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.”
Mayday
Lecrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Awakened from my slumber by the thunder, lightning clapping
Raining on my window pane and praying I make something happen
A preacher's prophecies never bothered me when I was younger
Sitting on my Grandma's lap, as she cried I often wondered
What was her tears for?
Could it be for my grandfather?
Then she see the world will up and turn on me
'Cause the morals that she often spoke were meant for 1923
I fall asleep off in her arms, a Psalm was spoken
The Lord is surely my shepherd, he lead me to the water
Thought that often stuck with with me
Amongst the wolves that run the streets
Out here paying dues to lose
I pray your angels come for me
A non-believer I never have and never could be
Lord give me time to peep the signs I should see
Sipping got me feeling like a player riding clean
Bending corners hoping I might find my Savior on the curb
I rarely go to Church
False prophets rocking Prada so I rarely feel the word
Jezebels lurking in the pews on the first
Preacher's weaker than the deacon 'cause it's hard to fight the urge
It's hard to live and serve when you on the Devil's turf
Sell your soul for the low with no sense of what it's worth
Don't get it twisted, I ain't no saint, I ain't no pastor
But prayer ain't just for cloudy days and natural disasters
Aware of what comes after, I bet you ain't for sure
I was warned that Heaven ain't the only place to go
I'm doing what I can cause there really ain't much time
I leave this in the Lord hands
I'm tired of crying
Yeah, close it
Man down
Hope and pray and say I can't turn (Man down)
He will find you, this world will grind you down
Don't you be another (Man down)
Hope and pray and say you can turn (Man down)
Help is just one prayer away
Don't be afraid to say
Mayday
Father forgive us for we know not what we do
Am I bias? I been pious put my nose up in the pews
Like Paul I bear good news
They think I'm pall-bearing
My message sounds like death to these hearers as they perish
Scaring to think we on the brink of death
But no one stops to look for answers on what happens next
Got a couple scriptures from my grandma
Sayings from a preacher
But can't live out these standards that we heard it takes to reach 'em
But when I look at Jesus
He live the life I couldn't
Suffered for my crime so I wouldn't
I used to have to sneak into movies 'cause I couldn't afford to pay
Explain to me how someone paved my way
When I hear K.R.I.T. Confessing I respect him
Cause most of us be lying like our lives don't need perfecting
Nothing that we can muster, nothing that we can change
Admitting that we're imperfect, offending God with our games
Look I'm just being honest so don't take me for no lame
I seen it for myself, I'm a product of this thing
Now I found true religion, and it's not inside a denim
And 'em overpriced shades are never giving us vision, let's go
Man down
Hope and pray and say I can't turn (Man down)
He will find you, this world will grind you down
Don't you be another (Man down)
Hope and pray and say you can turn (Man down)
I seen another to know, so urgent
Keep callin'
Help is just one call away
Don't be afraid to say
Mayday
Mayday
Help is just one call away
Don't you be afraid to say
Mayday
The lyrics of the song 'Mayday' by Lecrae feat. Big K.R.I.T. & Ashthon Jones talks about the struggles of life and the fight against the evils of the world. The song begins with the singer being awakened by the thunder and praying for something to happen in his life. He remembers his grandma crying and wonders why she is sad. The singer falls asleep while his grandma tells him that the Lord is his shepherd, and he leads him to the water. The line 'Out here paying dues to lose' means that even though he is doing good deeds, he is not getting any benefit in return.
The singer says that he rarely goes to church because he sees false prophets wearing branded clothes and Jezebels lurking in the pews. He says that it's hard to live and serve when you're on the devil's turf. The chorus 'Man down, hope and pray and say I can't turn, He will find you, this world will grind you down, don't you be another, hope and pray and say you can turn' encourages the listener to seek help from God and not be lost in the world. The second verse talks about the struggle of finding answers on what happens after death. The singer admits that he is imperfect and has found true religion, which is not inside a denim or overpriced shades.
Line by Line Meaning
Awakened from my slumber by the thunder, lightning clapping
I woke up to a storm outside and it made me think about my life
Raining on my window pane and praying I make something happen
I'm hoping that this storm is a sign for me to take action and change my life
A preacher's prophecies never bothered me when I was younger
I used to ignore religious teachings when I was younger
Sitting on my Grandma's lap, as she cried I often wondered
My grandmother's emotions made me curious about life's hardships
What was her tears for?
I'm not sure what made my grandmother cry
Could it be for my grandfather?
