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.”
We Don't
Lecrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But since Christ snatched me up theres been a lot of change in me
I got my world view corrected; I see things eternal
Yeah I've got a whole new perspective
I don't use drugs or sell
I keep accountability cause my flesh...yeah it loves to fail
I don't go where I used to go
I got my number changed twice for the girls that I used to know
Cause I'm not making assists; you know trying to pass the rock
I don't live life scared of death
Cause when I take my last breath
The next step is there in text
I'm not a legalist and I ain't hatin'
But there's things I don't and won't do; yeah I read Galatians
And I keep reading Ephesians if it's Christ we believe in
We should't be confused with the heathens
You gonna ride with us?
Nah I don't do that there!
You gettin' high with us?
Nah I don't do that there!
You wanna hit a lick (theft)?
Nah I don't that there!
Get a couple chics?
Uh Uh I don't do that there!
Man I don't trip of coppin' whips
If it ain't a DVD you won't catch me pop in clips.
I ain't worried chains or shoes
My God's thinkin' bout whether to change the city sky from grays to blues
I don't care about the famous names
Cause when Christ comes back a lot of folks will be nameless man
And I ain't worried about speakin his name
Cause if it wasn't for Christ yeah we'd all be sinkin in flames
I don't even wanna "change the game"
You're favorite rapper got saved last night
Yeah that's the aim
The world we're livin in is simply tempting
So I quit consenting to my flesh when it tries to pimp me
Until I die or Christ comes to get me
I ain't doing what this world wants to do
Now is ya wit me? (Are you with me?)
You gonna ride with us?
Nah I don't do that there!
You gettin' high with us?
Nah I don't do that there!
You wanna hit a lick (theft)?
Nah I don't that there!
Get a couple chics?
Uh Uh I don't do that there!
Yo I'm ma keep it short simple and plain
I used to fiend for the pimp game
Til I got with Christ and switched my aim
Flipped my pain to a burden to grab hip-hop, his name and merge it
With His word as the plate then serve it
Cats are like "who you serve kid?" It's gotta be HIM
Who wiped my sin slate clean like Oxy 10
I rock Christ from PA to Dallas
R-Swift and Lecrae walk in the Spirit til our feet ache with callous
Naw I'm buggin, but for real my point is
With Christ life is pointless; this joint is
For the prisoners trapped on the block where blasted shots cause cats
To drop like temperatures
Without Christ and restoration
Your chance of makin it is slimmer than Blacks getting reparations
Jesus Christ man the Ancient of Days
Get with HIM for eternal life and pass the phrase!
You gonna ride with us?
Nah I don't do that there!
You gettin' high with us?
Nah I don't do that there!
You wanna hit a lick (theft)?
Nah I don't that there!
Get a couple chics?
Uh Uh I don't do that there!
In Lecrae's song "We Don't," he talks about the transformation that took place in his life after he gave his life to Christ. He notes that he is not perfect, and he doesn't try to claim to be, but since Christ came into his life, there has been a tremendous change in him. Lecrae mentions that his worldview has been corrected, and he now sees everything from an eternal perspective.
As a Christian, Lecrae doesn't indulge in drugs or any other harmful substance, and he doesn't engage in any immoral activities like theft or chasing women. He is accountable for his actions and behavior, as his flesh tends to fail him.
One of the most significant changes that have happened in Lecrae's life is his outlook on death. He is not scared of death since he knows that when he takes his last breath, the next step is already outlined in the text. He encourages Christians not to be confused or entangled with the activities of the heathens but remain steadfast in their faith.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not the standard at all and wouldn't claim to be
I don't think I'm perfect or set the norms.
But since Christ snatched me up theres been a lot of change in me
After Jesus saved me, I became a new person.
I got my world view corrected; I see things eternal
I now have a different perspective on life that focuses on eternity.
Yeah I've got a whole new perspective
I changed my way of looking at things.
I don't use drugs or sell
I don't do or sell drugs.
I keep accountability cause my flesh...yeah it loves to fail
I have someone who helps me stay on track since it's easy for me to mess up.
