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Lecrae Responds to Accusation of Illuminati Ties and Jay Z Signing Rumours
Ebony Magazine recently had a chat with popular Christian hip hop artiste Lecrae. The married, father of three—with six albums to his name talked about the message behind the music, those persistent Jay-Z rumors, and the pressure of fame and faith.
EBONY: First, loved your latest album, especially the title track, “Gravity.” You’re rapping about “a place where there’s no gravity” – I take that to mean a place free from sin. But what does that mean to you?
Lecrae: “Gravity” really represents the falleness of this world and the weight and heaviness of it all. And no matter how much power, pleasure, or possession you can acquire, there’s still that weight. You can be the richest person in the world, it’s not going to stop your mother from passing away. Pleasure is just this endless chase. [I’m] just saying that we all want to be free from the gravity, everyone is looking for that and [with this album] I just tried to give some dialogue about what it looks like, to be free from the weight of this world.
E: On your song “Co-sign,” it sounds like you’re saying you don’t necessarily want to be considered a Christian rapper anymore but just a rapper who’s a Christian. When did that change come about? Do you see it as a change?
Lecrae: Yeah, you know, as I’ve gotten a little more acknowledgement in mainstream music, one of the things I’ve noticed is that there are so many stigmas attached to names. And I think my music comes with a message that I want everybody to hear and I don’t want a stigma to keep a person from hearing the message. I will obviously never deny being a Christian, that’s my faith, my identity. But I don’t want my music to be categorized with a presupposition. So sometimes people hear a term and they say, “Aw. I don’t like it.” Before they even give the music a chance. My big thing is just getting rid of all of the presuppositions so people can just sit with the music and allow it to speak to them.
E: It can seem for Christians who are not new to the faith that everyone’s goal, whether it’s musicians, artists, preachers, it’s to reach out to those outside the faith and find ways to do that that won’t turn people outside the faith off and those who are a little farther along can sometimes be left out of that. Do you consider your main goal to reach new people and bring them to the faith?
Lecrae: No, no, no. If you’re swimming in the deep end of the spiritual pool, so to speak, you’re farther along in your faith, I think the music is still very rich. There are a lot of parables in there, a lot of depth that you would have to come through to really grasp the message. [You may hear] cliché terms like, “Don’t live for this world.” They’re cliché terms but when you start unpacking that and what that looks like in song and story, I think that really helps a more mature believer say, “Man, that’s deep. That’s enriching and fulfilling.”
Lecrae
Lecrae: It gets to a point where, anything that is not just blatant, if there’s any kind of symbolism, it just gets equated as negative or it’s demonized. The Bible uses plenty of symbols so I think symbolism is not bad. There are symbols all throughout the video. There’s a wolf, which symbolizes the predatory nature of us (humans), we just want and want and want and hunger. There’s color schemes where one young lady is wearing green to show the pursuit of wealth and there’s a deer head in there because it’s a wealthy party because if you go to any wealthy person’s house, they’re showing off their accomplishments. So it’s really just a lot of that kind of symbolism. None of it was intended for evil.
E: So how do you deal with that, when you’re trying to be in a positive space and you have people – even Christians—who are coming and attacking you for stuff like that or just for doing hip hop, in general, how do you stay grounded in your faith and stay above that fray?
Lecrae: I try to pay more attention more to the positive aspects of what the music is doing. There’ve been some professional athletes who have publicly spoken about how that song has inspired and challenged them and so those type of things encourage me. And then on top of that, I know that people don’t really know me so all they can do is kind of assume my motive and assume what’s happening, so I don’t take it to heart. They don’t really know me so I can’t get that flustered and hopefully if they got to sit down and have a conversation with me they’d say, “Oh, O.K. I get it.” And then we’d move on.
E: There’s also a rumor that Jay-Z is trying to sign you. Is that true?
Lecrae: [Laughs] At this point in time, no. Essentially, he was looking for some conscious artists and my name was thrown into a pool of other artists and that’s as far as it went.
E: Is that something that you would consider?
Lecrae: Nah. For multiple reasons, but one majorly, I’m an independent artist, I’m a label owner. I love my independence. I love being able to create the story. And I want to do in many ways what Jay-Z is doing for the mainstream. He’s inspiring a lot of people to think they can do something on their own. I want to inspire people that they can do it on their own and not compromise their faith and beliefs, as well. So, that’s what I stand for.
E: Before joining the faith, you had a lot of hardships—a near-arrest, a terrible car accident, some near-death moments—that literally brought you to your come-to-Jesus moment. Since becoming a Christian, have you faced anything else that made you reconsider your decision to follow Christ?
