In a candid conversation with host Nyla Simone on the We Need to Talk podcast, Lecrae reflected on his journey as an artist who exists between two worlds, Christian and mainstream music, and how that tension has shaped both his faith and his art.
For Lecrae, collaboration is less about trends and more about shared experiences. He explained that his creative process centers on finding common ground with other artists.
That means he’s selective about projects, often turning away from collaborations focused solely on superficial themes like partying or drug use. Instead, Lecrae gravitates toward artists who are willing to explore topics such as grief, depression, and resilience, subjects that reflect the depth of real human experience.
One of the most notable examples Lecrae shared was his long history with Killer Mike. The two first attempted to collaborate years ago, but disagreements about faith and ideology prevented their joint work from moving forward. Lecrae compared the dynamic to a “red team vs. blue team” standoff, describing it as two voices with fundamentally different messages that couldn’t coexist on the same record.
Today, however, both artists have matured. Lecrae explained that they now approach collaboration with a sense of mutual respect and an ability to recognize shared ground without ignoring their differences. The timing, he noted, finally feels right.
Lecrae has made clear distinctions about the type of music he is willing to attach his name to. He avoids projects that lean heavily into surface-level indulgence but embraces those that bring out the complexity of human emotion. That standard, he said, is what helps him stay grounded and authentic, even while navigating the pressure of crossing genres.
Lecrae has long identified with the idea of being an “anomaly.” His 2014 album of the same name reflected his position of not fitting comfortably into either the Christian or mainstream music categories. At the time, Lecrae admitted, the title was aspirational, more about wanting to embrace his unique position than actually feeling at peace with it.
A decade later, he says that acceptance has become genuine. Lecrae now describes himself as “comfortable in the tension,” no longer concerned with whether others fully understand his position. That duality, he explained, fuels his artistry rather than holding him back.
Prayer and spirituality remain central to Lecrae’s process. He sees creativity as a space where human agency and divine guidance coexist. For him, God provides wisdom and direction, while prayer opens the door to that guidance. Lecrae described faith as both a stabilizer and a source of inspiration, shaping not only the way he approaches music but also the way he connects with listeners on a personal level.
