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.”
Identity
Lecrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shoes, check!
A brand new fit, lookin' cool, check!
I'm lookin' in the mirror like oooh, yes!
To cover for an insecure dude, check!
But she won't feel me and they won't like me
If I ain't in them J's or them brand new nikes
Let's dig deeper inside my psyche
He live in the gym and his hair stay faded
Late model car so they think he made it
He's Christian, he gave his life
But he still ain't satisfied in the savior Christ
Still finds his identity in looks and cars
If he only knew that he ain't have to look so hard
If he looked in God
It may seem odd
But he be so satisfied, he can leave it all
I'm not the shoes I wear
I'm not the clothes I buy
I'm not the house I live in
I'm not the car I drive, no
I'm not the job I work
You can't define my worth
By nothing on God's green earth
My identity is found in Christ, is found in Christ
Got her hair done, toes, nails
Is that Her, well it's hard to tell
Cause she's so caked up in all that make up
It's like she tryna make up for what she ain't but
She's a saint, but so confused
Cause she's been rejected by all these dudes
That tell her on a scale of 10 she's a two
But that ain't true
If she only knew
In Christ she is loved, she secure and accepted
Never be rejected by God whose elected her
Her beauty is her Godliness
And she ain't gotta flaunt it cause it's obvious
Identity is found in the God we trust
And any other identity will self destruct
Identity is found in the God we trust
And any other identity will self destruct
I'm not the shoes I wear
I'm not the clothes I buy
I'm not the house I live in
I'm not the car I drive, no
I'm not the job I work
You can't define my worth
By nothing on God's green earth
My identity is found in Christ, is found in Christ
Hey, how do I gain success
Why do I say I'm blessed, huh
Is it the car that I drive
Or the place that I rest
Or the way that I dress, now, now
Is the cause of my pride
The stage and the set
Or my face in the press, now, now
It's the applause that dies
When the praise is less
If my face is depressed, then, then
It's cause my value and worth is in the volume of the work I produce in the booth
It's a prize and a curse if defined by the perks when the truth is through
Man I won't feel like I don't want to live no more, no more, no more
Cause they don't like me, like they did in 04, 04, 04
So I swallow my pride empowered by God, I'm complete in Him
He's got peace God's priest, I'm in
In His presence weak is strength
Meet His kin
We His brethren
Read this list
Me forgiven
He's dismissed guilt and my sin
And then I find my worth cause I'm Jesus' friend
I'm not the shoes I wear
I'm not the clothes I buy
I'm not the house I live in
I'm not the car I drive, no
I'm not the job I work
You can't define my worth
By nothing on God's green earth
My identity is found in Christ, is found in Christ
The song "Identity" by Lecrae is a reflection of the struggle that individuals face when trying to define their identity. The song talks about the superficial things that people use to define themselves, such as their clothes, shoes, and cars, and how these things do not bring true happiness or satisfaction. The song also touches on the issue of beauty and how people often use makeup or other products to hide their insecurities and try to fit in with societal standards.
The lyrics "If he only knew that he ain't have to look so hard, If he looked in God, It may seem odd, But he be so satisfied, he can leave it all" suggest that true satisfaction can be found in a deeper spiritual connection or relationship with God, rather than in material possessions or physical appearance. Towards the end of the song, the lyrics highlight the importance of finding worth and value in God rather than in the things that we do or the applause that we receive.
Overall, "Identity" provides a meaningful commentary on the struggle to find true meaning in life, and how our identity should not be solely defined by the external things that we possess or our physical appearance.
Line by Line Meaning
Hair, check!
I have made sure my hair looks good before I leave.
Shoes, check!
I have checked that I am wearing the right shoes.
A brand new fit, lookin' cool, check!
I am wearing brand new clothes that make me feel cool and confident.
I'm lookin' in the mirror like oooh, yes!
I am admiring my appearance in the mirror and feeling good about how I look.
To cover for an insecure dude, check!
I am trying to cover up my insecurity by looking good and feeling confident.
But she won't feel me and they won't like me
I believe that if I don't have the right shoes or clothes, people won't like me and girls won't be interested in me.
If I ain't in them J's or them brand new nikes
I think that if I don't have the latest and coolest shoes, people won't accept me or think I'm cool.
Let's dig deeper inside my psyche
I need to look deeper into my thoughts and emotions to understand why I feel so dependent on my appearance to feel secure.
When it's all said and done even I don't like me
Even though I try to look good and feel confident, deep down I still don't fully like or accept myself.
He live in the gym and his hair stay faded
This man spends a lot of time at the gym and takes care of his appearance, making sure his hair looks faded.
Late model car so they think he made it
He has a new and expensive car, which makes people think he has achieved success in life.
He's Christian, he gave his life
He is a Christian and has dedicated his life to serving God.
