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.”
No Regrets
Lecrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(And they say) You only live once so live it up tonight
I hope we live twice cause I can't wait to give up this life
Don't get me wrong I love my fam and my experience
Been around the world and back seven wonders I done seen 'em
Number eight is just us wonderin what happens when we perish
And I don't want no regrets I'm a tell the ones I cherish
That I love 'em thinking of 'em on this red eye flight to Paris
That your son will positively wake in paradise
Life is like a pair of dice so watch the ones you rollin with
Roll the clip of my life you gon' see a bunch of empty bottles
Broken hearts and blurry nights, Facebook likes and twitter follows
I'm not livin for today cause tomorrows looking pleasant
And the future is a gift even though this is the present
Yea I do believe in heaven but my actions ain't the key
Them gates remain locked if everything follow me
[Hook:]
So let em know that when I come to the end of my road
And they ask me was it worth it
The hurting, the pain, and the life I chose
I'll do it again in a heartbeat, heartbeat, heart heart heartbeat
I'll tell 'em I'll do it again in a heartbeat, heartbeat, heart heart heartbeat
And I die with no regrets
[Verse 2:]
You not a leader cause they follow you on twitter
And you not a man based up on your age and your gender
If you die tonight you'll probably die a boy
Chasing toys objectifying these women thinkin they gon' bring you joy
Don't you want more than last night's braggin rights
What's yo life?
I know it's hard to think about underneath these flashing lights
Scratch the surface money's worthless when it comes to finding purpose
If you keep the end in focus you can't keep it when it's over
And when it's over there's something else starts
Only thing that's really gon' matter is that hope inside your heart
What you trusting in what you lusting in
For that busty momma that's strutting in
And you popping bottles you throwing dollars
That's cool but partner this just in
That you gon' live forever whether you want to or not
Some of us gon' end up holy some of us gon' end up hot
Tell this life to keep my problems kiss my momma when I'm gone
Tell her I have no regrets and I'm home I'm home
[Hook:]
So let em know that when I come to the end of my road
And they ask me was it worth it
The hurting, the pain, and the life I chose
I'll do it again in a heartbeat, heartbeat, heart heart heartbeat
I'll tell 'em I'll do it again in a heartbeat, heartbeat, heart heart heartbeat
And I die with no regrets
The Lecrae song "No Regrets" is about living life to the fullest without any regrets, while also contemplating mortality and the afterlife. In the first verse, Lecrae talks about his experiences traveling around the world and seeing the seven wonders. However, he wonders what happens when we die and wants to make sure that he leaves no regrets behind. He wants to make sure that his loved ones know how much they mean to him, as he heads to Paris for a red eye flight. He knows that life is unpredictable, and he doesn't want to waste time living for just today. Lecrae believes in heaven but knows that his actions are crucial to getting there. He wants to make sure that he leaves a positive impact on the world.
In the second verse, Lecrae talks about the importance of having purpose and not just living for temporary pleasures. He believes that leaders are defined by more than just their social media following and age; true leadership comes from living a life of purpose. He questions the choices people make, chasing after material possessions and objectifying women. He encourages listeners to focus on the end goal and not just on temporary gain. Lecrae reminds listeners that we all will die, and it's important to live a life that truly matters, leaving no regrets behind.
Line by Line Meaning
(And they say) You only live once so live it up tonight
People often say you only live once, so make sure to enjoy yourself and live in the moment.
I hope we live twice cause I can't wait to give up this life
I personally hope we can have the opportunity to live twice because I can't wait for this life to be over and done with.
Don't get me wrong I love my fam and my experience
Please don't misunderstand, I love my family and the life experiences I've had so far.
Been around the world and back seven wonders I done seen 'em
I have traveled the world and witnessed the Seven Wonders.
Number eight is just us wonderin what happens when we perish
The eighth wonder to me is simply the mystery of what happens after we die.
And I don't want no regrets I'm a tell the ones I cherish
I don't want to have any regrets, so I am going to make sure to tell the people I care about how much I love and appreciate them.
That I love 'em thinking of 'em on this red eye flight to Paris
I am thinking of my loved ones even as I fly through the night to Paris.
If I die before I wake at my wake please tell my parents
If I were to pass away, at my funeral please tell my parents that I will wake up positively in paradise.
That your son will positively wake in paradise
Let my parents know that I believe I will wake up in heaven.
Life is like a pair of dice so watch the ones you rollin with
Life is unpredictable like rolling dice, so be careful of the people you surround yourself with.
Roll the clip of my life you gon' see a bunch of empty bottles
If you were to see a montage of my life, you would see a lot of empty bottles from nights of drinking.
Broken hearts and blurry nights, Facebook likes and twitter follows
My life has had its share of heartbreak and hazy memories, as well as superficial connections on social media.
I'm not livin for today cause tomorrows looking pleasant
I am not just living for today, because tomorrow looks promising.
And the future is a gift even though this is the present
Although we are currently in the present, the future is still something to be grateful for.
Yea I do believe in heaven but my actions ain't the key
I do believe in heaven, but the key to getting there is not just my actions alone.
Them gates remain locked if everything follow me
The gates of heaven will remain locked if I only focus on what benefits me.
So let em know that when I come to the end of my road
When I reach the end of my life, I want people to know...
And they ask me was it worth it
... they may ask me if my life was worth living.
The hurting, the pain, and the life I chose
I understand that over the course of my life there will be times of pain and difficulty, but it is still the life I have chosen.
I'll do it again in a heartbeat, heartbeat, heart heart heartbeat
I would make the same choices and live the same life again in a heartbeat.
