Search - Lecrae :: After the Music Stops

Lecrae dodges the sophmore curse, turns in an excellent foll

W. C. Morgan | Tennessee | 08/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been following Lecrae since his first album. He is perhaps my favorite Cross Movement artist, and he continues the trend on his new album "After the Music Stops."



Let me begin by saying that so much of Christian rap has a disconnect of emotions and earnestness that exists in the best secular rap (old DMX, Tupac, BIGGIE, even Eminem). They either have good convicting lyrics and half done beats, or great beats with watered down lyrics. Cross Movement and Lecrae are exceptions to this rule and are a blessing to Christians who love rap.



In Lecrae's work you can hear a man who just as easily could be playing on the other side, so to speak. The man is in touch

with his carnal side, in that he is aware of his weakness and his need of Christ. Many times he illustrates this by

contrasting a life in the streets with a life of a Christian and it's challenges. He also has music that pulls a powerful convicting witness.



On his previous album the song "Take Me As I Am" was one such tune. On his new album Lecrae brings the heat of conviction in the songs "Prayin' For You," "Death Story," and "Nobody." These songs are powerful and are part of a take no prisoners ministry that the man presents.



For those who are unfamiliar with Lecrae his musical style is probably closest to a Dirty South style including Houston and

Memphis. The only weakness, in fact, of this album is that while the beats are good (with CMRs stable of producers) there is not necessarily a consistancy of style that runs through the album as you might find with a Dr. Dre album for example. The

CMR producers do not seem to have a definative style that is recognizable. This is not bad, just an observation, and really

it's nit-picking considering the quality of this record.



Now for a quick rundown of each song (NOTE: any song comparisons aren't meant to imply that the beats are copped or the music is derivative, only to give an idea of the mood):



1. After the Music Stops - A good beat with distorted guitars (think Eminem's "Lose Yourself") as the man raps about our level of commitment of Chritians to go beyond listening to teaching. Very strong. "Will you open your bible's / After the music stops?" BEAT: 3/5 LYRICS: 4/5



2. Jesus Muzik - Real shades of 3-6-Mafia on the beat. A "day in the life" type song about listening to music that glorifies God. Real head bobbing. "Riding with my top down / Listenin to this Jesus Music." BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 4/5



3. I Did It For You - This beat sounds very similar to something off of a GAME album, specifically "Hate it Or Love it." The beat has that classic soul/Shaft feel. A testimony song. It focuses on the fact that we are all sinners and in need of God's redemption. "I wish someone had told me then / what it meant to know Christ and be born again." Powerful. BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 5/5



4. The Truth - Beat is similar to another Crae song "Into Silence" from his first album. The Gospel set to a hip beat. All about representing Jesus in our lives. "Every breath we breath outside of heaven is a blessing ya'll." BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 5/5



5. Run - This beat is one of those dancehall beats that make its way into a rap album every now and again. The beat is good. The sound is similar to No Doubt's "Hey Baby" and the song is about "running the good race" from Corinthians. It's great with one exception. The hook is done by someone who is trying to do that "rude bwoy" accent and it sounds HORRIBLE. Makes me want to stab my ears. If you take out the hook of this song it's another solid track about working for God and not the world. I'm torn on this one. BEAT: 3/5 LYRICS: 4/5 -1 for that irritating guy on the hook.



6. Send Me - another great beat, one of the best on the album. The song is about the need for missions and witness in the world and whether or not we're willing to leave our comfort zones to minister to those who haven't had the opportunity to hear of Jesus, especially in places where it might be dangerous (like China). Great club/call response hook "Send Me, I'll Go, lemme go, lemme go" BEAT: 5/5 LYRICS: 5/5



7. It's Your World - Could be a NAS/Jay-Z style beat. Praising Jesus as creator and ruler of the world and riffing on the awesome nature of creation. "It's Your World, It belongs to you, Christ Jesus" BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 4/5



8. Grateful - Not really a frame of reference comes to mind here, but it's slick on the beat. A beautiful song of thanksgiving. "I'm thankful for all that you are to me." BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 5/5



