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.”
Say I Won't
Lecrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say I won't (why y'all scared to be different?)
Say I won't (we them outsiders, that's just how we live it)
Say I won't (and I bet I will)
Say I won't
I might do it just to show you
I might do it just to show you
I might do it just to show you
From the same city as the B-I-G
Wanna serve these bars, gotta see ID
Now I'm on their radar, where it beat I be
Was a slave for the cars, then we got free
Used to only wanna pull up in a black sport
Just a white man excelling in a black sport
Now I'm really doin' pull ups
Got a honeymoon for the summer tryna get a six-pack for it
Say I won't catch 'Crae slippin' in the studio at like 3 AM
Autograph that forehead with a Sharpie pen and then Instagram
Might swag out a fanny pack
I might bring Velour back
Nobody wanna change the game, man y'all just want more trap
Okay, say I won't rap over bagpipes
Say I won't talk about that price
To know Christ and live life like every night my last night
'Bout to switch up the program
I rock name-brand, I rock no brand
My whole life GoPro cam, got rap like I had no fans, nope
They say, I know I say, "veto"
Danny DaVito, and Al Pacino, those are my people
Also I'm rockin' the speedo
This that casino, you bet your revenue
Thinking you'll stop me, no never not letting you
You must be high on that medical thinking I won't
But I know better, know that I bet I do (kill 'em, ooh)
Say I won't (why y'all scared to be different?)
Say I won't (why y'all scared to be different?)
Say I won't (we them outsiders, that's just how we live it)
Say I won't (and I bet I will)
Say I won't
I might do it just to show you
I might do it just to show you
I might do it just to show you
We be like la, la, la, la
Say I won't sell my shoes and take my kids to Chuck E Cheese with the money
Say I won't bring my own bottle of Pellegrino to the movies with me
Say I won't
Look, I'm from an era of fast living and mass terror
Boys cover them cover girls like mascara
I don't need to keep a gun and a mask ever
I still make 'em put their hands up, ask Derek
My role manager damage all of you amateurs
Sneaking up on a tour bus with a demo to hand to us
When I was younger, I just wanted a chain
Now a chain of events has afforded a change
See, I been a rebel since back in the day, I don't follow the people
I follow the leader through valleys and shadows of death and I fearin' no evil
So say I won't do it, say I won't turn the music up and get to it
Won't come down H-Town all the way to their town
In the old school, drop top Buick
And I'm getting, maybe 8 or 9 miles to the gallon
Still feeling like a stallion
I got Andy ridin' shotgun with 30 gold chains on, talking about he Italian
Say I won't go drop a double album, and rap double time on all dub-step
Got no producers, just me rockin' over beatboxin' by Dougie Fresh
Say I won't
Say I won't (why y'all scared to be different?)
Say I won't (why y'all scared to be different?)
Say I won't (we them outsiders, that's just how we live it)
Say I won't (and I bet I will)
Say I won't
I might do it just to show you
I might do it just to show you
I might do it just to show you
We be like la, la, la, la
The lyrics in Lecrae feat. Andy Mineo's song "Say I Won't" encourage listeners to embrace their uniqueness and individuality, challenging societal pressures to conform to certain norms. The repeated phrase "Say I won't" suggests that the artists are daring others to underestimate them or doubt their abilities, urging listeners to have confidence in their own personal choices and not be afraid to stand out.
Lecrae's verse touches on his personal growth and evolution as an artist, moving away from materialism and towards a more genuine and authentic approach to his craft. Andy Mineo's verse reflects on his rebellious nature and the pushback he's received from those who have doubted or criticized his artistic choices. Together, their verses serve as a call to action for listeners to reject societal norms and embrace their own unique paths.
Overall, "Say I Won't" is an anthem of self-empowerment and individuality, urging listeners to embrace their differences and not be afraid to pursue their own passions and dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Say I won't (why y'all scared to be different?)
