I had become, at that point, complacent and tired. A couple of other people on that retreat did the same, but in the following months, his decision was the one that lasted. It was on a church retreat though that I watched him, someone I thought to be a strong, independent individual, break down and realize fully his sinfulness, depravity, and need for God once and for all. He was older and had similar interests that I was acquiring, so I watched him closely. One friend in particular though was the wildest, most openly immoral guy that I knew in church. A few years after its release, I was surrounded by some peers that were really getting serious about their faith and some of them were even taking up rapping. Songs like the “Intro,” “Don’t Waste Your Life” and “Go Hard” all hit me and got me pumped for God and living right. In the years to follow, it was rare that a day went by without playing some songs off that album. Everything really began I think in September of 2008 when Lecrae released an album called Rebel. I knew I wanted it, and I wanted it badly.Ī year later, I had discovered a little more of this type of music and had watched most of the few interviews there were to be found of Lecrae and others like Flame and the Cross Movement guys. What I heard and saw in those three minutes, however, was a joy and fire for Jesus unlike any I had ever been presented with. Being from a middle class, white family that grew up in the church, I was not accustomed to this kind of music and way of life. Immediately, I told my friend to pause the song and I went to YouTube and found the now old-school, but infamous Reach Records music video of Lecrae’s “Jesus Muzik.” I watched and listened eagerly as ever before. In a muffled way, through my friend’s cheap microphone, and my old, battered speakers, I heard the lyrics “Ridin’ wit’ my top down, listenin’ to this Jesus Muzik (bass hit).” I was hooked.

Up to this point, I was accustomed to music from Skillet and Steven Curtis Chapman, so the beat that came on next rocked my world.

A time filled with trial and error went by before we finally made a connection. He sent me a silence-breaking message and asked if I had a microphone hooked up and said he wanted to try out the new chat feature that allowed voice calling so he could show me a song he was listening to. Nearly ten years ago, a cheap, old laptop in front of me cables running around just to connect to a power source and our spotty internet connection, I heard “Jesus Muzik” for the first time.Ī friend and I were chatting over Google Talk, and we came to the end of our conversation having run out of things to say.

Lecrae rebel album