9. King Intro - An acapella rap about Christ's kingship in world and spirit. Under a minute but a tight little riff. "I know some of you dudes may cruise a 4Runner / but Christ had a dude to use as a Forerunner" BEAT: N/A LYRICS: 5/5



10. King - Jay-Z type, kind of a hammering beat. This ditty is about how Christ is the only king and everyone else claiming to be king of anything is just a pretender to the throne. Features FLAME. "Like kids playing in their daddy's clothes while he's gone / But the clothes don't fit and daddy's coming home." BEAT: 3/5 LYRICS: 4/5



11. Invisible - Another East Coast style beat. A song about touching something beyond the self when worshipping God and living a life like Christ until it's him that people see and not us. It's not filler, but I wasn't really feeling it. BEAT: 3/5 LYRICS: 3/5



12. Get Low - Similar to Flame's beat from "Sola Scriptura" with a bit of guitar in it. A great song about humility. "Get low, this aint one of those nasty flows/ I'm talking about humbling yourself before the Lord." BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 5/5



13. Praying For You - Kanye wishes he had this beat ;). A song about praying for someone with their daily struggles to live a Godly life. Sometimes people can have the best of circumstances and live an outwardly Godly life, but still struggle internally. Beautiful song about the struggle. BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS 6/5



14. Nobody - This beat feels a bit Wu-Tang (Iron Flag era). The song is about all the things that people try to substitute for a

relationship with God. "You can't run no more / Feel like something wrong in your soul." A soul cousin to "Take Me As I Am." Good but not great. BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 4/5



15. Death Story - Ouch. This is a great hard narrative about a man on his death bed struggling with a decision for Christ. Great discussion starter. This song is on a level with Ice Cube's "Dead On Arrival" and DMX's "Damien." A song about an

internal struggle and the inevitability of death. Absolutely chilling, the atmosphere is claustrophobic. Possibly the best track on the CD. The power to convict is deep. BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 6/5



16. Unashamed - Another club beat, makes you want to bob your head, kind of a Lil Jon vibe. About being honest and unashamed of living for the Gospel of Christ. Powerful song about representing the kingdom. AMEN. "All they rhyme is about is guns, money, sex and drugs / 80% of these dudes is fictional thugs." BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 4/5



17. El Shaddai - Not a rap tune. The tune is artist CAM singing with an acoustic guitar. He waxes about many of the names of God. El Shaddai, and many I can't spell come in here. Beautiful little praise song "Father, I worship you." BEAT: N/A LYRICS: 5/5



The strength of Lecrae's album, along with all his CMR alumni, is and has always been their willingness to express their

feelings about Christ without the need to water down the message. These guys don't have to hide behind clever wordplay and multiple meanings in their lyrics. These are Christian artists with an unashamed Christian message. The power of Christ crucified is on display and the beauty and power of the message is made apparent on every track. That's why the

inconsistant beats aren't a problem. These guys could slap the back of a phone book and the message would carry on.



If you love Christ and love rap, there is no reason not to get this album. The beats are diverse, the lyrics are alltogether top notch and on the level with anything in the secular (not to mention the Christian) world.



If you have non-christian friends who like rap, Crae can be a great introductory and evangelistic tool. The message is

powerful and straightforward and Lecrae jumps above his already spectacular solo debut. If he continues like this he will

easily become my favorite rapper (Christian or otherwise).



God Bless,



B.C."

Another great CD from Cross Movement

James Bailey | 02/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD ministers to my soul. I shared it with a non-Christian and his response was that this was as good as Ludacris but without the swearing and bad message."

Unashamed

J. Page | Huntington | 08/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"WOW!!!!!!!! Lecrae has done it again he brings the south's bass pounding beats and use it for Christ Jesus. When I was of the world I did not care for the southern rap too much. I think it was because the music I listen to was the music in to which how I was living. But man when I heard crae's first album man it changed my view on the southern flow. This album is off the Hinges fo sho. His lyrics are true to God's word and man is he preaching on this album. If You want to ride4CHRIST, I suggest you get this album and represent Christ.



Thank You Jesus

"