Hip-hop artist and professing Christian Lecrae has launched the first episode in his new podcast, “Deep End With Lecrae,” where he discusses some of the struggles he had in recent years.
“I found myself driving an S-Class Mercedes, living in a million-dollar home, with all these awards and plaques, more depressed than I’ve ever been in my life, more broken than I’ve ever been in my life,” Lecrae said. “And that dispelled the myth that money and success equals happiness.”
Despite having major success in his career, including a No. 1 album, Grammy Awards, Billboard Awards, and sold-out tours, Lecrae confessed that he struggled with seeking validation from other people, including one instance where he missed his name from being called at the Grammys because he was concerned about meeting 2 Chainz and Nas on the red report.
In another case, he attended a Roc Nation party and likened it to a high school clique because everyone was trying to be in the “inner circle,” which included Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and Katy Perry. Meanwhile, Lecrae was on the outside with the “unpopular kids,” which included Calvin Harris and Childish Gambino at the time.
Although he was happy to meet Jay-Z in person, he realized that he was basing his identity on others, Church Leaders reports.
“I found myself trying to matter every day and finding myself chasing and chasing, and more and more unfulfilled because the ladder just gets higher and higher,” Lecrae said. “It became dark for me.”
“That’s the sad part because that’s so fleeting,” Lecrae continued, “when God has allowed us to have eternal value, worth, and purpose, and we’ll reject that.”
Despite the fame, the rapper’s desire for approval and success came from the brokenness of his past.
“I tried to patch up all that damage with winning things,” he explained. “It didn’t work. I had to be healed. We all have to be healed.”
He acknowledged that he has been through therapy on this road to healing and stressed the same for others.
“I’m a big believer in therapy,” he said. “I’m a big believer in community. You need relationships.”
He also stressed that one’s worth is grounded in God over people. Citing Psalm 23:6, Lecrae asserted that God will be with his people until the end.
“Literally goodness and mercy’s hunting you daily if you’re trusting in God,” he said. “You’re not just out here aimlessly flailing. He’s got a plan, and you’re walking in the midst of it.”
In addition to his first podcast, Lecrae has taken part in the Nativity musical film, “Journey To Bethlehem,” where he plays the angel Gabriel.
Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/Catherine Powell / Stringer
Video Courtesy: Lecrae via YouTube
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for Christian Headlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
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