Maybe my grandmother was crying because she missed my grandfather
Or maybe she felt for me 'cause I'll see more of those cold tomorrows
Perhaps my grandmother was sad for me because I'll experience hardships in my future
Then she see the world will up and turn on me
My grandmother knew that life can be tough and unpredictable
'Cause the morals that she often spoke were meant for 1923
My grandmother's teachings were old-fashioned and maybe not so relevant today
I fall asleep off in her arms, a Psalm was spoken
I found comfort in listening to my grandmother's religious teachings
The Lord is surely my shepherd, he lead me to the water
I remember a specific Psalm that talked about God guiding and protecting us
Thought that often stuck with with me
That message stayed with me even as I grew older
Amongst the wolves that run the streets
I feel like I'm surrounded by danger and temptation in my everyday life
Out here paying dues to lose
I'm struggling to make it in life and often feel like I'm losing more than winning
I pray your angels come for me
I hope that God sends his angels to protect me from harm
A non-believer I never have and never could be
I've always believed in God, even if I didn't always follow religious teachings
Lord give me time to peep the signs I should see
I'm asking God to guide me and show me the right path
Sipping got me feeling like a player riding clean
When I drink, I feel confident and powerful
Bending corners hoping I might find my Savior on the curb
I'm searching for God and hoping to find him in unexpected places
I rarely go to Church
I don't attend church as often as I should
False prophets rocking Prada so I rarely feel the word
I don't trust some religious leaders who act hypocritically
Jezebels lurking in the pews on the first
I've seen people who seem to worship God but actually have malicious intentions
Preacher's weaker than the deacon 'cause it's hard to fight the urge
Even religious leaders struggle with temptation and sin
It's hard to live and serve when you on the Devil's turf
It's difficult to stay true to yourself and your beliefs when you're surrounded by negativity
Sell your soul for the low with no sense of what it's worth
Some people seem to compromise their morals for very little gain
Don't get it twisted, I ain't no saint, I ain't no pastor
I'm not perfect and I don't pretend to be extremely religious
But prayer ain't just for cloudy days and natural disasters
I believe in the power of prayer in both good times and bad
Aware of what comes after, I bet you ain't for sure
I'm aware that there's an afterlife but uncertain about the details
I was warned that Heaven ain't the only place to go
I've heard that there are other potential destinations after death besides Heaven
I'm doing what I can cause there really ain't much time
I'm trying to do my best to live a good life because time is precious
I leave this in the Lord hands
I trust in God to guide and protect me
I'm tired of crying
I'm exhausted from dealing with life's challenges and want to find some peace and happiness
Man down
This is a cry for help when someone is struggling
Hope and pray and say I can't turn (Man down)
Even when someone feels like they're stuck, they can still have faith and ask for help
He will find you, this world will grind you down
Life can be tough but God will still be there to support us
Don't you be another (Man down)
Don't give up and become another person struggling in life
Hope and pray and say you can turn (Man down)
Believe in yourself and have faith that you can change your circumstances
Help is just one prayer away
Asking for help from God can make all the difference
Don't be afraid to say
Don't be ashamed or hesitant to ask for help
Mayday
This is a distress signal, asking for help and support
Father forgive us for we know not what we do
This is a prayer for forgiveness for our sins and mistakes
Am I bias? I been pious put my nose up in the pews
The singer wonders if their devotion to God makes them biased or judgmental towards non-believers
Like Paul I bear good news
The singer believes they have a positive message to share, like the apostle Paul
They think I'm pall-bearing
Others may perceive the artist as bringing a message of doom and gloom
My message sounds like death to these hearers as they perish
Some people reject the message of faith and view it as negative
Scaring to think we on the brink of death
It's unsettling to consider our own mortality
But no one stops to look for answers on what happens next
People are often too caught up in their daily lives to consider life's big questions
Got a couple scriptures from my grandma
The artist has received religious teachings from his grandmother
Sayings from a preacher
The singer has heard religious teachings from a preacher as well
But can't live out these standards that we heard it takes to reach 'em
The singer realizes that it's difficult to live up to religious teachings, even if they're inspiring
But when I look at Jesus
The singer finds hope and inspiration from the figure of Jesus
He live the life I couldn't
The artist admires Jesus for having lived a perfect life
Suffered for my crime so I wouldn't
The artist believes that Jesus' suffering has saved him from punishment
I used to have to sneak into movies 'cause I couldn't afford to pay
The singer has experienced financial hardship in the past
Explain to me how someone paved my way
The singer questions how they've been able to succeed despite their struggles
When I hear K.R.I.T. Confessing I respect him
The artist admires rapper Big K.R.I.T. for being honest about his flaws and struggles
Cause most of us be lying like our lives don't need perfecting
The artist believes that many people are in denial about their own imperfections
Nothing that we can muster, nothing that we can change
The artist feels helpless to improve themselves or their situation
Admitting that we're imperfect, offending God with our games
The singer acknowledges that their faults may have consequences for their relationship with God
Look I'm just being honest so don't take me for no lame
The artist is simply sharing their honest experiences and beliefs
I seen it for myself, I'm a product of this thing
The singer has experienced struggles and has been shaped by their environment
Now I found true religion, and it's not inside a denim
The singer has discovered a deeper connection to faith that isn't dependent on material possessions
And 'em overpriced shades are never giving us vision, let's go
The singer is critical of materialism and encourages others to focus on spiritual growth
I seen another to know, so urgent
The artist has witnessed others in need and feels a sense of urgency to help
Keep callin'
The artist encourages others to keep reaching out for help and support
Help is just one call away
Assistance is available if we're willing to ask for it
Don't be afraid to say
We shouldn't feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help
Mayday
This is a desperate plea for assistance and support
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KHALIL ABDUL-RAHMAN, TORRANCE ESMOND, PRANAM INJETI, ASHTHON JONES, LE CRAE MOORE, LINCOLN CAGNEY MORRIS, JUSTIN LEWIS SCOTT, COLUMBUS TOWER SMITH, DANIEL TANNENBAUM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marshacreary2442
"Mayday"
(feat. Big K.R.I.T. and Ashthon Jones)
[Verse 1: Big K.R.I.T]
Awakened from my slumber by the thunder, lightning clappin'
Rainin' on my window pane and praying I make something happen
A preacher's prophecies never bothered me when I was younger
Sittin' on my grandma's lap, and she cried, I often wondered
"What was her tears for? Could it be for my grandfather?"