But he still ain't satisfied in the savior Christ
Even though he is a Christian, he still feels like something is missing and isn't fully satisfied.
Still finds his identity in looks and cars
He still relies on his appearance and possessions to define his sense of self-worth.
If he only knew that he ain't have to look so hard
If he understood that his worth doesn't come from his appearance or possessions, he wouldn't have to work so hard to maintain that image.
If he looked in God
If he looked to God for his sense of worth and identity,
It may seem odd
It might seem unusual or unfamiliar,
But he be so satisfied, he can leave it all
But he would find true satisfaction and be able to let go of his dependence on material possessions and appearance to feel secure.
Got her hair done, toes, nails
She has recently had her hair, toes, and nails done.
Is that Her, well it's hard to tell
It's difficult to recognize her because she looks different with her new appearance.
Cause she's so caked up in all that make up
She is wearing a lot of makeup, which makes her look overly done-up.
It's like she tryna make up for what she ain't but
It's as if she's trying to compensate for something she feels she lacks.
She's a saint, but so confused
She is a devout Christian, but she is also very uncertain and confused.
Cause she's been rejected by all these dudes
She has been rejected by men in the past, which has impacted her self-esteem.
That tell her on a scale of 10 she's a two
The men who have rejected her have made her feel unattractive and undesirable, rating her a 'two' out of ten.
But that ain't true
Their opinions of her are not accurate or true.
If she only knew
If she understood,
In Christ she is loved, she secure and accepted
She is deeply loved, secure, and fully accepted by God through her faith in Christ.
Never be rejected by God whose elected her
God has chosen her and will never reject her, no matter what others may say or do.
Her beauty is her Godliness
Her true beauty comes from her relationship with God and her Christ-like character.
And she ain't gotta flaunt it cause it's obvious
She doesn't need to show off or prove her worth, because her inner beauty is obvious to those around her.
Hey, how do I gain success
I am wondering how I can achieve success in my life.
Why do I say I'm blessed, huh
I wonder why I talk about being blessed so much.
Is it the car that I drive
Do I feel blessed because I have a nice car?
Or the place that I rest
Is it because I have a nice house to live in?
Or the way that I dress, now, now
Do I feel blessed because of the clothes I wear?
Is the cause of my pride
Have I become too proud because of my possessions?
The stage and the set
Do I feel successful because of my performances on stage?
Or my face in the press, now, now
Or is it because I am getting attention from the media?
It's the applause that dies
I realize that the applause and praise from others won't last forever.
When the praise is less
When people stop praising me or giving me attention,
If my face is depressed, then, then
I will feel down or depressed.
It's cause my value and worth is in the volume of the work I produce in the booth
I have been placing too much value on my work as a musician, believing that my worth is based on how much I produce or achieve in that area.
It's a prize and a curse if defined by the perks when the truth is through
There is a downside to defining my worth based on my success or possessions - it can become a burden instead of a blessing.
Man I won't feel like I don't want to live no more, no more, no more
If I continue to base my worth on these external things, I will eventually begin to feel like I don't want to live anymore.
Cause they don't like me, like they did in 04, 04, 04
If people stop liking me or paying attention to me like they did in the past, it will deeply hurt and affect me.
So I swallow my pride empowered by God, I'm complete in Him
I need to humble myself and recognize that my worth comes from my relationship with God, and I am fully complete and fulfilled in Him.
He's got peace God's priest, I'm in
God has given me peace and I am His follower and representative on earth.
In His presence weak is strength
In God's presence, even when I feel weak and inadequate, I find strength and security.
Meet His kin
I am part of God's family and am loved and accepted by my fellow believers.
We His brethren
We are all brothers and sisters in Christ.
Read this list
Consider the truth of what I have just said.
Me forgiven
I have been forgiven for my mistakes and wrongdoings.
He's dismissed guilt and my sin
God has erased my guilt and forgiven me for my sins.
And then I find my worth cause I'm Jesus' friend
I realize that my worth and identity come from my relationship with Jesus, and that's enough to satisfy and fulfill me.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRANDON ARMSTRONG, ANDREW DWIGGINS, RYAN JORDAN, DOUGLAS RANDALL, MARC WANNINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SCOkok
Lyrics:
Hair, check!
Shoes, check!
A brand new fit, lookin' cool, check!
I'm lookin' in the mirror like oooh, yes!
To cover for an insecure dude, check!