Lecrae: I can’t think of one single event, but I do know that the Christian faith is one that has to be tried and tested consistently. The Bible talks about making your “calling and election sure.” And so I think you just have to ask those questions: Do I really believe this? Am I really serious about this? To prod and probe to see where you really stand. Hopefully you always end up with that firm foundation. So I think that’s healthy. I’ve had some circumstances and experiences that have been tough, but those trials and those tests on the other side of them have always produced a stronger faith.
The most recent [hardship] I can think of is criticism. You influence 10 people, you’ve got one critic; you influence 100 people, you’ve got 10 critics, and so on and so forth. And so that comes with a lot of assumptions, a lot of rumors, a lot of people involved in aspects of your life and you’re just like “What? This has nothing to do with my music.” And so in those circumstances you wonder, “Man, is it really worth it? What’s the point? But when you have good community like I have, close people who encourage you to keep going so that when you make it to the other side of that [hardship] and get a sober perspective, you say, “It’s worth it.” And, “God is real. He’s here for me.”
Waysteam — In a world where ministry is no longer limited by geography or walls, technology has opened up new ways to preach, teach, and reach hearts across the globe. Waystream, a Nigerian-founded spiritual content live-streaming platform, is designed specifically for churches, ministries, and Christian broadcasters.
Waystream provides a simple yet powerful platform to stream sermons online, host live prayer sessions, deliver Bible studies, and share faith-based audio messages to a local and global audience — all without the high costs or tech-heavy demands of video streaming.
With Waystream, any ministry can start audio broadcasting immediately with a laptop or mobile phone. Currently serving over 40,000 users broadcasting to millions of listeners across the globe, Waystream provides features that meet the needs of the modern church, offering the ability to:
Launch a custom audio channel for your church or fellowship
Receive donations directly through your stream page
Store sermons for midweek listening or small group sharing
Schedule future services and weekly teachings
Allow real-time listener interaction for prayer requests or encouragement
Most importantly, Waystream supports local payment audio platforms, so churches can subscribe using Nigerian Naira with no international card stress. The platform also offers embedded links for easy sharing on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and email.
Waystream has flexible plans suitable for all ministry sizes:
Talk Free: Great for new or small fellowships
Talk Lite: Unlimited daily streaming for budget-conscious ministries
Talk Pro: Scheduling, donations, and archiving included
Talk 24/7: Best for ministries running daily radio or devotional broadcasts
More than a platform, Waystream is a religious broadcasting platform that puts the Gospel within earshot of those who need it. Whether you’re in Lagos or Lome, Aba or Atlanta, you can now reach souls with clarity, simplicity, and faith.
Visit www.waystream.io to start your 14-day free trial. Because ministry doesn’t need a building — just a willing voice and the right tools to send it forth.
Pastor Emmanuel Iren of Celebration Church International is set to release his debut movie “What About Us?”, out in cinemas on July 12, and we’re loving it!
Full episode of the show on #ThePraiseworldPodcast available everywhere you listen to your podcasts.
https://youtu.be/x5gRe6PI3vg
Annatoria who has been buzzing about being on the Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin “Kingdom Tour” for the last couple of weeks has suddenly pulled out for personal reasons.
Why exactly did she pull out of the tour?
Listen to full episode of the show on #ThePraiseworldPodcast available everywhere you listen to your podcasts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa4LGOKFOGc
A Modern Reimagining of Timeless Biblical Narratives: “DISTORIA: Bible Stories” by Tola Omoniyi
Tola Omoniyi, media entrepreneur and founder of Praiseworld Radio, proudly announces the release of his debut book, “DISTORIA: Bible Stories.” This innovative collection reimagines 30 classic Biblical stories, breathing new life into them with contemporary context to captivate today’s readers.
Many are familiar with Bible stories, but how many truly grasp their meaning? Often, these stories seem distant and unrelatable due to their ancient language and context. Tola Omoniyi’s acclaimed podcast, “Telling Bible Stories with TOLA,” launched five years ago and spanning over five seasons, has successfully bridged this gap by presenting these timeless tales in a modern, engaging manner.
Inspired by the podcast’s success, Tola decided to extend his reach to book lovers. “Seeing the impact of the podcast and how it inspired my listeners, I wanted to spread these stories to a wider audience, those who would rather read a book than listen to a podcast,” he explains.