Or maybe she felt for me cause I'd see more of those cold tomorrows
Than she'd see. The world would up and turn on me
Cause the morals that she often spoke were meant for 1923
I fall asleep off in her arms, a psalm was spoken
"The Lord is surely my shepherd" and "lead me to the water"
A thought that often stuck with me, amongst the wolves that run the streets
Out here payin' dues then lose, I pray your ways would comfort me
A non-believer I never have and never could be
Lord, give me time to peep the signs I should see
Sippin' got me feelin' like a player
Ridin' clean, bendin' corners, hopin' I might find my savior
On the curb, I rarely go to church
False prophets rockin' Prada so I rarely feel the Word
Jezebel's lurkin' in the pews on the first
Preacher's weaker than the deacon cause it's hard to fight the urge
It's hard to live and serve when you on the Devil's turf
Sell your soul for the loan with no sense of what it's worth
Don't get it twisted, I ain't no saint, I ain't no pastor
But prayin' ain't just for cloudy days and natural disasters
Aware of what comes after, bet you ain't fo' sho'
I was warned that heaven ain't the only place to go
I'm doin' what I can cause there really ain't much time
I leave 'dis in the Lord' hands, I'm tired of cryin'
[Hook:]
Man down!
Hopin', prayin', sayin' I can't turn
Back now!
He will find you, this world'll blind you, don't you be another
Man down!
Hopin', prayin', sayin' you can't turn
Back now!
Help is just one prayer away
Don't be afraid to say,
"Mayday!"
[Verse 2: Lecrae]
Father forgive us for we know not what we do
In my bias, I've been pious with my nose up in the pews
Like Paul, I bear good news; they think I'm pall-bearin'
My message sounds like death to these hearers as they perish
Scary to think we on the brink of death
But no one stops look for answers on what happens next
Got a couple scriptures from our grandma, sayings from a preacher
But can't live out these standards that we heard it takes to reach 'em
But when I look at Jesus, He lived the life I couldn't
Suffered for my crimes so I wouldn't
I used to have to sneak into the movies 'cause I couldn't 'ford to pay
So 'splain to me how some one paid my way
When I hear Krit confessin' I respect him
'Cause most of us be lying like our lives don't need perfectin'
Nothin' that we muster, Nothin' that we can change
Admitting that we're imperfect, offendin' God with our games
Look, I'm just being honest so don't take for me for no lame
I seen it fo' myself; I'm a product of this thang
Now I found true religion, and it's not inside of denim
And them overpriced shades has never given us vision
[Hook]
@reachrecords
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@Lahgic
Krit’s verse is absolutely incredible
@MF-Rell
Prophetic
@reisdrothepoet
All you gotta do is listen to the lyrics. In the first verse, K.R.I.T. is confessing his struggles and in the second, Lecrae is praying for him.
@traviswand4515
Here after hearing what Crae said about this song on the newest episode of his podcast. Krit's verse is incredible, open and vulnerable. Christians should be encouraging more of these types of songs, not condemning them. Respect to Lecrae and Krit.
@francozealouzone500
I love that line "when I hear Krit confessin I respect him, cause most of us be lyin like our lives don't need perfectin"... that's real! If we don't get to a point of brokenness and repentance, we will never understand that we ALL need Christ!
@DanielLowellSpencer
Franco Zealouzone Amen so help me God.
@KillerMouse
Wow looking back at this both KRIT and Lecrae were both in their primes. They rocked my teenage years.
@JCQsito
Ashthon was perfect choice for this with y'all. Synergistic. Incredible. This is the type she was meant to do, not that other stuff she was doing before. You know it when you hear it. You guys should make a demo for the next James Bond movie. This song with her singing reminds you of the soundtrack.. Wouldn't that be moving, to have a Christian injection in a James Bond soundtrack? We could all pass it around and petition. Please make more music like this. We need it.
@freelance759
Not very often you see a secular artist come on a song with a renowned Christian artist, AND talk about God...already loved Krit, but much respect for this song. I always come back to this song. Also gained respect for Lecrae to collab with him, not that he wasn't already a respected artist.