' to cover he's confused, that ain't cool
I'm just trying to hide my confusion and uncertainty, which is not admirable or helpful
Sometimes I hate the man in the mirror
I dislike myself and what I see when I look in the mirror
Cuz I know he's a liar and a cheater and a killer
I am aware of my own shortcomings and sins
People say they love him but they love what he can give 'em,
Others may express love towards me, but it is often conditional and based on what I can offer them
But deep inside he knows that there's a reason for him livin'
Despite my flaws, I believe that there is a purpose for my life
You know I need you like aqua,
I need you like I need water to survive
Day without ya got me so nauseous,
When I go a day without you, I feel sick to my stomach
If I ain't cautious, I'm gonna self-inflict my sickness
I am capable of causing my own emotional pain and suffering
You know it's true, you as my witness
You can attest to the truth of my feelings
At how you witness my inconsistence
You see how inconsistent I am in my emotions and actions
Yes, the ovation when I need your assistance
I rely on your help and support when I am struggling
And I just gotta know that even though I'm a misfit
Despite feeling like I don't fit in, I need to know that I am accepted and valued
I'm still worth more than calamity's French kiss
I have inherent worth and value, even in the midst of difficult circumstances
Yes I'm loved, and I'm pursued
I know that I am loved and pursued by you
And though I can't feel it, still I know that it's true
Even if I can't emotionally sense your love, I have faith in its reality
Somebody woke me up, and yeah, I know it was you
You helped me wake up to the reality of my situation and my need for you
And yet I keep tryin' to steer clear of your view
Despite knowing that I need you, I sometimes try to keep you at a distance
If you get me, I know that you got me
If I allow myself to be vulnerable with you, I know that you will take care of me
But I'm so insecure I can't believe that you want me
My insecurities make it difficult for me to believe that you truly love and want me
But then I heard you went on your way to adopt me
I know that you have gone out of your way to care for and love me
Well you can have my all if you swear you won't drop me
I am willing to entrust my entire life to you, as long as you promise to never abandon me
You just gotta know
You need to understand this truth
(gotta know, gotta know that it's real)
This truth is real and significant
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benjamin Thom, Justin David Michael Boller, Le Crae Devaughn Moore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Reach Records
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T-Mark
This hits home everytime not his most popular song but rocks my soul!
Chriss Simpson
It's nice to see a Christian rapper now a days! Lecrae is awesome and I love his music that's positive and uplifting! It's nice to see a positive role model in the rap game now a days!
Noah AG
There is a lot of Christain rappers you should look into it
complex lifestyle
This should have 40m views! This takes me back to when I fell in love with his music. And fell in love with this album.
Tendai Mukonavanhu
This song has pulled me out of many emotional funks
Tø¥ga
As músicas dele é as melhores pra ouvir em qualquer lugar 😊❤🎶
ayren walker
"I'm so insecure I cant believe that you want me" felt. I love his old music has a special place in my heart!!
Azariah
I remember going to a concert with him and some other Cristian singers and he was my favorite and I asked my mom what one of the songs were called and now I'm looking at the album and it just brought so much memory's back
Teasha-Ann Laylor
"If Heaven ain't a gift I ain't getting in..." That hit another way. #ThankYouGod