Lecrae: Tiny Desk Concert

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0:11 Ladies and gentlemen, we know that the desk is tiny, but our God big, right?

0:14 Give it up for LRA.

0:17 [applause and music] Appreciate y'all.

0:20 Appreciate y'all this love.

0:22 Um, obviously some people know who I am, some don't,

0:26 but I bet you know this first song I'm going to do.

0:29 Check it out.

0:31 I don't do the most, but I do a lot.

0:34 I'mma make a toast cuz we still alive.

0:38 No big.

0:39 I feel like Pac.

0:41 I SHOOT THE SHOT.

0:43 I'M coming in hot.

0:47 Yeah.

0:50 Coming in hot.

0:53 Yeah.

0:54 Yeah.

0:56 Hey, look.

0:57 Wake them up.

0:58 Wake them up.

0:59 See them still sleeping, so I had to shake them up.

1:01 I kept [music] it too real.

1:03 I wasn't fake enough.

1:04 My real life was a headline.

1:06 Your real life got a deadline.

1:07 My timeline was a hashtag.

1:09 Your timeline just a hate crime coming in hot.

1:11 Feeling like pot back in 94 when he took four shots.

1:14 Too much dry to ride your wave.

1:15 It's my top then I'm off that lot.

1:18 Black on black on black on black on black on black on black.

1:21 You don't have to ball a rap to get them racks on rags.

1:24 Uber pullers trying [music] to catch my vibe and ride my wave.

1:28 Yeah, I know.

1:28 I know I'm ratchet, but I'm really save.

1:31 Hot sauce drip.

1:32 Everybody want to start dipping.

1:33 First nobody listen.

1:35 Now everybody pay attention and now everybody pay.

1:38 And even Trump got take a knee.

1:40 When the horn blow, y'all going to see.

1:42 Make the wall fall down like [music] say I don't do the most, but I do a lot.

1:48 I'mma make a [music] toast cuz we still alive.

1:50 [singing] No big.

1:53 I feel like [music] pot.

1:54 I shoot the shot.

1:57 I'm coming in hot.

1:58 Hey.

1:59 Hey.

1:59 Yeah.

2:00 Coming in hot.

2:01 Hey.

2:02 Hey.

2:04 Shoot that shot.

2:09 Indeed.

2:10 Indeed.

2:12 Yeah.

2:12 Yeah.

2:12 Yeah.

2:14 You know, uh, [music] anybody got any enemies or opposition?

2:18 You know, sometimes you just got things holding you down,

2:21 spiritual [music] forces.

2:22 I just want to pray for that tonight.

2:23 We're going to pray, God, deal with the ops.

2:24 [singing] You know what I'm saying?

2:26 Just ask him to deal with him, [music] you know.

2:28 Holy Father,

2:29 Holy Father,

2:29 God in heaven,

2:30 God in heaven,

2:31 show your power.

2:32 Show your power.

2:32 Let it come.

2:33 And let it come for your kingdom.

2:35 For your kingdom lag to your spirit.

2:38 Yeah.

2:38 Yeah.

2:39 Yeah.

2:39 [music] Say, "Hey,

2:40 spread the

2:41 Let's go.

2:42 Spread the Let's go.

2:43 Spread the [singing] Let's go.

2:45 Yeah.

2:46 Say spread the spread the spread the upside.

2:52 Who I think they hate me in my bait.

2:55 Ain't no part in this garden [music] if you snake me.

2:58 You can't break me.

3:00 Trying to chase me when it's rocky.

3:02 I move.

3:03 You can't drink me.

3:04 Fine.

3:04 I got my feet up.

3:05 Never scared.

3:06 [music] Going to put my heat up outside in the drive.

3:08 No rear up.

3:08 Where my head?

3:09 God going to eat up.

3:10 They live [music] free us.

3:11 Lock my family up.

3:12 My mama told the judge he ain't no killer.

3:14 It's all good cuz on that prison yard they preaching about the healer.

3:17 Spread the ops out.

3:18 Now the [music] cops out facing death.

3:21 You want to ple but you can't cop out.

3:23 Now you locked out.

3:24 I promise my God coming back when he knew it's a [music] problem.

3:26 Got his attention but you don't want attention.

3:28 You're done with the smoke.

3:28 It's too late.

3:29 You didn't got it.

3:29 Yeah.

3:30 So holy father [music] God in heaven.

3:33 Show your power.

3:35 Let it come

3:36 for your kingom and [music] for your kingdom.

3:39 Yeah.

3:41 Going higher.

3:42 Yeah.

3:42 [music] Spread the gore for sure.

3:46 Spread the spread the [music and singing] spread the spread.

3:54 Yes indeed.

3:54 Yes indeed.

