Restoration of Community and Our Faith in Each Other
In this talk, LECRAE builds on the themes of his book I Am Restored, a follow-up to his New York Times bestseller, Unashamed. Lecrae shares how coming into faith has helped to restore, transform, and define who he is as a man, father, community activist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. In this talk he inspires audiences to restore our faith in community and each other.
Unashamed
In his first book, the New York Times best-seller, Unashamed (released in 2016), LECRAEwas transparent about adversities experienced in his life – childhood abuse, drugs, alcoholism, a stint in rehab, abortion, growing up fatherless, an unsuccessful suicide attempt.
Restoring the Community
LECRAE is partnered on several major projects to restore Atlanta’s English Avenue, aka The Bluffs, an area known for its rampant drug trafficking and violent crime statistics. Only a block away from the new Mercedes Benz Stadium, two-thirds of its residents live below the federal poverty line and 44% of the homes are vacant.
Active member of the Board of Advisory for Peace Academy, the first school in the English Avenue area to be opened in more than 20 years. The last one, English Avenue Elementary, closed in 1996. Here’s a brief YouTube video on Peace Academy https://youtu.be/O8L5OcsHuXY and a feature that ran in AJC on its founder, Benjamin Wills. Also sharing a piece that ran in Christian Headline where Dr. Benjamin Mills and Lecrae were interviewed.
Restoration of Faith
For those who think Gospel has gone too far, there’s a new wave of artists who are engaging the culture and taking Jesus out of the pulpits into the wider world, collaborating with secular artist all in an effort to bring “church to the unchurched!” LECRAE is an example of newer voices of Gospel who is ‘watching the throne’ and how it’s approached. His latest release Let The Trap Say Amen produced by and featuring Zaytoven brings the sacred and secular together.
Restoration Through Education
Restoration of Family
Kicked off Man Up Campaign—including a film, concert series, album, and curriculum for church and small group use—born out of this deep need for a godly model of manhood inspired by LECRAE's own story. “I’ve heard people say that the traumas from our childhoods follow us into adulthood. That’s certainly true for me. If you could trace my life’s biggest struggles back to their origin, most of them would lead to a childhood version of me wrestling with my father’s absence. Even when I wasn’t rebelling or having an emotional breakdown, there was a dull, throbbing sense of rejection and abandonment. I became a fatherless child before I could even pronounce the word daddy.”
Building a Multi-Media Empire While Building Community
Music mogul and multi-Grammy-winning artist LECRAE knows how to build a multi-media empire. His investments in himself and other artists has been good business, but he also knows how the use the platform to convey a message with meaning. Focused on building a community rather than a following, Lecrae shares his creative inspiration and greater purpose, and how to build it into a lasting legacy.
Sports Partnerships
Atlanta Hawks – LECRAE performed at both halftime and postgame on MLK Holiday at State Farm Arena. Along with serving as the annual MLK commemorative matchup, the date is also a Peachtree Night game, which featured the Hawks wearing their 2019-20 Nike Peachtree City Edition uniforms and the accompanying Peachtreethemed basketball court. Fans can go to Hawks.com/Lecrae to learn more.
NFL Song Of The Season Series – Lecrae announced as the third artist to be included in the NFL “Song Of The Season” series. Song selected “Get Back Right” off of his
Let The Trap Say Amen was heard throughout NFL playoffs across CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC broadcasts and even during the Super Bowl. Songs of the Season is a multitier, season-long initiative that highlight stars and emerging artists of all genres. The series showcases musicians that deliver a song to be integrated in all NFL promotions each month during the season. Songs have debuted debut during in-game broadcasts and have been released to all digital streaming platforms (DSPs) worldwide.
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Lecrae is producing and hosting Protect the Bag, an engaging new series on personal finance “with some sauce”
Two-time Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist, producer, New York Times bestselling author, and actor LECRAE is partnering with Experian North America to talk about the basics of financial health in the new web series Protect the Bag. Produced by Lecrae’s 3 Strand Films, this six-part series establishes Lecrae as an influential voice in the conversation about personal finance and building a legacy, and as a fresh leader in the field of edutainment. Part scripted sketch show, part interview series, Lecrae offers wealth insights “with some sauce,” and as he told Bloomberg: “the Protect the Bag web series allows me to walk in multiple spaces simultaneously. I get to continue the work of Restoration by educating people about financial literacy, but there is also an element of creativity and entertainment that pulls out the best in me.” He defines the bag as your money, of course, but also your financial safety and security, as well as your legacy – how to set yourself and others up for the future.
