You can both check out the forthcoming tour dates and single below.

Image credit: Reach

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The post Lecrae & Andy Mineo Announce ‘Better Late Than Never’ Tour, Drop “Didn’t I” Single appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Image credit: Reach Records

Following a couple of impressive singles (“Get Back Right” and “Plugged In”), Lecrae and Zaytoven‘s collaborative release Let The Trap Say Amen finally makes landfall. Let The Trap Say Amen sees 13 tracks and appearances from Waka Flocka Flame, 24hrs, Verse Simmonds and more. Stream the inspirational Trap record in full below.

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The post ICYMI: Stream Lecrae & Zaytoven’s ‘Let The Trap Say Amen’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Image credit: Reach Records

UPDATE: Lecrae and Zaytoven have released a new visual for their single, “Get Back Right.” You can check that out below.

GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist Lecrae drops off a new motivational trap-type single “Get Back Right” off of his special mixtape project with fellow GRAMMY Award-winning producer, Zaytoven, titled Let The Trap Say Amen, which is set to release June 22nd.

Born out of a mutual respect for each other’s work and joined by common faith, the two Atlanta legends came together for a release aimed at highlighting the positive aspects of the trap, and it definitely works.

“Get Back Right” is a real story from Lecrae about “bouncing back” from adversity, getting back right with God after realizing material possessions and empty relationships can’t satisfy his soul.”

Check out the track here and be sure to drop us your thoughts in the comments section!

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The post NEW VIDEO: Lecrae & Zaytoven Tell Us How to “Get Back Right” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Image credit: Reach Records

Somewhat-surprising tag team duo Lecrae and Zaytoven will be dropping Let The Trap Say Amen next week. First, they follow up the single “Get Back Right” with another cut titled “Plugged In,” which Lecrae recently broke down to Complex:

“I’ve been in the game for a while. The biggest accolades aren’t the Grammys for me… It’s creating opportunities for people. ‘Plugged In’ is me giving back some game that I’ve picked up.”

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The post Lecrae & Zaytoven are “Plugged In” on New Track appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Rapsody – Laila’s Wisdom

Image credit: JAMLA/Roc Nation

North Carolinian lyricist Rapsody is blessing the world with her new album Laila’s Wisdom, her first as a Roc Nation artist. The 14-track release — which is dedicated to her grandmother — sees her keeping things JAMLA on the production end (9th Wonder, Khrysis, etc.) while connecting with some serious heavyweights for additional assistance — Kendrick Lamar, Busta Rhymes, Black Thought, Terrace Martin, Musiq Soulchild, Anderson .Paak, BJ The Chicago Kid and more make appearances on the project.

Macklemore – Gemini

Image credit: Bendo LLC

Seattle emcee Macklemore delivers Gemini, his first sans-Ryan Lewis album since 2005’s The Language Of My World. While Lewis isn’t present, many of Macklemore’s peers are: Skylar Grey, Kesha, Offset and Lil Yachty contribute — there’s a lot of lesser known (to us) features as well. Adding to the 16-track release is a new visual for the Kesha-assisted “Good Old Days” (included).

Lecrae – All Things Work Together

Image credit: Reach/Columbia

Lecrae‘s eighth studio album — titled All Things Work Together — sees the Houston emcee’s continued ascent into the mainstream as an artist who’s unashamed about his Christian message. This hasn’t limited him in regards to his collaborations, either: Ty Dolla $ign, Tori Kelly and Verse Simmonds provide assistance alongside the likes of 1K Phew and Kierra Sheard. Very inspirational.

Jhené Aiko – Trip

Image credit: Def Jam

Following a few loose singles and an incredible short film, Jhené Aiko delivers her second official LP Trip (originally thought to be titled TRIP 17). The project comes with 22 (!) tracks with appearances from Brandy, Dr. Chill, Swae Lee, Kurupt and more…of course, Namiko Love (her daughter) and beau/the other half of TWENTY88 Big Sean show up as well.

https://soundcloud.com/jhene-aiko-1/sets/trip-125

Kevin Gates – By Any Means 2

Image credit: BWA

Despite his current incarceration, Kevin Gates‘ movement continues. Curated by wife Dreka Gates and Bread Winners’ Association comes By Any Means 2, the sequel to his 2014 mixtape. Unlike the first installment, this one steers clear of heavy features — only PnB Rock makes an appearance this go ’round. Fans should definitely be happy with this one as far as a hold over until Gates is back on the streets.

