Lecrae Brings Christ to NPR Tiny Desk in Historic Moment for Christian Hip-Hop
Michael Foust
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By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
Christian hip-hop stepped onto one of music’s most influential stages last week when Lecrae performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, signaling the genre’s growing reach beyond its traditional audience.
The Tiny Desk Concert series is known for its raw performances recorded in a small office space at NPR’s headquarters, where major artists perform in an intimate setting that has helped turn the series into a widely viewed showcase. It has featured mainstream stars such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, Usher, and Alicia Keys.
Tiny Desk Radio host Bobby Carter said he felt “guilty” that it’s taken years to spotlight CHH – but that Lecrae was an obvious choice.
“If we're putting a spotlight on faith-based hip-hop, we had to start with Lecrae,” Carter wrote on the NPR website. “Hip-hop originated in the streets; its growth has been slow and steady, with faith often appearing as a caveat in the music. It felt acceptable to mention God without getting too preachy, but if you went past that line, an obsession over authenticity stigmatized Christian rappers.
“And then Lecrae cracked the code: His devotion is unapologetic and consistent through the lyrics, but everything else, from the production to delivery, feels real and earned.”
NPR’s Instagram clip of Lecrae drew widespread praise, with high-profile reactions from Terry Crews, Timbaland, John Legend, and NBA star Trae Young.
Lecrae pointed to God in a reflective Instagram post.
“I know this is a historic moment… I just haven’t fully caught up to it yet,” Lecrae wrote on Instagram. “Not because it’s not meaningful, but because for most of my life, I’ve just been trying to follow the Lord. Step by step. Opportunity by opportunity. Just being faithful with whatever He puts in front of me.
“There’s a part of me that wants to lay everything, every stage, every moment, every platform, at His feet. And then there’s another part of me that’s just… in awe. Like, how did I even get here?
“If I’m being honest, I was so locked in on preparing for this, doing it right, honoring the moment, that I didn’t really get a chance to sit and process what was actually happening,” Lecrae added.
“So even now, I’m still processing. I’m honored. Truly. Thank you to @nprmusic NPR. Thank you to every fan and supporter who’s been on this journey. Thank you to my team for putting something special together.
“I don’t fully know what this moment means in the grand scheme of everything. I don’t know what God is doing behind the scenes.”
Lecrae then quoted fellow CHH artist DJ Mykael V of Indie Tribe: “The desk is tiny, but our God is big.”
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Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Catherine Powell / Stringer
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