I don't go where I used to go
I don't hang out in the same places I used to.
I got my number changed twice for the girls that I used to know
I changed my phone number twice to avoid contact with my ex-girlfriends.
I don't trip when I pass the cops
I don't worry when I see the police.
Cause I'm not making assists; you know trying to pass the rock
I'm not involved in illegal activities like selling drugs or weapons.
I don't live life scared of death
I don't fear death.
Cause when I take my last breath
I know what comes next after death.
The next step is there in text
The Bible talks about what happens after we die.
I'm not a legalist and I ain't hatin'
I don't judge others based on their actions.
But there's things I don't and won't do; yeah I read Galatians
I avoid doing certain things because of what Galatians says about living a godly life.
And I keep reading Ephesians if it's Christ we believe in
I also read Ephesians to learn more about following Jesus.
We should't be confused with the heathens
As believers, we should act differently from those who don't have faith.
You gonna ride with us?
Are you going to join us?
Nah I don't do that there!
No, I don't participate in that.
Man I don't trip of coppin' whips
I'm not concerned about buying fancy cars.
If it ain't a DVD you won't catch me pop in clips.
I don't watch violent movies or videos.
I ain't worried chains or shoes
I don't care much about expensive jewelry or shoes.
My God's thinkin' bout whether to change the city sky from grays to blues
I know God is in control of everything, like changing the weather.
I don't care about the famous names
I'm not impressed by people who are famous.
Cause when Christ comes back a lot of folks will be nameless man
It's more important to focus on having a relationship with Jesus than being famous.
And I ain't worried about speakin his name
I'm not afraid to talk about Jesus.
Cause if it wasn't for Christ yeah we'd all be sinkin in flames
Without Jesus, we would all be doomed.
I don't even wanna "change the game"
I'm not trying to revolutionize the music industry or anything like that.
You're favorite rapper got saved last night
My goal is to share the message of salvation with other artists.
The world we're livin in is simply tempting
It's hard to resist the temptations of the world.
So I quit consenting to my flesh when it tries to pimp me
I resist my sinful desires.
Until I die or Christ comes to get me
I will keep following Jesus until the end.
I ain't doing what this world wants to do
I live according to God's will, not the world's.
Now is ya wit me? (Are you with me?)
Do you understand what I'm saying?
I used to fiend for the pimp game
I used to desire the lifestyle of a pimp.
Til I got with Christ and switched my aim
After meeting Jesus, I changed my goal in life.
Flipped my pain to a burden to grab hip-hop, his name and merge it
I turned my hardships into a passion for combining hip-hop music and the gospel.
With His word as the plate then serve it
I use the message of Jesus as a foundation for my musical creations.
Cats are like "who you serve kid?" It's gotta be HIM
People may wonder who I serve, but it's obviously Jesus.
Who wiped my sin slate clean like Oxy 10
Jesus cleansed me of my sins completely.
I rock Christ from PA to Dallas
I share the message of Jesus from Pennsylvania to Dallas.
R-Swift and Lecrae walk in the Spirit til our feet ache with callous
My fellow artist R-Swift and I live according to the Holy Spirit's guidance, even if it's tough.
Naw I'm buggin, but for real my point is
I may be joking around, but my message is serious.
With Christ life is pointless; this joint is
Without Jesus, life has no real purpose.
For the prisoners trapped on the block where blasted shots cause cats
This message is especially important for those stuck in dangerous situations.
To drop like temperatures
People are dying all around because of the violence.
Without Christ and restoration
If Jesus didn't give us a way to be restored, we'd be lost forever.
Your chance of makin it is slimmer than Blacks getting reparations
Without salvation, it's nearly impossible to truly 'make it.'
Jesus Christ man the Ancient of Days
Jesus has been around since the beginning of time.
Get with HIM for eternal life and pass the phrase!
Believe in Jesus and spread the message of salvation!