“DISTORIA: Bible Stories” is far from a simple retelling. Tola’s vibrant prose and compelling storytelling bring a fresh perspective to these ancient narratives, making them feel immediate and relevant. He skillfully bridges the past and present, exploring the depths of Biblical values in a way that speaks directly to the soul and resonates with today’s world. Each story is followed by practical lessons and the original scriptural reference.
“Whether you’re a seasoned believer or a curious seeker, ‘DISTORIA’ promises to captivate, inspire, entertain, and challenge you in unexpected ways,” says Tola Omoniyi. “Dive in and relive ancient experiences that speak to our contemporary world like never before.”
Purchase “DISTORIA: Bible Stories” here: https://linktr.ee/tolaomoniyi
- Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2RD3QGC
- Kobo https://www.kobo.com/pl/en/ebook/distoria-bible-stories
For Nigerian readers
• Roving Heights https://rhbooks.com.ng/product/distoria-bible-stories/ and Roving Heights bookstores (Lagos and Abuja)
About the Author:
Tola Omoniyi is a dynamic media entrepreneur, celebrated for his roles as a Radio/TV and Podcast host, Public Speaker, Event Compere, and Communications Expert. He has significantly influenced the Nigerian church community, earning spots among the 100 Most Influential Nigerians in Church by YNaija! in 2021 and being named one of the Top 100 most influential Nigerian gospel personalities by GospelXperience in 2023.
In 2012, Tola founded Praiseworld Radio, Africa’s leading online gospel radio station, and hosts the award-winning ‘The Praise O’Clock Show.’ His innovative approach has reshaped gospel broadcasting. Tola also hosts several podcasts, including The Praiseworld Podcast, The Afrogospel Podcast, and Telling Bible Stories with TOLA, the latter inspiring this book.
Follow Tola Omoniyi on social media: @tola_omoniyi
Contact Information:
For more information about the book or to request an interview with Tola Omoniyi, please contact:
• Email: praiseworldshow@gmail.com
• Instagram: @tola_omoniyi
Don’t miss the opportunity to experience “DISTORIA: Bible Stories” and embark on a journey that connects ancient wisdom with modern living. Purchase your copy today and share this transformative collection with friends and family.
More than just a concert, seminar or exhibition, Livingspring is a celebration of gospel music. An actual festival. There will be singing and dancing, colour, drama, exhibitions, art and history. You may also get to catch up with some of your favourite artistes. Still, the festival manages to deliver a lot more than that.
Dreams are born at Livingspring. Stars are made at Livingspring. You walk away from the Livingspring experience feeling totally energized. It’s the kind of atmosphere better experienced than retold. It’s why people have made the trip from all over the world for over 40 years.
There’s simply nothing like it!
Register below to be part of Livingspring 2024. Come loud, come colourful! Click here to register: https://livingspringcmf.com/register/
Do you enjoy playing background music while you pray and worship God? Would you like to charge up your atmosphere with songs that provoke you to spend more time in God’s presence?
We’ve carefully curated a Spotify playlist that will help you do just that.
It’s named Pray And Worship with over 4 hours of songs from anointed minstrels. This will be updated every week, so make sure to save this so as not to miss out.
Here is the direct link to the playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4duLZszOESUPHvzhmX7T06?si=9d461b43dd744be3
Feel free to share with your loved ones as an encouragement to pray and worship. We hope this blesses you and further fuels the fire on your prayer and worship altar, and helps you in spending longer time in God’s presence.
Incorporating worship songs into your prayer routine can enhance your spiritual experience and deepen your relationship with God. Whether as a gentle background melody or a soul-stirring anthem, let the power of music accompany you on your journey of faith and transformation.
Remember, we’re committed to keeping the pray and worship playlist fresh and vibrant, updating it weekly with new tracks to keep your spiritual journey dynamic and invigorating. So be sure to save this playlist and stay tuned for the latest additions.
To access the pray and worship playlist, click https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4duLZszOESUPHvzhmX7T06?si=9d461b43dd744be3 .
The pray and worship playlist contains songs by some of your favorite anointed minstrels, including Nathaniel Bassey, Dunsin Oyekan, Ebuka Songs, Moses Bliss, Sinach, Victoria Orenze, Mercy Chinwo, Greatman Takit, Kaestrings, Sunmisola Agbebi, Abbey Ojomu, Yadah, SteveHills, Peterson Okopi, Victor Thompson, Clement Whyt and many more.
This comes as an addition to our “Morning Starter” show on radio where we play similar songs to get your day started.
Follow us @praiseworld_ on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok for more updates. God bless you.
