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.”
Hands Up
Lecrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They say the places we venture a Christian shouldn't dare
Homie, that ain't holiness, it's fear, you scared
Homie, I swear, I won't see 'em by osmosis
Nope, I got a blood bought prognosis
From the age when shoulder blades held ghetto blaster
No such thing as Christian rap, but rappers who believe
Stand your ground, pound the mic consistent with the truth you speak
Really ain't that unique, y'all just never seen it
Unlike the elephants we won't let you ignore
Like arenas full of white kids all singing along
Make convos in the green room filled with awkward pauses
Don't think I don't know em, when they don't trust and it's all love
We just came to provide y'all the soundtrack of life
Like around here a life's like sounds from the mic, right
Every creed and color with their 116 tats
More humble rapper-tees all with their hands up
Understand before Grammys and stellas it was bars from the cellar
That soar higher than cellular
Less net worth, can't tell you my net worth
I ain't got a clue, low dough was never fuel to choose the type of tool we using
Just who and when, we could better prepare you to make amends with the savior
Destroy your turntables, say
[Hook:]
And you ain't got to understand, just hands up
And if you from the West that's W's up, it's all love
You and I know we both can't afford to ignore, hands up
East to the west, y'all, hands up
L.A. to the Bay, y'all, hands up
Hands up, everybody everybody, just hands up
Hands up
(Shout out to my man, Propaganda, from the mighty mighty Humble Beast
My name is Lecrae, I represent Reach, 116, unashamed believers)
[Verse 2: Lecrae]
Ayo, dial the seven digits, call a chemist
I compound underground sounds with pronouns so pronounce
Our name right, rappers who take a stand, C Boy
Pop the lock on minds of these slaves until they free, boy
Mischievous soul who don't get it, so we spit it
Where the smoke is blowing loud and the crowds are looking frigid
It's cold on the road, so the bars got to be hot
Christians want the message, but the world want to be shot
So I give 'em both until they choke but truthfully
If one side say you dope, the other think that you a joke
Let me clear my throat as I provoke you with these quotes
I got a Grammy in the closet, but I trade it for the hope of the people
'Cause these days evil
If you ain't seen Jesus, you don't want to see the sequel
People holla 116, 'cause they know we represent
Something bigger than the dollars and the cents
Still it don't make sense that I rock with killers in dark tents
Drinking liquor 'til they thinking of speaking in past tense
And it's past tense with pastors and past friends
Who don't understand the mission in some of my actions
Get your hands up
[Hook]
The song "Hands Up" by Lecrae featuring Propaganda is a powerful message about standing firm in one's faith and beliefs, even in the face of opposition. Propaganda starts the first verse by calling out the fear and hypocrisy behind the notion that Christians should not venture into certain places or engage with certain people. He emphasizes the importance of consistent and truthful communication and representation of the gospel, showcasing its power to stand on its own without being confined or limited by certain labels or categories. Propaganda highlights the unity and diversity within the community of believers, evidenced by the 116 tattoos and humble attitudes of those in the industry. Meanwhile, Lecrae's verse delves deeper into the challenges and tensions that come with being a Christian rapper in a secular world, where there are opposing expectations from both sides. He speaks about the sacrifices and trade-offs he has had to make in order to stay true to his calling and to reach a wider audience, including the temptations and struggles of those he encounters along the way. Ultimately, both verses point to the constant need to keep one's hands up in surrender and submission to God, as well as in solidarity and support for fellow believers.
Line by Line Meaning
They say the places we venture a Christian shouldn't dare
We are told that as Christians we should not go to certain places, but that is just fear talking.
Homie, that ain't holiness, it's fear, you scared
Being afraid of going to certain places is not a reflection of true holiness, it's just being scared.
Homie, I swear, I won't see 'em by osmosis
I won't become like others just by being around them; I have a blood-bought hope that sets me apart.
Nope, I got a blood bought prognosis
My future is secured by the blood of Jesus, not by my surroundings.
From the age when shoulder blades held ghetto blaster
Since I was young, music has been a part of my life - even before I believed in Christ.
No such thing as Christian rap, but rappers who believe
There is no specific genre called 'Christian rap'; there are just rappers who happen to believe in Christ and infuse that into their music.
