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.”
Outsiders
Lecrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I gotta sacrifice
Who I am on the inside
I'd rather be an outsider
And you can stay if you like
I'll see you on the other side
I wanna live the free life
I'd rather be an outsider
I really can't tell if I'm overdressed or I'm underdressed
If I'm underpaid or just overstressed
If I'm cynical or just over this
Cause I'm tired of tryna get over there
Man it's over there
Party's over
You probably couldn't tell we over here
Cause you hardly sober
Double shots of that ego
They laughin' at us, yeah we know
May be at the bottom but we not forgotten
The director's plotting that sequel
'Til then we live on the outside
And it might storm and we might die
But I'd rather go with my fist high
Standing outside of your inside
I tried my best to fit in
Looking for a suit to fit in
Standing outside of your prison
Tryna find ways I can get in
Now I realize that I'm free
And I realize that I'm me
And I found out that I'm not alone
'Cuz there's plenty people like me
That's right plenty people like me
All love me despite me
And all unashamed and all unafraid
To speak out for what we might see
I said there's plenty people like me
All outsiders like me
And all unashamed and all unafraid
To live out what they supposed to be
Outsiders
I won't stay here another night
If I gotta sacrifice
Who I am on the inside
I'd rather be an outsider
And you can stay if you like
I'll see you on the other side
I wanna live the free life
I'd rather be an outsider
I know what they askin' fo'
I know what they askin' fo'
But how you gone cover charge me my life and soul
And then turn around and ask for mo'
Time to go plus the line is long
I'mma color the outside where lines are drawn
If you wanna exclude me for being the true me
It's Gucci
I already found my home
Homesick
Homeless if I'm honest
'Cuz my home is somewhere I ain't never been before
I'mma hone this here gift
Even if it doesn't fit in the box
That'll please these folks
Some of y'all gone need these quotes
I ain't tryna eat I'm tryna feed these folks
Martin, Mandella yeah we need these folks
We believe these folks
We could be these folks
But they want me to take an L
Tired of taking losses so they can call me a failure
I failed at being you
But I'm winning at being me
I'm winning at being free
Ain't no competition but me
See I realize that I'm free
And I realize that I'm me
And I found out that I'm not alone
And there's plenty people like me
I said there's plenty people like me
All outsiders like me
All unashamed and all unafraid
To live out what they supposed to be
Outsiders
It's been too dark
So many lies
Turn on the lights
Open your eyes
Oh oh oh oh
We'll be runnin' through the night
It's brighter on the other side
Oh oh oh oh
Something's bigger than you and I
Brighter on the other side
Lecrae's "Outsiders" is an upbeat and uplifting anthem about being true to oneself, even if it means being on the outside looking in. The opening lines, "I won't stay here another night, if I gotta sacrifice who I am on the inside," set the tone for the rest of the song. Lecrae is tired of trying to fit in with a society that doesn't accept him for who he is, and he recognizes that the only way to truly be happy is to be authentic and true to oneself.
Throughout the song, Lecrae talks about how he's tired of trying to keep up with the Joneses and how he'd rather live a life that's free and unconstrained. He also touches on the idea that being an outsider isn't necessarily a bad thing, and that there are plenty of people who share his views and values. The chorus repeats the idea that Lecrae would rather be an outsider than compromise who he is on the inside, and that he's not alone in this sentiment.
Overall, "Outsiders" is a powerful and inspiring song that encourages listeners to be true to themselves and to surround themselves with like-minded individuals. It's a reminder that it's okay to be different and that there's beauty in being an outsider.
Line by Line Meaning
I won't stay here another night
The singer is determined to leave their current situation
If I gotta sacrifice
They are willing to make sacrifices to leave
Who I am on the inside
They refuse to compromise their true self
I'd rather be an outsider
They prefer being an outsider to fitting in with societal norms
And you can stay if you like
Others are free to make their own choices
I'll see you on the other side
They look forward to moving on and finding a new path
I wanna live the free life
Freedom is a priority
I know what they askin' fo'
The artist is aware of societal expectations
But how you gone cover charge me my life and soul
They feel oppressed and controlled
And then turn around and ask for mo'
Society perpetuates the cycle of exploitation
Time to go plus the line is long
It's time to leave and the process may be difficult
I'mma color the outside where lines are drawn
The artist will create their own path outside societal norms
If you wanna exclude me for being the true me
Society tries to exclude those who are not conforming
It's Gucci
The singer is unfazed by this rejection
I already found my home
The singer has found their place in the world
Homesick
They feel out of place
Homeless if I'm honest
Their true home is not defined by societal standards
'Cuz my home is somewhere I ain't never been before
Their home is a new, undiscovered path
I ain't tryna eat I'm tryna feed these folks
The singer wants to help others find their own paths
Martin, Mandella yeah we need these folks
The artist admires those who have fought for change
But they want me to take an L
Society wants the artist to fail
Tired of taking losses so they can call me a failure
The artist resents being judged by societal standards
I failed at being you
The singer tried to fit in but couldn't
But I'm winning at being me
The artist is happy being themselves
Ain't no competition but me
The singer is only competing with themselves
It's been too dark
The singer has been in a dark place
So many lies
Society has perpetuated falsehoods
Turn on the lights
The artist wants change
Open your eyes
The artist wants others to see the truth
We'll be runnin' through the night
The journey won't be easy
It's brighter on the other side
There is hope for a better future
Something's bigger than you and I
There is a greater purpose to life
Brighter on the other side
The future holds promise
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chris Mackey, Dustin Adrian Bowie, Joseph Ryan Prielozny, Le Crae Devaughn Moore, Torrance Anton Esmond
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Reach Records
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CiriaZenaida Gonzalez
Giaa a py hill aa
D Fry
Reach Records this is that throwback 🔥🔥
Xavier Clemons
Reach Records LOVE IT!!!
Danish elftiny
"If I gotta sacrifice who I am on the inside, I'd rather be an outsider..." Powerful!
Jason Shiflet
🙏🙇🏻♂️🌹❤️💯🕊🛡⚔️
Willy
❤
Shannon SM
❤️
Keshia Simpson
❤
laupnaes
This song is even more relevant today. I had this album as soon as it dropped and even in 2022 it's still dope!