Lecrae's musical genre is predominantly Southern hip hop, and has been described as falling under the styles of crunk, gangsta rap, and hardcore hip hop. On his third release, Rebel, Lecrae slowed down his style on many songs. Rehab was noted for its stylistic diversity, particularly on the song "Children of the Light", which featured Dillavou and Sonny Sandoval and incorporated rock, and reggae influences. With the release Gravity, Billboard described Lecrae as incorporating reggae and soul influences into his "signature brash sound."

Regarding which musical artists have influenced him, Lecrae, in an interview with Essence, cited Tupac, Nas, DJ Quik, Scarface, and The Cross Movement. In an interview with The Christian Post, Lecrae listed his top favorite five hip hop artists as Tupac, Nas, The Ambassador, Snoop Dogg, and, though for his business approach rather than his music, Jay Z. Lecrae also names Outkast and Lauryn Hill as major influences, particularly their albums Aquemini and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, respectively, and considers Hill's song "Adam Lives in Theory" as the top song that nourishes him spiritually. In the song "Non-Fiction", he lists the Tunnel Rats alongside The Cross Movement as an influence when he was newly converted to Christianity. Theologically, Lecrae follows the Reformed tradition of theology and is considered an influential figure in the New Calvinist movement. He cites Tommy Nelson, John MacArthur, and John Piper, among others, as early influences on his Christian faith, and Lecrae even titled one of his hit songs, "Don't Waste Your Life", after the book of the same name by Piper. Lecrae explains that through Nelson, MacArthur, and Piper, he subsequently discovered Spurgeon, Calvin, and Francis Schaeffer, the last of whom Lecrae calls his "personal hero". Other theologians cited by Lecrae include Tim Keller, Andy Crouch, Randy Alcorn, and Abraham Kuyper. He also looks to Martin Luther King, Jr. for inspiration on working out faith in social issues.

He frequently tells the press that "My music is not Christian, Lecrae is." He told Miami New Times's Crossfade that "I think Christian is a wonderful noun, but a terrible adjective. Are there Christian shoes, Christian clothes, Christian plumbers, Christian pipes? I think if you're going to, you should label it hip-hop... hip-hop is a particular poetic style. Labeling it with the faith assumes that the song is going to be some kind of sermon, but there's a lot of social and political things that I don't think make it gospel or Christian music." He also stated, "I like to wrap my mind around a total situation. I'm a social anthropologist. If I never been homeless, let me try to be homeless for a week and soak up that information. More like a method actor. So for me it's spending time with people and talking about things from their perspective."

Popular culture

Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin recommended Lecrae and Hillsong in an interview when asked about his pre-game music. Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow and professional wrestler Ezekiel Jackson have also endorsed Lecrae. During March 2014, Lecrae signed a ten-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks, and on April 4, 2014, he performed live at Philips Arena after the Hawks game. "Dum Dum," a song by Tedashii featuring Lecrae, was used on an episode of So You Think You Can Dance. Lecrae also created the theme song for a new ESPN SportsCenter block called "Coast to Coast".

Social activism Play media Video in which Lecrae discusses the importance of fatherhood

In 2011, 116 Clique and ReachLife Ministries, both headed by Lecrae, launched a media campaign entitled Man Up, intended to mentor male urban youths on fatherhood and biblical manhood. It features concert tours and a curriculum centered on a short film and a studio album, both titled Man Up, and since 2012 has also featured a string of conference events.

In May 2013, Lecrae partnered with NBA player Dwyane Wade, filmmaker Art Hooker, and Joshua DuBois, the former head of the Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships under the Obama administration, to create the national media campaign This Is Fatherhood, an initiative "devoted to restoring America's commitment to healthy fatherhood." The campaign began on May 1 with a "This is Fatherhood Challenge", in which contestants could submit videos, songs, and essays about fatherhood through June 10. The winners received cash prizes and a trip to Washington, D.C., for a ceremony on Father's Day. In addition, Lecrae offered studio time and mentoring to the grand prize winner. Lecrae, Wade, DuBois, Jay Z, and U.S. President Barack Obama all made appearances in the campaign's promotional public service announcements.

Lecrae has also contributed op-ed articles to Billboard dealing with race relations in the United States, including the 2014 Ferguson unrest, 2015 Charleston church shooting, and 2016 shootings of Alton Stirling, Philando Castile, and six Dallas police officers. In these articles, Lecrae has called for understanding and empathy across racial divides and willingness to listen to the oppressed, and also pointed out the need for spiritual healing through Jesus Christ. He also spoke on hip hop culture at a Nashville TEDx conference, decrying the misogyny and violence rampant in much of hip hop's lyrics but advocating for hip hop to be used as an agent for social change. At the 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards, Lecrae performed an original composition addressing racial injustice in the United States, referencing the shooting of Philando Castile. On October 20, 2016, Lecrae wrote in The Huffington Post that he has been struggling with depression and doubt, which was partly caused by the backlash he received from many American evangelicals who are critical of his public stance on race-related issues.

Personal life

Lecrae currently resides in Atlanta since relocating there from Memphis in 2009, and is married to Darragh Moore. The couple has three children together. Darragh handles the administration for Lecrae's tours. Lecrae is a graduate of University of North Texas. In an interview with Hip Hop DX, Lecrae stated that Clipse member No Malice sought him out as a spiritual advisor.

On March 14, 2016, Canada Christian College bestowed an honorary Doctorate of Music to Lecrae whilst visiting Toronto on his Higher Learning Tour, making him the youngest recipient of such a degree from the college.

Discography Main articles: Lecrae discography and 116 Clique § Discography Real Talk (2004) After the Music Stops (2006) Rebel (2008) Rehab (2010) Rehab: The Overdose (2011) Gravity (2012) Anomaly (2014) Production discography Self-release – Real Talk (2004) - Executive producer with John K. Wells, Ben Washer, and Chris Carreker 01. "Souled Out" 02. "We Don't" 03. "Aliens" 05. "Represent" 07. "Take Me As I Am" 09. "Nothin'" 11. "Who U WIt" 13. "Wait Intro" 14. "Wait" Json – The Seasoning (2005) - co-produced with So Hot Productions and C.I. Self-release – After the Music Stops (2006) 10. "The King" 16. "Unashamed" Trip Lee – If They Only Knew (2006) - co-produced with DJ Official, Tony Stone, Mac the Doulous, So Hot Productions Tedashii – Kingdom People (2006) - Executive producer with Ben Washer 02. "Houston We Have a Problem" 04. "Off Da Hook" 09. "Lifestyle" 15. "No More" 19. "In Ya Hood (Cypha Remix)" Sho Baraka – Turn My Life Up(2007) - co-produced with Bobby Taylor, DJ Official, BenJah, and So Hot Productions Self-release – Rebel (2008) 09. "Change" Self-release – Gravity (2012) - Executive producer Self-release – Anomaly (2014) - Executive producer Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2009 Uprise Presents: Word from the Street Himself TV documentary special 2011 Man Up King Short film by 116 Clique 2012 A Cross to Bear Jerome Television film Welcome to the Family Documentary Himself Short documentary web film by R.M.G. 2013 Everything Must Go Short documentary web film by Andy Mineo The Cross Short documentary web film by Billy Graham 2014 Believe Me Dr. Malmquist Feature comedy film