Lecrae’s commanding stage presence translates perfectly into the virtual format, and it’s easy to see why he’s an in-demand keynote speaker for events like TEDxNashville, The King’s Academy, Yale University, and more. Of the series, Experian’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility Abigail Lovell told Breathe Cast, “this unique partnership is like an authentic and hip master class, offered by an artist young adults admire, supporting consumers who may feel as if they don’t have access to financial tools.” A superb speaker and host, Lecrae conjures an engaging blend of humor and wisdom, making complicated ideas accessible for any audience.
In his powerful new memoir and in his speeches, Lecrae shares the story of how loss of faith after the experiences of his past threatened to ruin his career and life, and how he became Restored
When LECRAE's personal life spun into chaos, the two-time Grammy winner was forced to face the buried impact of the unhealed wounds--sexual abuse, physical trauma, addiction, and depression--that threatened to tear it all apart. Along the way, he realized the wounds we all carry have the potential to be unlikely guides to healing and freedom for ourselves, and others. His new memoir and call to faith I Am Restored is an inspiring charge to embrace the lasting healing and restoration available now, and that we all desperately long for, because no matter what you've experienced, God is near. Ever since his viral TEDx Talk, Lecrae has been sought out by audiences from Stanford University to podcasts on culture for his purpose-driven mission to restore faith in our society and each other, as he exemplifies in word and deed during the pandemic and social crisis. Lecrae describes his journey in this powerful interview for Christianity Today: The journey has been a process of understanding where my value ultimately comes from. It's not in my self-righteous acts. It's not in how wonderful people think I am or how articulate or incredible I am, but it's really been in the Lord.
Virtual Programming: Amid the pandemic and racial inequality, Hip-Hop Artist and Activist Lecrae leads by example in his quest to restore society and our faith in each other
Ever since his viral TEDx Talk, Hip-Hop artist, activist and author LECRAE has been sought out by audiences from Stanford University to podcasts on culture for his purpose-driven mission to restore faith in our society and each other, most notably in light of racial strife in America and inequalities unmasked by the Corona virus. He backs up his words with actions, recently funding and placing portable handwashing stations for the homeless around the Atlanta Metro area and expanding to over 20 cities across the nation. “Bringing restoration to those forgotten has always been a part of my DNA,” Lecrae says. “I’m proud to share that there are now over 50 sinks throughout Atlanta, and the campaign has expanded to over 20 cities across the nation.” In his sometimes breathtaking and always poignant talks, Lecrae shares why he strives to build community over a following, and inspires audiences in profound ways. In his new book I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion but Found My Faith, and in his talks Lecrae shares his personal story and his creative inspiration, and oh yes...he's dropping a new album titled what else but...Restoration.
With conversation rising about the number of teens committing suicide, the heightened conversations around mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and the masses protesting around societal issues such a racial justice and police brutality, this is the perfect time for LECRAE’s ninth album and documentary both titled Restoration to be released by Reach Records. The album features artists across all genres including John Legend, Kirk Franklin, YK Osiris, Jossy, Dani Leigh, Marc E. Bassy, Chicago Kid and more. This year, he’ll also release his second book, I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion, But Found My Faith, a follow-up to his New York Times best-seller, Unashamed.
A Multi Grammy Award-winning platinum selling artist, Lecrae has evolved into a New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur, speaker, thought leader, philanthropist, and Co-Owner/President of Reach Records. To date, he has sold more than 3 million copies and been nominated for 5 Grammy Awards including a win for Best Gospel Album, 15 Dove Awards, one Billboard Music Award, and received both a Soul Train Music Award and BET Hip-Hop Nomination. From his 2017 album, All Things Work Together, his single “I’ll Find You” ft. Tori Kelly, is now certified platinum by the RIAA (sold over 1 million copies) and “Blessings” ft Ty Dolla $ign is now Gold (sold over 500k).
A catalyst for restoration in faith, music, and popular culture, Lecrae is part of the new wave of thought leaders who are engaging the culture and taking Jesus out of the pulpits into the wider world in hopes of restoring faith. “We can change the narrative, empower the disenfranchised, and close wealth gaps and can restore the dignity stripped from us, but we can’t do that by separating ourselves. We need to connect with each other and lean on God to restore our sense of purpose and worth,” shares Lecrae. “There is so much on the horizon. I’m literally just getting started.”
Lecrae surpassed the label, Christian hip-hop artist, when his Anomaly album (2016) debuted at #1 on Billboard Top 200 Charts, the first time ever in Billboard chart history that an artist occupied the No. 1 album spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and Gospel Albums. “I am a hip-hop artist who happens to be Christian, believes in God, and follows the teachings of Jesus, but my music is created for all! Music itself does not have a label, it’s the people that attach the label to the artist and their music.”
Never one to rest on his laurels, the restoration continues!
Lecrae Sizzle Reel https://vimeo.com/393575054
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