Christian rapper Lecrae tops Christian, Gospel and Billboard charts
History has been made as Christian rapper Lecrae sits atop the Gospel Albums chart and the Billboard 200 with his number one album “Anomaly.”
Lecrae, 34, opened at number one this week, selling 88,000 copies during the week ending September 14 and bumping Maroon 5′s “V” out of the top spot, according to Billboard.
Winter Jam 2014 tour photo/Brandon Jones
“Anomaly‘s launch is Lecrae’s best sales week, trumping the 72,000-unit start of 2012’s Gravity, which debuted and peaked at No. 3.,” the article notes.
The new album is also tops on the Christian list, making it just the fifth to lead both Christian Albums and the Billboard 200. The article continues, listing those achievements: Chris Tomlin’s Burning Lights (in 2013), TobyMac’s Eye on It (2012), LeAnn Rimes’ You Light Up My Life — Inspirational Songs (1997) and Bob Carlisle’s Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace) (1997).
Lecrae’s message and drive that continue to attract fans, as he remains focused on reaching audiences with a Christian message.
“A mentor told me years ago, ‘Lecrae you’re not in the widget and gimmick business, you’re in the people business. As long as you take care of people, they’ll take care of you,’” the rapper is quoted in his official bio. “So we’ve always looked at it as if we’re not trying to sell CDs, we’re trying to take care of people —Give them messages of hope and inspiration.”
Lecrae has openly said he wants his music to transcend the religious world and to reach people of all theological perspectives.
“If someone feeds a homeless man, you don’t know why he’s doing it, but the homeless person still appreciates the food,” he said. “People want to feel what you believe and not just hear it. So let’s talk about fatherlessness, let’s talk about incarceration. Let’s celebrate a relationship or a marriage or a child being born. Let’s talk about social issues.”
The rapper added, “Sure, I have a paradigm that I see the world through, but we all relate to those things and that’s where we connect.”
Learn more about Lecrae here.