Challenging the norm is often frowned upon, but why be afraid to be unique?
Say I won't (we them outsiders, that's just how we live it)
Living life as an outsider and being different is just our way of life.
Say I won't (and I bet I will)
Don't challenge me because I am confident I will do it anyway.
I might do it just to show you
I am not afraid to try something new and if necessary, show you how it's done.
We be like la, la, la, la
We are carefree and unbothered in our approach to life.
From the same city as the B-I-G
I come from the same place as one of the greatest rappers of all time.
Wanna serve these bars, gotta see ID
If you want to hear my rhymes, you better be ready for something substantial.
Now I'm on their radar, where it beat I be
I am now on the radar of those who previously didn't acknowledge me.
Used to only wanna pull up in a black sport
I used to only want to be flashy in a sports car.
Just a white man excelling in a black sport
People are sometimes surprised to see a white person excelling in a genre that’s predominantly black.
Say I won't catch 'Crae slippin' in the studio at like 3 AM
Doubt me all you want but I’ll surprise you by being a dedicated artist, working hard even in odd hours of the night.
Might swag out a fanny pack
I have no fear in embracing trends that are deemed uncool.
Okay, say I won't rap over bagpipes
I don't need to follow traditional conventions and can experiment with different musical styles.
To know Christ and live life like every night my last night
I live my life with an understanding of Jesus Christ and make the most of every day.
'Bout to switch up the program
I am about to do something different than what is usually done.
My whole life GoPro cam, got rap like I had no fans, nope
I live my life like every moment matters, even if it seems like no one is watching me.
Danny DaVito, and Al Pacino, those are my people
I am comfortable aligning myself with people who may seem unconventional or different from the norm.
You must be high on that medical thinking I won't
If you think I won't do something, you must be mistaken or not in the right state of mind.
Look, I'm from an era of fast living and mass terror
I come from a time of fast lifestyles and mass fear.
Boys cover them cover girls like mascara
Men often use cover girls as a mask or means of putting on a facade.
So say I won't do it, say I won't turn the music up and get to it
Don't dare me because I am confident in getting things done, like turning up the music and handling business.
Say I won't go drop a double album, and rap double time on all dub-step
I am willing to take risks and do things that may seem outside of my comfort zone, like releasing a double album and rapping over dubstep beats.
Got no producers, just me rockin' over beatboxin' by Dougie Fresh
I don't need a bunch of producers if I am confident in my rapping abilities, and can even thrive off of a basic beatbox.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Andrew Aaron Mineo, Gabriel Alberto Azucena, Le Crae Devaughn Moore, Matthew A. Massaro, Tyshane Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jooj3494
I'm 41 yrs old love rap and hip hop beats all my life if any 116 members are reading this I just want to say thank you!!!!!
I feel like a kid again when I hear some of ur lyrics that are funny.
I'm a marine and Iraq war vet not that matters any I'm a Christian 1st.
I have my struggles but the truth you guys sing about motivates me love you guys can't wait to see u in heaven.
You are messengers!!!
Love ur brother in Christ
Dan
@GhostMonkey772
I started drinking when I was 16. I would
drink at parties, but I also started drinking alone because I was unhappy, and
I was in a lot of emotional pain all the time. My mom was very aggressive when
I was younger, and my brother hated her and so did I. He started hanging out
with shady people, he started failing all his classes, he was never home, and
my parents fought all the time. I also ran away several times. I was always
trying to figure out a reason as to why I was here or what the purpose of life was.
So, I started looking at different philosophies, religions, and beliefs. When I
was 18 after I was hungover, I got on my knees and I prayed for the first time.