Contributed by Taylor B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@HeavensMentalityMusic
[Verse 1: Lecrae]
I ain't the standard at all • and wouldn't claim to be • but since Christ snatched me up • there's been a lot of change in me • I done got my worldview corrected • I see things eternal • yeah I got a whole new perspective • and I don't use drugs or sell • keep accountabilty • cause my flesh yeah It love to fail • I don't go where I used to go • I got my number changed twice for the girls that I used to know • and I don't trip when I pass the cops • cause I'm not making assists you know • trying to pass the rock • I don't live life scared of death • cause when I take my last breath • the next step • is there in Text • I'm not a legalist and I ain't hating • but there's things I don't and won't do man I read Galatians • and I keep reading Ephesians • if it's Christ we believe in we shouldn't be confused with the heathens
[Hook]
You gon ride with us? Nah I don't do that there
You getting high with us? Nah I don't do that there
You wanna hit a lick? Nah I don't do that there
Get a couple chicks? Uh-uh I don't do that there
You gon roll with us? Nah I don't do that there
You getting throwed with us? Nah I don't do that there
I know you gon hit it right? Nah I don't do that there
C'mon I know you with it right? Uh-uh I don't do that there
[Verse 2: Lecrae]
Man I don't trip on copping whips • if it ain't a DVD • you won't catch me popping clips • I don't trip on chains and shoes • my God thinking bout whether to change the city sky from greys to blues • I don't chase love up in the club • I chase thugs with a great love sent from the heavens above • I don't care about the famous names • cause when Christ come back a lot of folks gone be nameless mayne • and I ain't worried bout speaking His name • if it wasn't for Christ • yeah we'd all be sinking in flames • and I don't even wanna change the game • your favorite rapper got saved last night • yeah that's the aim • the world we living in is simply tempting • so I quit consenting • to my flesh when it tries to pimp me • till I die or God come to get me • I ain't doing what this world wanna do • now is ya with me?
[Hook]
[Verse 3: R-Swift]
I'ma keep it short simple and plain • I used to fiend for the pimp game but got with Christ and switched my aim • flipped my pain to a burden • to grab Hip-Hop His name and merge it • with His word as the plate then serve it • cats like who you serve kid? • man it's gotta be Him • who wiped my sin • slate clean like Oxy-10 • I rock Christ from PA to Dallas • R-Swift and Lecrae walk in the Spirit till our feet ache with callous • nah I'm buggin but for real my point is • without Christ life is pointless • this joint is • for the prisoners trapped on the block • we're blasting shots • cause cats to drop like temperatures • without Christ and His restoration • your chance of making it is slimmer than Blacks getting reparation • Jesus Christ man the Ancient of Days • get with Him for eternal life and pass the phrase
[Hook]
[Outro]
(You gon ride with us?)
Nah player, I don't even get down like that no more
(You getting high with us?)
I ain't even tryin' to do that man
(You wanna hit a lick?)
(Get a couple chicks?)
Nah man, I can't even do it
(You gon roll with us?)
Y'all rollin out?
Yeah go and do that
(You getting throwed with us?)
I can't even move with you no more man
(I know you gon hit it right?)
I know Christ man, that's all I know now
(C'mon I know you with it right?)
I'm sayin I'm not the same
I'm a new creature
A whole new creation
A whole new mentality
I can't get down with it
Know what I'm sayin?
It's real life
Real talk
I can't do it
@reachrecords
Never miss a beat! Subscribe to Lecrae's channel for the latest tracks! 💯
http://bit.ly/LecraeVEVO
@championrd8557
He is in whole different level in this album
@jazminenanez9757
BIG fan love Lecrae's songs he's the best!
@jesuscentreministrykericho4301
love you lecrae wanna be rapper
@TheMuh36
I love this song and the message it teaches. As a joke though, my friend would say “yeah, I’ll do that deh”. It’s so funny.
@noraalvey1922
Love Lecrae
@indigopursue1542
ALL TIME LECRAE BANGER
@indigopursue1542
Nah I don’t do that there NEED MORE OF THESE HITS 💯✝️
@randomaccount7928
Best out of it
@relentlessrhythm2774
Nah I don’t do dat dare! Love this guy ❤️