Stand your ground, pound the mic consistent with the truth you speak
As a believer, I need to be steadfast in sharing the truth of God's word through my music and not compromise.
You could watch the gospel stand on it's own two feet
The gospel doesn't need any gimmicks or tricks to be effective; it can stand on its own two feet and speak for itself.
Really ain't that unique, y'all just never seen it
The concept of believers making music is not unique; you just haven't seen it done this way before.
Unlike the elephants we won't let you ignore
We won't let people ignore the message of the gospel like they might ignore an elephant in the room.
Like arenas full of white kids all singing along
There are large crowds of people who enjoy our music and sing along, including many who are not necessarily believers.
Make convos in the green room filled with awkward pauses
Sometimes conversations among fellow musicians and artists can be awkward when we have different beliefs and lifestyles.
Don't think I don't know em, when they don't trust and it's all love
I am aware when people don't trust me because of my faith, but I still treat them with love and respect.
We just came to provide y'all the soundtrack of life
Our music is meant to be a reflection of the joys, struggles and everything in between of life.
Every creed and color with their 116 tats
Our fans come from all backgrounds, with tattoos representing their belief in our movement.
More humble rapper-tees all with their hands up
Our fans are humble and supportive, with hands raised in praise during our performances.
Understand before Grammys and stellas it was bars from the cellar
Before we received awards and recognition, we were making music in humble settings.
That soar higher than cellular
Our music has the power to impact lives on a deep level that goes beyond just surface-level influence.
Less net worth, can't tell you my net worth
My worth as a person and artist is not defined by my material possessions, so I can't give you a net worth number.
I ain't got a clue, low dough was never fuel to choose the type of tool we using
I don't know the value of my worth in dollars; making money was never the driving force behind our music.
Just who and when, we could better prepare you to make amends with the savior
We focus on sharing the life-transforming message of the gospel, so that people can make peace with God.
And you ain't got to understand, just hands up
You don't have to fully comprehend our message or beliefs, but you can still enjoy our music and raise your hands in celebration.
And if you from the West that's W's up, it's all love
If you're from the West Coast, that's okay - we still love you and want you to enjoy our music.
You and I know we both can't afford to ignore, hands up
We all have struggles in life, but we can't afford to ignore the message of hope and faith in our music - so put your hands up and celebrate.
Ayo, dial the seven digits, call a chemist
Let's change the game and make something different - like calling a chemist to mix things up.
I compound underground sounds with pronouns so pronounce
I mix underground music with lyrical pronouns to create something fresh and unique.
Our name right, rappers who take a stand, C Boy
We want people to know our name and stand with us in our beliefs.
Pop the lock on minds of these slaves until they free, boy
We want to challenge the ways people think and inspire them to break free from negative mindsets.
Mischievous soul who don't get it, so we spit it
For those who don't understand our message, we share it through our music and lyrics.
Where the smoke is blowing loud and the crowds are looking frigid
We perform in venues where smoke machines are used to create atmosphere, but even if the crowd seems unresponsive, we keep going.
It's cold on the road, so the bars got to be hot
Touring can be tough, but we have to bring our best to the stage and keep performing at a high level.
Christians want the message, but the world want to be shot
Christians want the message of hope in our music, but those who are not believers might just want to party and have a good time.
So I give 'em both until they choke but truthfully
We give both sides what they want until they can't handle it anymore - but our message is always truthful.
If one side say you dope, the other think that you a joke
Some people love our music, while others don't take it seriously and think we're a joke.
Let me clear my throat as I provoke you with these quotes
I'm going to speak boldly and challenge you with my lyrics.
I got a Grammy in the closet, but I trade it for the hope of the people
Winning a Grammy is great, but what really matters is the hope that our music brings to people.
'Cause these days evil
There is a lot of evil in the world today, and our music addresses that.
If you ain't seen Jesus, you don't want to see the sequel
If you haven't experienced the life-changing power of Jesus, you might not be ready to see what comes next in our message.
People holla 116, 'cause they know we represent
Our fans know that when they shout '116', they are representing a movement of believers who make music with a message of hope.
Something bigger than the dollars and the cents
Our music is not about making money, but about something much bigger - sharing the truth of the gospel.
Still it don't make sense that I rock with killers in dark tents
Some people might be surprised that we perform in places that don't seem very 'Christian', but we are sharing our message with whoever will listen.