I asked if God was real that he would show me he was real because I couldn’t
take it anymore. I was crying when I prayed for this. At that moment I felt a
presence come over me like a wind. It was barely noticeable, but it was unlike
anything in my life I had experienced up until that point. I was surprised when
I felt it and I remember saying “what was that?” after that experience I pretty
much forgot what happened and kept partying, until my senior year when I got
arrested. After my arrest, my parents lost all their trust in me and I was
expelled from high school. I was told never to come back. At that time, I felt
afraid and hopeless. That’s when I started looking for God, and I prayed that
he would reveal himself in my life and that he would give me signs. My prayers
began getting answered so consistently that I couldn’t deny that God was doing something.
It was mysterious and compelling. I ended up in Church and started reading the
bible hours a day. I stopped hanging out with all my other friends because they
were continually getting arrested. I was able to forgive my family and myself
and to ask to be forgiven. I noticed how at Church people were judgmental and
how they formed cliques but were afraid to be around anyone else different from
them. It increased my faith because I realized Jesus was not like that and ever
since I was young, I saw people as people regardless of who they were. After a
while, it’s like I could see God's presence was in my life and then it felt
like he wasn’t, and then he was, and then he wasn’t. One day I woke up and felt
more depressed than I ever have in my entire life. I felt like I was dying on
the inside. That night I prayed, and I said, God, I don’t see my life five
years from now I'm going to die Jesus save me Lord, please save me. I was
weeping when I said it and when I asked him to save me, I felt a presence inside
of me like a heartbeat, and I felt it once like a pulse, and I said Lord please
save me and I felt it again even stronger. It was like radiance. When I woke up
the next morning, I had transformed everything felt brand new like I was a kid
again. All my fears and all my racing thoughts everything was gone. I looked at
my hands, and I said this can’t be real it’s impossible. When I looked at
myself in the mirror, I saw a different person. I started praying, and the holy
spirit became entirely real to me it was washing over me and inside of me. It
was total love and peace, and I heard a voice but not an audible one, it was an
inner voice. It said I am with you; I love you, I will never leave you, it’s
done it’s finished. That was May 3rd, 2009, and ever since then I’ve followed
God, I have seen many things change and many things I know wouldn’t have
changed without faith and belief. I know what it’s like to be lost to feel you
have no hope. Don’t ever think you’re stuck, or life can’t change because it can.
My mom is a Christian now, Its night and day. Some of the things that went away
during that period were severe anxiety and my addiction to alcohol. I’ve seen
and experienced so many things that are miraculous and seen how God has worked
in my life. When we ask God to forgive us for what we’ve done and turn away
from our sins and wrongdoings and we believe in Christ's sacrifice everything
changes. His word says if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and
believe in our hearts that he died and rose again we will have eternal life but
not just life after death but abundant life in the present. Our sins are erased
not only past, present, and future but our burdens and fears are lifted also.
Our thoughts, our minds, our hearts, our souls are transformed and united with
God and we know his spirit lives in us. If you seek, pray, and knock you will
know JESUS IS KING!!! HE LIVES!
@reachrecords
Never miss a beat! Subscribe to Lecrae's channel for the latest tracks! 💯
http://bit.ly/LecraeVEVO
@alessandraparente8672
Reach Records Lecrae is the best ♡
@sethsimon9162
Reach Records I love you guys
@jooj3494
I'm 41 yrs old love rap and hip hop beats all my life if any 116 members are reading this I just want to say thank you!!!!!
I feel like a kid again when I hear some of ur lyrics that are funny.
I'm a marine and Iraq war vet not that matters any I'm a Christian 1st.
I have my struggles but the truth you guys sing about motivates me love you guys can't wait to see u in heaven.
You are messengers!!!
Love ur brother in Christ
Dan
@kelvinlopez9139
Goodjob
@Tony.Miyamoto
no
@JBTV-dm5uu
8 years later. CLASSIC 🔥⛽️⛽️⛽️⛽️
@__________________-________-
Still fire
@orangutansoda
I don't like Christian music but after having these songs stuck in my head I have found new music I love and sing. Thank you heather for playing your Christan Rap in the car
@avanessapink1729
+Scootaloo Dash lemme guess you thought all gospel music was boring nuh?