3:56 [applause and music] So if you know my story,

4:00 you know I started in Texas but also spent some time on the West Coast.

4:04 So can I get a little West Coast in here tonight on y'all?

4:07 Dubs.

4:08 Okay.

4:08 That's what I'm talking about.

4:09 Yeah.

4:10 Use your elbows out like that.

4:12 You know what I'm talking about?

4:13 Yeah.

4:14 Yeah.

4:14 Hey.

4:17 Yeah.

4:19 Like that.

4:21 Hey.

4:23 Hey.

4:24 Hey.

4:25 Look at me.

4:25 I'm all the way turned [music] up.

4:27 I ain't smoking, but my homie in here burnt up.

4:29 Yeah.

4:29 I'm working on him, but he straight though.

4:31 [music] Couple girls trying to twerk it on me.

4:33 Wait.

4:34 No.

4:35 No.

4:35 Before you even hold that, I'm in here with [music] my homies.

4:37 Let me know if you don't know that.

4:39 Well, you know we in here celebrating a birthday.

4:41 [music] Hey, it's a work day.

4:44 No tripping.

4:45 We ain't said tripping.

4:46 You know we [music] in here, man.

4:47 [singing] Yeah, we straight dipping.

4:48 No Molly on me and you know I ain't tripping.

4:51 It's tiny desk in the building.

4:52 [singing] Imperial.

4:55 I'm here trying to function.

4:56 Holly if you with it though.

4:58 Probably think I'm rolling.

4:58 [music] I'm just high on the spirit bro.

5:00 Only thing that's popping is the truth.

5:01 Y'all don't hear me though.

5:03 Clap.

5:04 Probably think I'm rolling.

5:05 I ain't on nothing.

5:06 Probably think I'm rolling.

5:07 I ain't on nothing.

5:09 [music] probably think I'm rolling.

5:09 I ain't on nothing.

5:10 And what I got you need to know about tell them I'm turn I'm turn I'm

5:14 turn [music] I'm turn I'm turn I'm turn I'm turn [singing] I'm turn I'm turn I'm

5:18 turn I'm I'm [music] turn I'm turn Yes indeed [applause] now we was on the west

5:30 we got to go to the east you know New York City the birthplace of hip-hop music.

5:35 Anybody hip-hop fans in here?

5:37 So, I grew up on hip-hop.

5:40 You know, hip-hop raised me.

5:41 I'm actually what happens when the writings of Moses and hip-hop meet.

5:45 You know what I'm saying?

5:46 So, I just want to, you know what I'm saying?

5:48 Just just get my bars off.

5:50 Y'all cool with that?

5:50 Can I just get some lyricism off tonight?

5:53 Look, look.

5:56 Hey, you out of touch, but you feel the words I spoken.

6:00 Do my morning meditation [music] by the ocean.

6:02 Spirit flowing through my whole body.

6:04 I got motion.

6:05 Leave a legacy without a statue or [music] a sculpture.

6:07 Too own.

6:08 Ever since I was too.

6:09 Tried to buy my soul, but they often look like a groupone.

6:12 All my people eating.

6:13 You know I'mma put my group on.

6:15 You want the smoke?

6:16 Buy a casket and put a suit on.

6:17 I told you you know you killing [music] it when you start to see the vultures.

6:21 Ain't no shame in Nana.

6:22 We out in the open.

6:23 They got tarot [music] cards.

6:24 They got pills.

6:25 They got potion.

6:26 All I need is prayer and I'm golden.

6:28 Holy water.

6:30 Only [music] talk about your chain so long before they change your song.

6:33 But [singing] that ain't holy water.

6:35 Look, they [music] think that rain going to stop after they pop that watch.

6:38 But that ain't holy water.

6:41 Look at the way we drip like we just fell off a [music] ship.

6:43 We got them thinking it's holy water.

6:45 [singing] Yeah.

6:46 All them on your wrist but can't spend time with your kids.

6:50 Holy father, all God in heaven, keep that cabala.

6:52 Presidential roies.

6:53 I name my watches Obama comma la commas on commas don't give you

6:57 honor and y'all don't rap your nursery

6:59 rhyming like llama llama saying they sloppy.

7:01 Lurking in lobbies looking for bodies.

7:03 I keep it on me case I get caught up in his tsunami.

7:06 Know they won't stop me so they watch me like it's a hobby.

7:08 Got me in [music] that party talking to thies looking golly bodies on bodies

7:12 robbies on robbies shotties on shotties shot

7:14 up that party hopped [music] in that Maserati.

7:16 Nobody saw nobody even though they all witnessed the whole thing.

7:19 Treachery in our circles we lord of our own [music] rank.

7:22 Uh maybe it's cinema acting like ain't no sinners.