With Love from all of us at Praiseworld Radio
❤
The 2024 Grammy Awards saw Lecrae, Kirk Franklin, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Tye Tribbettt, and Blind Boys of Alabama shine bright. See below the full list of winners for the gospel/Christian music categories.
Best Gospel Performance/Song
- Stanley Brown ft. Hezekiah Walker, Kierra Sheard & Karen Clark Sheard – God Is Good
- Erica Campbell – Feel Alright (Blessed)
- Zacardi Cortez – Lord Do It For Me (Live)
- Melvin Crispell III – God Is
- Kirk Franklin – All Things
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
- Blessing Offor – Believe
- Cody Carnes – Firm Foundation (He Won’t) [Live]
- Lauren Daigle – Thank God I Do
- for KING & COUNTRY ft. Jordin Sparks – Love Me Like I Am
- Lecrae & Tasha Cobbs Leonard – Your Power
- Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine – God Problems
Best Gospel Album
- Erica Campbell – I Love You
- Tasha Cobbs Leonard – Hymns (Live)
- Maverick City Music – The Maverick Way
- Jonathan McReynolds – My Truth
- Tye Tribbett – All Things New: Live In Orlando
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
- Blessing Offor – My Tribe
- Da’ T.R.U.T.H. – Emanuel
- Lauren Daigle – Lauren Daigle
- Lecrae – Church Clothes 4
- Phil Wickham – I Believe
Best Roots Gospel Album
- The Blackwood Brothers Quartet – Tribute to the King
- Blind Boys of Alabama – Echoes of the South
- Becky Isaacs Bowman – Songs That Pulled Me Through the Tough Times
- Brian Free & Assurance – Meet Me at the Cross
- Gaither Vocal Band – Shine: The Darker The Night The Brighter The Light
News
Tope Alabi, Ebuka Songs, Mike Abdul, Gordons to headline the second edition of Alimosho Arise, in Lagos
Alimosho Arise is a concert that seeks to mobilize people within its environment and beyond to the call for a better Nigeria. It is a night of praise, prayer, miracle and salvation. It’s a night of ‘songfare’ and warfare.
With a star-studded line up of performances from top Nigerian artistes including Tope Alabi, Ebukd Songs, Lilian Nneji, Bidemi Olaoba, Mike Abdul, Beejay Sax, Psalmos, and other gifted music ministers, it promises to be a night of high energy praise, worship, and diverse expressions of God with something for everyone. Also, top comedians like Gordons, Forever rfc, Asiri comedy, and Saco are set to crack your ribs with hilarious jokes.
The event will hold live in Alimosho LGA in Lagos State, on Friday, 19th January 2024 from 8pm. Venue is Calvary Bible Church, Church Street, End of Anjorin Street, Calvary Bus stop, Ikotun-Idimu road, Lagos.
The event will also be streaming to thousands of viewers all around the world on YouTube and Facebook on @cbcnigeria, with Dj Horphuray and Dj Mordu grinding the wheels of steels.
Get ready, for something is about to happen!
Be a part of this movement by spreading this message.
In His Steps Movement will be holding the 13th edition of its annual Youth Camp in Lagos, Nigeria from December 26 – 29. The IHS Camp is a flagship event that has traversed various Nigerian cities and has been transforming lives since its inception in 2011.
Known for delivering outstanding gospel projects, the In His Steps Movement has become synonymous with impactful initiatives such as the In His Steps magazine, The Judah Project, and the widely acclaimed Thr3e Podcast, that was previously syndicated across Nigerian and US radio stations, including Praiseworld Radio.
This year’s IHS camp promises to be an unforgettable experience, building on the success of previous editions that featured guest ministers like Pastor Ayo Okeowo, Florocka, Pastor Jimmy Odukoya, Tosin Sanni, Okey Sokay, Tola Omoniyi, among others.
The 2023 edition will continue this tradition of excellence, featuring an esteemed lineup of guest ministers, including Chimamaka Ige, Pastor Yele Adebiyi, Gaise Baba, Funmilola Banjoko, and more. The camp will offer three days of spiritual enrichment, fellowship and fun, providing a unique opportunity for young Christians to connect with fellow believers and be encouraged on their faith journey.
In His Steps camp has earned a reputation as the go-to event for young Christians, offering a transformative experience that goes beyond the ordinary. Participants can expect dynamic worship sessions, impactful teachings, lots of fun and a supportive community that fosters personal and spiritual growth.
You should watch this video for an insight into what to expect at the camp and visit their website: www.ihsmovement.org, for more information
Follow for updates on Instagram @ihs_mag
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