But she won't feel me and they won't like me
If I ain't in them J's or them brand new nikes
Let's dig deeper inside my psyche
When it's all said and done even I don't like me
He live in the gym and his hair stay faded
Late model car so they think he made it
He's Christian, he gave his life
But he still ain't satisfied in the savior Christ
Still finds his identity in looks and cars
If he only knew that he ain't have to look so hard
If he looked in God
It may seem odd
But he be so satisfied, he can leave it all
I'm not the shoes I wear
I'm not the clothes I buy
I'm not the house I live in
I'm not the car I drive, no
I'm not the job I work
You can't define my worth
By nothing on God's green earth
My identity is found in Christ, is found in Christ
Hey, how do I gain success
Why do I say I'm blessed, huh
Is it the car that I drive
Or the place that
I rest
Or the way that I dress, now, now
Is the cause of my pride
The stage and the set
Or my face in the press, now, now
It's the applause that dies
When the praise is less
If my face is depressed, then, then
It's cause my value and worth is in the volume of the work I produce in the booth
It's a prize and a curse if defined by the perks when the truth is through
Man I won't feel like I don't want to live no more, no more, no more
Cause they don't like me, like they did in 04, 04, 04
So I swallow my pride empowered by God, I'm complete in Him
He's got peace God's priest, I'm in
In His presence weak is strength
Meet His kin
We His brethren
Read this list
Me forgiven
He's dismissed guilt and my sin
And then I find my worth cause I'm Jesus' friend
I'm not the shoes I wear
I'm not the clothes I buy
I'm not the house I live in
I'm not the car I drive, no
I'm not the job I work
You can't define my worth
By nothing on God's green earth
My identity is found in Christ, is found in Christ
Got her hair done, toes, nails
Is that Her, well it's hard to tell
Cause she's so caked up in all that make up
It's like she tryna make up for what she ain't but
She's a saint, but so confused
Cause she's been rejected by all these dudes
That tell her on a scale of 10 she's a two
But that ain't true
If she only knew
In Christ she is loved, she secure and accepted
Never be rejected by God whose elected her
Her beauty is her Godliness
And she ain't gotta flaunt it cause it's obvious
Identity is found in the God we trust
And any other identity will self destruct
Identity is found in the God we trust
And any other identity will self destruct
I'm not the shoes I wear
I'm not the clothes I buy
I'm not the house I live in
I'm not the car I drive, no
I'm not the job I work
You can't define my worth
By nothing on God's green earth
My identity is found in Christ, is found in Christ
@OthoWilliamsJr
@jane Patton
Well Lecrae is Preaching Life....
Speaking on How Our Identity is NOT in things.
Oh yes, I hear the words: Christ, God, etc....
STILL a message. And who exploded, corny uno reverse. YOU came on my comment with YOUR crap.
This song is about Having Esteem in Who YOU are BUT NOT in things❗
BUT since YOU hear the word: God. That means that's the ONLY way to look @ a song❓❗
@janepatton8100
@Otho Williams Jr.
This is actually rather hilarious. So I came into your comment section huh... Lol.
Sir, I know you might be a bit confused, being that it's kinda late. But you're listening to a Christian rap song, by Christian rappers, who are obviously preaching Christ.
Exhibit A...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8ko0DOLqMHla_rSPVtfb9l07NyJGcBe3
Therefore, your annoyance is equivalent to you walking into a church and becoming annoyed by the parishioners praising Christ, while claiming that they're violating your space by talking to you about God. All while insisting that the choir isn't singing about the Lord, but is actually singing about you esteeming yourself... Lol.
I promise, you can't make this stuff up folks... 😅.
Anyway, check out the rest of the album and let me know what you think. In particular the song, "Don't Waist Your Life".
God bless!!!
@reachrecords
Never miss a beat! Subscribe to Lecrae's channel for the latest tracks! 💯
http://bit.ly/LecraeVEVO
@kingkinsleymaimela1407
I miss the old Lecrae 🥺;;; I have been listening to all of his old tracks .#BringBackOldCrae👌🏻
@eliasvillagomez9484
I'm not popular in school but this song showed me I don't need to be popular. All i know is that my identity is found in Christ
@kenyalove7343
It's okay not to be popular....besides all the popular people I knew usually got off into drugs, and had hard lives trying to "stay popular". You're better off knowing who you are in Christ and loving who you are in Him! God bless!
@momoredel2295
God bless you
@happygoluckyrayofsunshine8820
Amen
@trulyworkfromhome6767
Amen, trust me, when u get my age middle 30s, the popular that are in school become not so popular. I wasn't popular in school either but now am very happy with my life. Most of the popular ones I used to know in school went down the wrong path.
@OthoWilliamsJr
@Work From Home With Truly
Right they're ALL hard looking, & wore out smh
@elianac042
i remember listening to this song with my dad in the car when i was in kindergarten, im 19 now and listening to this song gives me goosebumps. makes me wanna cry these words were the words that led me to jesus, my dad wasn’t the best and he wasn’t always there but im so glad him and my mom always kept Gods word in my life. i love this song
@Isaia.h
God bless, hope you're doing well