Drinking liquor 'til they thinking of speaking in past tense
We perform in venues where people are drinking and partying, and might be making bad decisions that could affect their future.
And it's past tense with pastors and past friends
Even some pastors and former friends might not understand or agree with our message and lifestyle.
Who don't understand the mission in some of my actions
Some people might not fully understand the motives behind the things we do, but we are just trying to share the love and hope of Christ.
Get your hands up
Raise your hands and celebrate with us, regardless of your background or beliefs.
Contributed by Violet N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
L
They say the places we venture a Christian shouldn’t dare
Homie, that ain’t holiness, it’s fear, you scared
Homie, I swear, I won’t sin by osmosis
Nope, I got a blood bought prognosis
From the age when shoulder blades held ghetto blaster
No such thing as Christian rap, but rappers who believe
Stand your ground, pound the mic consistent with the truth you speak
You could watch the gospel stand on its own two feet
Really ain’t that unique, y’all just never seen it
Unlike the elephants we won’t let you ignore
Like arenas full of white kids all singing along
Make convos in the green room filled with awkward pauses
Don’t think I don’t know em, when they don't trust and it’s all love
We just came to provide y’all the soundtrack of life
Like around here a life’s like sounds from the mic, right
Every creed and color with their 116 tats
More humble rapper-tees all with their hands up
Understand before Grammys and stellas it was bars from the cellar
That soar higher than cellular
Less net worth, can’t tell you my net worth
I ain’t got a clue, low dough was never fuel to choose the type of tool we using
Just who and when, we could better prepare you to make amends with the Savior
Destroy your turntables, say
[Chorus: Propaganda & Lecrae]
And you ain’t got to understand, just hands up
And if you from the West that’s W’s up, it’s all love
You and I know we both can’t afford to ignore, hands up
East to the west, y’all, hands up
L.A. to the Bay, y’all, hands up
Hands up, everybody everybody, just hands up
Hands up
[Interlude]
Shout out to my man, Propaganda, from the mighty mighty Humble Beast
My name is Lecrae, I represent Reach, 116, unashamed believers
[Verse 2: Lecrae]
Ayo, dial the seven digits, call a chemist
I compound underground sounds with pronouns so pronounce
Our name right, rappers who take a stand, B-Boy
Pop the lock on minds of these slaves until they free, boy
Mischievous soul who don’t get it, so we spit it
Where the smoke is blowing loud and the crowds are looking frigid
It’s cold on the road, so the bars got to be hot
Christians want the message, but the world want to be shot
So I give ‘em both until they choke but truthfully
If one side say you dope, the other think that you a joke
Let me clear my throat as I provoke you with these quotes
I got a Grammy in the closet, but I trade it for the hope of the people
‘Cause these days evil
If you ain’t seen Jesus, you don’t want to see the sequel
People holla 116, ‘cause they know we represent
Something bigger than the dollars and the cents
Still it don’t make sense that I rock with killers in dark tents
Drinking liquor ‘til they thinking of speaking in past tense
And it’s past tense with pastors and past friends
Who don’t understand the mission in some of my actions
Get your hands up
And you ain’t got to understand, just hands up
And if you from the West that’s W’s up, it’s all love
You and I know we both can’t afford to ignore, hands up
East to the west, y’all, hands up
L.A. to the Bay, y’all, hands up
Hands up, everybody everybody, just hands up
Hands up
Reach Records
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Samuel Noack
Propaganda nailed it, but Lecrae definitely had one of the best verses on the whole album here
Jonathan Rees
And the best line in all of rap, "If you aint seen Jesus you aint wanna see the sequel"
Topo Badisang
Rest In Peace DJ Efechto🙏🏾. The best song on CC2 alongside Misconceptions 2. Prop & Crae went in.
Savior965
Prop killin it!! Some of the best lines in the entire mix tape!
Jeanee Rhodes
I think I've probably listened to this 1K times😁 still hits so hard!
TORIN80 H
No such thing as Christian rap, just rappers who believe! Amen! Prop#
Egomi
Amazing track! Absolutely fantastic! Propaganda! Nice job.
Elis Thylin
Feeling this! The new album is sick!
Rebeca M
My favorite out of this album. God bless 116!