Christian Rapper Doing His Part

Christian music has been handed a negative stereotype by most of the popular culture.

  Lecrae, a self-professing Christian, is doing his part to change that with his lyrics.  His junior album "Rebel" has only been out for a few weeks and has made quite the impact

.  It is currently the No. 1 Gospel album, according to Billboard's Top Gospel charts.  More than that, this album is already showing up in mainstream media.  After its release on Sept. 30, it went immediately to the No. 3 spot on iTunes top Rap/Hip-Hop chart, just below

 T.I.'s "Paper Trail."  "Rebel" also claimed Billboard's No. 8 position on the Top Rap Album mainstream chart.

Lecrae's previous album "After the Music Stops" made a signifiant impact when it was released in 2006 and is still staying atop various charts.  I have been a big fan of the rapper ever since my first experience with "Fanatic" while working at summer camp in 2006 and I love what he is doing.  I'm not a fan of rap, mostly because of the content of the lyrics (How does someone get major recognition for rapping about drugs and 

disrespecting women?  Doesn't really make sense to me), so in that sense, Lecrae sits in favor with me.  In an interview, Lecrae speaks about the meaning behind the "Rebel" title, saying it's not rebelling as it would usually be viewed as wild and reckless, rather it's "rebelling against an ungodly culture."

One of the feature tracks, "Don't Waste Your Life," is inspired by the book of the same title, by John Piper.  In the previously mentioned interview, Lecrae said most people would say he wasted his life because he spent it all serving God.  To Lecrae, and Piper would agree, he's wasting his life if he's not doing that.

I hope Lecrae along with other Christian rappers such as Tripp Lee, Fanatik, and KJ-52 continue to put out great album after great album.  With great music revealing an even greater message, the gospel of Christ, it's impossible to go wrong.