Lecrae has got a certain type of swagger. It’s understandable; his seven studio albums, millions of records sold, two Grammy Awards, and three nominations have thrust the Houston-born 36-year-old rapper from the category of Christian/Gospel and into the mainstream.
“Sidelines,” the fourth track from his 2016 release Church Clothes 3, captures it (the swagger, that is). Cognizant of context (both cultural and theological), steadfast, and straightforward, Lecrae walks the border between two divergent cultures — hip-hop and the Evangelical church — with a diligent confidence that’s managed to irk both sides.
As a rapper, Lecrae’s cadence is sharp and his verses succinct, both in meaning and feeling. Most of the music sounds good: percussive and resonant, never coming unhinged (though rarely loosening up). For every dose of confrontation, there’s a spoonful of playful anthems and sweet bangers — a full-enough spectrum for an artist so obviously tasked with temperance.