Lecrae (Feat. Taylor Hill) – Cry for You

Lecrae is a hip hop/rap artist, actor, and author, one of the few that I could tolerate!

Beginning his career in 2004, Lecrae released ten albums and one EP, including:

• Real Talk (2004)
• After the Music Stops (2006)
• Rebel (2008)
• Rehab (2010)
• Rehab: The Overdose (2011)
• Gravity (2012)
• Church Clothes (EP, 2012)
• Anomaly (2014)
• All Things Work Together (2017)
• Let the Trap Say Amen (2018)
• Restoration (2020)

Lecrae appeared in several films, wrote two books, Unashamed (2016) and I Am Restored (2020), and received too many awards for me to list on this page.

Also, check out my reviews of Timepiece, Just Like You, Boasting, and Dirty Water.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Lecrae-cry-for-you-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

The main thrust of Lecrae’s overall message is about contrasting his inner-turmoil and difficulty confessing his problems to others with the grace of God that’s beyond all understanding.  Lecrae finds it difficult to be open about his struggles out of fear that his audience will judge, disdain, and abandon him.  While Lecrae begs God to take his problems away, much like the Apostle Paul, God’s response to Lecrae is that His grace is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore, Lecrae will boast in God, not his works.  Lecrae also prays for others like him and hopes that others won’t judge him.

This song follows a modified basic format.  It starts and ends with Pre-Chorus and Chorus, with a third repeat sandwiched between both Verses.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

This entire song aligns with God’s inspired Word.

[Pre-Chorus]

Lines 1-4: References Paul’s thorn in the flesh, found in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.  Lecrae (and perhaps the featured artist Hill as well) are often placed on a pedestal, as if they don’t ever struggle with anything.  As a leader and guide, Lecrae finds it difficult to confess his sins (James 5:16) to brethren who might look down upon him.  This isolates him, making him feel as if this thorn is all he has.

[Chorus]

Lines 1-5: Lecrae cries for others like him who can’t confess out of fear of judgment.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-4: Lecrae mentions later in the song that he prays to God in Jesus’ name.  Therefore, we can interpret these lines similarly.  It is He whom Lecrae tells his error and begs to remove this thorn.  Despite this, God still loves Lecrae, much to his surprise.  It shouldn’t though, because when Lecrae is faithless, God is still faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).

Lines 5-7: The “Body of death” is probably a reference to Romans 7:24.  Lecrae clings to God, finding rest (Matthew 11:28-30).

Lines 8-11: With a renewed heart (Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 31:33, and Hebrews 8:10), Lecrae cannot pursue sin, including murdering himself.

Lines 12 and 13: Despite Lecrae’s best efforts, he failed his promise to hurt his family.

Line 14: Essentially repeats Chorus, line 1.

Lines 15-18: For those who feel similar to Lecrae, he prays for them in Jesus’ name.

Lines 19-24: Continuing the idea outlined in Pre-Chorus, Lecrae, just like Paul, continues to carry his thorn in the flesh.  It drives Lecrae bananas.

Lines 25 and 26: Satan would have Lecrae believe that he’s defeated, yet, God teaches that if Lecrae confesses his error, God will cleanse him (1 John 1:9).

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-4: Lecrae dwells on his past, his eyes not fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).

Lines 5-9: This is the third time that Lecrae asks God to take it away, just like Paul!

Line 10: This is God’s response to Paul, as well as Lecrae, also recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10: God’s grace is enough.

Line 11: I feel the same way about me and my Berean Test reviews!

Lines 12-13: Lecrae contrasts his sinful past and present struggles with his message of truth and healing.  God uses broken people in broken circumstances to speak life into others, confounding the “wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

Lines 14 and 15: Rather than boasting in himself, Lecrae boasts in the Lord (Psalm 34:2, Jeremiah 9:23-24, and 1 Corinthians 1:31).

Lines 16 and 17: Lecrae uses clever wordplay to describe “you and I” as vowels that act differently than their created purpose.  We broke our vows, consequenced by death (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Proverbs 21:16, Luke 15:11-24, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13, and 1 Timothy 5:6).

Lines 18-20: Those who know about Lecrae’s life, he asks if they will pray for him or judge him.  The latter often do so hypocritically, disobeying Jesus in Matthew 7:1-5.

Line 21: See commentary in lines 12-13.

Line 22: Repeats line 21.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

While it might be difficult for unbelievers to know what it’s like to be famous, Lecrae’s message about “keeping it all in” is relatable to those who don’t yet know Jesus.  Many unbelievers have been judged by people who call themselves Christians, unable to be real about their struggles.  These are the type of people Lecrae prays for.  Unbelievers will conclude it’s Christian based on explicitly using the name “Jesus”, prayer in His name, and Satan.  Much like Lecrae, they crave connection with someone who will help instead of condemn.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

This song glorifies God’s grace can be made perfect in Lecrae’s life, shown through praying for others like him.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Lecrae’s Cry for You is sensational.  It communicates Lecrae’s inability to confess his inner-turmoil with others, opting to go directly to God.  Though He said no to Lecrae. God’s grace is made perfect in weakness, expressed throughout this song that brings glory to God.  Unbelievers will find his message easily relatable.

This song is inspirational, but not appropriate for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Cry for You (listen to the song)

Artist: Lecrae (Feat. Taylor Hill)

Album: All Things Work Together

Genre: Hip Hop/Rap

Release Year: 2017

Duration: 4:24

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