I'll tell 'em I'll do it again in a heartbeat, heartbeat, heart heart heartbeat
At the end of my life, I will make sure to tell people that I would choose the same life again.
You not a leader cause they follow you on twitter
Having followers on Twitter does not make someone a true leader.
And you not a man based up on your age and your gender
Being a man is not based solely on age or gender.
If you die tonight you'll probably die a boy
If you were to die tonight, you would likely still have a lot of growing up to do.
Chasing toys objectifying these women thinkin they gon' bring you joy
Focusing solely on material possessions and objectifying women will not bring you true happiness.
Don't you want more than last night's braggin rights
Is it not more fulfilling to live a life of substance rather than one based on bragging rights?
What's yo life?
What is it that gives meaning and purpose to your life?
I know it's hard to think about underneath these flashing lights
It can be difficult to consider these deeper questions and thoughts in a world of constantly flashing lights and distractions.
Scratch the surface money's worthless when it comes to finding purpose
Money alone is not what gives life purpose.
If you keep the end in focus you can't keep it when it's over
If you focus on the end goal, you cannot take that focus with you after life is over.
And when it's over there's something else starts
After life is over, something else begins.
Only thing that's really gon' matter is that hope inside your heart
When it comes down to it, the hope that you hold in your heart is the most important thing.
What you trusting in what you lusting in
What are you placing your trust in and what are you allowing to consume your thoughts and desires?
For that busty momma that's strutting in
Are you allowing physical desires for someone like a 'busty momma' to control your thoughts and desires?
And you popping bottles you throwing dollars
Are you spending your time and money on meaningless, temporary pleasures?
That's cool but partner this just in
While those things may seem cool and enjoyable in the moment, something needs to be made clear...
That you gon' live forever whether you want to or not
... which is that you will ultimately live forever whether you choose to believe it or not.
Some of us gon' end up holy some of us gon' end up hot
In the end, some of us will have lived a life focused on spiritual purpose and some will not.
Tell this life to keep my problems kiss my momma when I'm gone
When I pass away, I don't want to be bogged down by the problems of my life. I just want to be remembered fondly by my loved ones.
Tell her I have no regrets and I'm home I'm home
Let my mother know that I have no regrets and that I am finally home in heaven.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALEXANDER HITCHENS, LE CRAE DEVAUGHN MOORE, NATALIE SIMS, TORRANCE ESMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marvinrhodesjr
You gon’ live forever
Whether you want to or not
Some of us gon’ end up holy
Some of us gon’ end up hot
Tell this life to keep my problems
Kiss my [family] when I’m gone
Tell ‘em I have NO REGRETS
And I’m home
@nina6146
You only live once so live it up tonight
I hope we live twice cause I can't wait to give up this life
Don't get me wrong I love my fam and my experience
Been around the world and back seven wonders I done seen 'em
Number eight is just us wonderin what happens when we perish
And I don't want no regrets I'm a tell the ones I cherish
That I love 'em thinking of 'em on this red eye flight to Paris
If I die before I wake at my wake please tell my parents
That your son will positively wake in paradise
Life is like a pair of dice so watch the ones you rollin with
Roll the clip of my life you gon' see a bunch of empty bottles
Broken hearts and blurry nights, Facebook likes and twitter follows
I'm not livin for today cause tomorrows looking pleasant
And the future is a gift even though this is the present
Yea I do believe in heaven but my actions ain't the key
Them gates remain locked if everything follow me
So let em know that when I come to the end of my road
And they ask me was it worth it
The hurting, the pain, and the life I chose
I'll do it again in a heartbeat, heartbeat, heart heart heartbeat
I'll tell 'em I'll do it again in a heartbeat, heartbeat, heart heart heartbeat
And I die with no regrets
You not a leader cause they follow you on twitter
And you not a man based up on your age and your gender
If you die tonight you'll probably die a boy
Chasing toys objectifying these women thinkin they gon' bring you joy
Don't you want more than last night's braggin rights
What's yo life?
I know it's hard to think about underneath these flashing lights
Scratch the surface money's worthless when it comes to finding purpose
If you keep the end in focus you can't keep it when it's over
And when it's over there's something else starts
Only thing that's really gon' matter is that hope inside your heart
What you trusting in what you lusting in
For that busty momma that's strutting in
And you popping bottles you throwing dollars
That's cool but partner this just in
That you gon' live forever whether you want to or not
Some of us gon' end up holy some of us gon' end up hot
Tell this life to keep my problems kiss my momma when I'm gone
Tell her I have no regrets and I'm home I'm home
So let em know that when I come to the end of my road
And they ask me was it worth it
The hurting, the pain, and the life I chose
I'll do it again in a heartbeat, heartbeat, heart heart heartbeat
I'll tell 'em I'll do it again in a heartbeat, heartbeat, heart heart heartbeat
And I die with no regrets
@reachrecords
Never miss a beat! Subscribe to Lecrae's channel for the latest tracks! 💯
http://bit.ly/LecraeVEVO
@mecoyo6701
Brother please let me know because what you doing right now you lost your way
@mecoyo6701
I need you brother
@jimreavis8053
100%
@samuel7385
"Life is like a pair of dice, gotta watch the ones you rollin with"
@caco8510
Throw out the ones you rolling with
@nyaradzoalannyoni8903
The future is still a gift even though this is the present
@siervodechristo5486
Barz!!!!!! 🎤
@troymazzei5976
Some of us gon end up holy some of us gon end up hot.
@tkinsey3
One of my buddies passed away suddenly (at only 22yrs old) seven years ago today - I listen to this track every Dec 7th to remember him. He had no regrets, and my prayer is that I won't either when my time comes. #RIP Matt.