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The post New Album Friday: Lecrae, Rapsody, Macklemore & More appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Image credit: Reach/Lecrae

Following his Ty Dolla $ign-assisted single “Blessings,” Lecrae slows things down with a new lyric visual for “I’ll Find You,” a powerful track that sees production from Frank E and features singer Tori Kelly. Taking to Instagram, Lecrae explained the meaning behind the cut, which re-creates the feel that made 2012’s “Mayday” (featuring Big K.R.I.T. and Ashthon Jones) such a timeless song:

Life is a precious gift. A gift we often take for granted until it is threatened. Pain can be a haunting reminder to appreciate every waking moment. So we wrote a song to share our hope in the midst of that pain. At the time of this song’s composition, some of our loved ones were battling cancer. We wanted to encourage them to hold on and tell them we are here waiting, hoping, praying, and fighting with them. Some have been released from their pain forever, others are still fighting. Hold on…

Enjoy “I’ll Find You” below and pick up the single via iTunes…hopefully, that official follow-up to 2014’s Anomaly (or maybe a Church Clothes 4?) is on the way.

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The post Lecrae Drops Lyric Visual for “I’ll Find You” (Feat. Tori Kelly) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

“I could play the background/I could play the background/Cause I know sometimes I get in the way/So won’t you take lead and I can play the background/And you can take the LEAD!” “Background” was the first song that I had heard of by hip-hop, Christian artist, Lecrae, a very thoughtful but yet slow lyrical melody that took me on a journey into my own life.

I was never that much into hip-hop, not even in the secular world and dismissed any forms of it – no matter who was busting the rhyme. I grew up in the church community where all forms of hip-hop including the Gospel/Christian versions were forbidden – for some reason or another the church world felt that if you listened to such caious, you would surely go to…well…you know. Everyone was condemned there especially if you had anything other than James Cleveland or the Mighty Clouds of Joy playing in the background.

But it was something about Lecrae’s lyrics that got my head to nodding and my feet to patting, it wasn’t the beat but the lyrics; he was speaking truth in his lyrics and the most amazing part about the whole thing is that he was speaking about God. His lyrics got me at “I could play the background” which made me interested in his background.

Lecrae is a two-time Grammy-award winning, rap artist who’s had his share of abuse, adversity, pain and acceptance. He’s a songwriter, record producer and actor. He’s the president, co-owner and founder of Reach Records. And he’s also the co-founder and president of a non-profit organization called ReachLife Ministries.

Aside from his many nominations from the GMA Dove Awards in which he later won and being nominated for Best Gospel Artist at the 2015 BET Awards in which he won as well, Lecrae slowed down long enough to write a book. The book chronicles an unwavering faith and affirmation in Jesus, overcoming many tragedies, complications and finally coming to terms and making peace with his God given lyrical talent and skills. According to Barnes and Nobles Editorial reviews, Lecrae holds nothing back in this book, he shares the intimacies of his life – answers many critics whom thought his version of hip-hop was too street to be labeled as Christian music – he chronicles how to live Christian in a very secular world and be UNASHAMED about it.

Snippet from the book UNASHAMED:

“This is one of the reasons I don’t fully embrace the “Christian rapper” label. It isn’t that I’m ashamed of being a Christian. I’m not. If someone asked me to renounce my faith or take a bullet in the brain, I’m dying that day. But labeling the music that way creates hurdles and is loaded down with baggage. Plus, it just isn’t a true expression of the music I’m making. I try to produce music that is life-giving and inspires people to hope, but it isn’t just for the super-religious. I want to address themes that people who aren’t Christian can appreciate.”

Lecrae may be labeled as a Christian rapper but his lyrics go far beyond the gospel genre. His lyrics are for anyone that may be hurting, fatherless, motherless, a christian, not a christian – the lyrics hit you from whatever background you may have come from and if this hyped lyricist grabs your attention – it’s okay to pat your feet and nod your head just as I did. Be determined in your own life to be UNASHAMED about it all, just as Lecrae has.

If you live for people’s acceptance, you’ll die from their rejection. – Lecrae

UNASHAMED the Book – Hits all major book outlet stores May 3rd

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