Christian rapper Lecrae debuts poetry and essay collection ‘Set Me Free’
In August, Christian rapper Lecrae went into a recording studio one afternoon at Reach Records, the Atlanta-based Christian hip-hop label he cofounded in 2004, to try something new.
He sits behind a microphone under dim lights, takes a few deep breaths and starts scrolling on his iPad. As he reads, he pronounces each syllable, adds vocal inflections to every line and rereads words he might’ve stumbled over.
But this time, Lecrae isn’t laying down tracks for a new album but recording his first audiobook, “Set Me Free: The Good News of God’s Relentless Pursuits,” that comes out Tuesday.
“Set Me Free” is the Grammy-winning hip-hop artist’s first poetry and essay collection about overcoming doubt. He accompanies each piece with an essay explaining his inspiration and creative process.
In an interview with UATL, Lecrae calls “Set Me Free” experimental art.
“Hip-hop is an expression of humanity, and over the years, some people have gotten more away from the art of words. They’re just making them rhyme, and that’s it,” he said.
“Art is subjective. … When you explain what you see, sometimes it opens doors for other people to appreciate art as well. Poetry is the art of using words for expression, and I wanted to pay homage to an art that I still think needs to be used and referenced.”
In August, Lecrae released his 10th album, “Reconstruction.” He took his time to record the audiobook because he wanted to make something entertaining and insightful.
“Recording an album is (kind of) fun because you’re capturing moments. You get excited, jump in the booth and do that (for) an hour max,” he said.
“Recording an audiobook is more work that can take anywhere from six-to-10 hours a day, but I want people to enjoy the book. I don’t like boring audiobooks, and that’s what I listen to a lot of, so I wanted to give somebody something that I would appreciate.”
Connor Back, Reach Records’ audio engineer, mixed and mastered Lecrae’s audiobook session. He joined the record company as an intern in the summer of 2018.
Back said Lecrae is collaborative and task-oriented.
“When he comes in to record, he wastes no time. He catches himself when he messes up, but we’ll have his back and let him know when he doesn’t. He’ll say something simple like, ‘The (drum) kicks could come up a little bit,’ because he trusts the people around him but is very much involved to see his vision come to life,” Back said.
Lecrae started writing “Set Me Free” as he completed his second book, 2020’s “I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion But Found My Faith.” “Unashamed,” his first memoir, was published four years earlier.
“Set Me Free” includes poems that became songs like “Church Clothes” and “No Church in a While,” his commentaries on church and Christianity. The emcee introduces us to his relatives and acquaintances, shares his family history, and calls out Black writers Toni Morrison, Phillis Wheatley, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen and Paul Laurence Dunbar in the pages.
Lecrae said he wanted “Set Me Free” to share another side of his creativity and personality with fans.
“Sometimes, people want a collection of your thoughts but in an artistic way. A lot of times, my books have been very didactic and more of a straight-up literary experience. It’s a coffee-table book that has a lot more of the art components,” Lecrae said.
The book addresses criticism Lecrae received from Christian music fans about his activism and collaborations with secular artists. He said “Set Me Free” is about embracing humanity.
“When you function as your most authentic self, people can relate to and see themselves in you. We can do anything, but we can’t do everything,” he said.
“My white brothers and sisters didn’t realize I had anything in common with Killer Mike, T.I., the cultural ties we have and historical narratives we share.”
Lecrae’s concept for “Set Me Free” came from Jay-Z’s “Decoded,” a 2010 book that combines the rapper and entrepreneur’s song lyrics and personal narratives, and activist Eldridge Cleaver’s 1968 collection, “Soul on Ice.”
Lecrae, who grew up in Houston, said his love of literature stems from his mother.
“I read so much because she was adamant about me reading Black authors. I grew up in a house where it was a requirement. I didn’t appreciate it then, but I appreciate it now,” he said.
Lecrae hopes to venture into directing music videos and short films. In the meantime, he wants to start a book tour for “Set Me Free” at historically Black colleges and for minority student organizations at predominantly white institutions.
He said he hopes “Set Me Free” can become a catalyst for allowing others to let go of shame.
“I get to say some of the things that have locked me up in chains. When you’re a minority trying to survive in a majority culture, oftentimes you hide parts of yourself,” he said.
“I wanted to be free to love God, be a Black man and multifaceted,” Lecrae said, “and I want other people to experience that same type of freedom.”
About the Author
Christopher A. Daniel is a Black Culture reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is an Atlanta-based, award-winning journalist, cultural critic and ethnomusicologist. He previously taught courses at Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Georgia State University.
