American Christian hip hop recording artist, songwriter, record producer, and actor Lecrae has released a statement showcasing his world tour dates, confirming that he will be in Kampala – Uganda this year.
Lecae, who recently shook up the world of hip-hop and religious music by becoming the first rapper to win a Grammy for Best Gospel Album, will perform at Kyadondo Rugby grounds on June 10, according to the statement issued Wednesday.
The 38-year-old will also perform in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria among other African countries.
This major announcement follows the release of his latest and eighth studio album, “All Things Work Together,” which hit several radio waves across the continent starting September 2017.
“This is my favorite album and the most work I’ve put in since the Anomaly tour,” said Lecrae. “This is a spiritual and emotional musical journey. People will be blown away.”
He is the president, co-owner and co-founder of the independent record label Reach Records, and the co-founder and president of the now-defunct non-profit organization ReachLife Ministries.
Lecrae received nominations for Artist of the Year at the 43rd, 44th, 45th, and 46th GMA Dove Awards and in 2015 became the first rapper to win the BET Award for Best Gospel Artist.
Early life
Born and raised by his single mother and grandma in Southern Houston, Texas, Lecrae moved often early in life, living in San Diego, Denver, and Dallas.
In the song “Good, Bad, Ugly”, Lecrae reveals that when he was almost eight, a female baby sitter sexually molested him, an incident which Lecrae believes distorted his view of sexuality, influencing his later promiscuous lifestyle.
Experiencing abuse and neglect during his childhood, Lecrae used his ability to rap as a source of significance. According to Lecrae, his grandmother would not allow him to watch rap music videos on television, but he would sneak in late at night. It was in these videos that Lecrae found individuals to look up to.
At the age of 16, he started taking drugs, fighting, was arrested in high school for stealing, and eventually ended up on a gang list. Lecrae tried “pretty much every drug there was to try” except for heroin and crack cocaine.
According to CNN, he became a drug dealer and used the Bible that his grandmother gave him as a good luck charm. After being arrested for drug possession, the officer saw the Bible and let Lecrae go on a promise that he would agree to live by it.
He eventually turned from drugs to alcohol consumption and a party lifestyle and became a “misfit of a person. Lecrae said that “I remember ripping the pages out of the Bible and throwing it on the floor. I don’t want this Bible.”
A girl Lecrae attended high school with later in life invited him to a Bible study, where he met Darragh, his future wife. He over time and a number of events, gave his life to Christ after hearing Pastor James White of Christ Our King Community Church preach.
By Paul W Dennis.