7:24 Each of us do what's right in our own eyes [music and singing] at minimum.

7:27 No benefits if you walk in your own path.

7:30 Turn away from God and you suffer the Lord's wrath.

7:32 Drink some holy water.

7:34 Only talk about [music] your chain so long before they change your song,

7:37 but that ain't holy water.

7:40 They probably [music] think that rain going to stop after they c that watch,

7:43 but that ain't holy water.

7:45 Now look at the way we drip like we just fell off a [music] ship.

7:48 We got them thinking it's holy water.

7:50 Huh?

7:50 Bought them on your wrist, but can't spend time with your kids.

7:53 Come on, man.

7:56 [cheering] [applause] Yeah.

8:02 Now, if you're a fan of hip-hop, if you're a fan of hip-hop,

8:05 then you you you you know about the rap battles,

8:07 legendary rap battles like Jay-Z verse [singing] Nas,

8:10 you know, J verse 50, Kendrick vers Drake.

8:15 And in that Kendrick and Drake battle,

8:17 I got my my my phone start blowing up like,

8:19 "La, you hear what Kendrick said about you?" I

8:21 got a little nervous like what what you mean?

8:24 But that's my guy.

8:25 and he actually was wrestling with his demons and he said

8:28 [music and singing] in the song called Watch the Party Die,

8:30 I wonder what Lra would do.

8:32 So I thought, man, [music] I I got to respond to this, right?

8:35 You know what I mean?

8:35 So I didn't know what to say cuz I

8:38 didn't want people to think I was clout chasing.

8:40 So I'm going [music] to take you to my headsp

8:41 space about me responding to this song, right?

8:45 Check this out.

8:46 Look now, I was wrestling like, [music] should I write a verse?

8:50 The culture got enough clout chasing vultures

8:52 out here trying to prove their worth.

8:54 [music] They need attention.

8:56 They can't imagine me not trying to make

8:58 myself look bigger off of this Kendrick mention.

9:00 I can't imagine his position.

9:02 Before I got on my mission, I was a party victim.

9:05 I bought the party [music] favors.

9:07 I used my trauma, my single mama to justify commas to pay the devil's wages.

9:12 Look, that probably went over your head.

9:14 Basically what I [music] said is I was government fed.

9:17 Bread for doing time and affairs but Jesus bled.

9:20 [music] Instead of putting dents in their head, [singing] he turned heads.

9:23 My cup runth over with nonsense.

9:25 They hearts grow colder.

9:26 They let her do evil.

9:27 They burn they conscience.

9:29 I want the dealer's [music] head who gave my cousin fentanol.

9:32 Labels exploiting rapping addicts.

9:33 Man, I'm sick of [music] y'all.

9:35 My [singing] daddy ran with Compton Crips.

9:36 Uncle Pyroo.

9:37 Stuck in the middle of this madness.

9:39 What should I choose?

9:40 I should [music] be choosing between Howard and Hampton.

9:42 I love the people [singing] that I ran with, but look at the damage.

9:45 You want me put you on, but I know you still with the scamming.

9:48 A crooked doctor [music] took advantage and hooked me on Xanics.

9:51 This killer sitting in their cell for taking somebody innocent.

9:54 [music] They [singing] don't even feel no remorse.

9:56 The worst ignorance.

9:58 But when I take a look in the mirror, the blood of Uriah is on my hands.

10:02 Cuz I'm that killer who had Basha [music] in his quarters.

10:05 I'm that who had Eve taste the fruit of death.

10:08 I'm dead sinner.

10:09 I deserve death along with all these [music] liars and hypocrites.

10:12 Fake tough rappers who fabricate their predicaments.

10:15 Fake [music] deep guru pushing voodoo on the people

10:18 telling folk that my God ain't real.

10:20 That's real evil.

10:21 Huh?

10:22 I wonder what LRA would do.

10:23 Hopefully seek the hand of God and tell

10:25 [music and singing] them that he's incapable.

10:27 Cuz truthfully, I'm nobody to judge.

10:29 My good deeds are like some period blood [music] stains on a dirty rug.

10:33 All I can offer them is Jesus love.

10:35 I know it sound [music] foolish to many.

10:36 Like really?

10:37 That's all you got for us?

10:39 Yeah.

10:39 The cross is foolish to the perishing.

10:41 The world will call me weak and the saints will say [music] I embarrass them.

10:44 I walk the valley full of evil.

10:46 I'm aware of it.

10:47 I can't condemn the world and burn all of the heretics.

10:50 Love is patient.

10:51 So I'm trusting in the narrative cuz Christ ain't watched [music] the party die.

10:55 He died instead of it.

10:57 I don't know if you heard me.

10:58 [music] Christ ain't watch the party die.

11:00 He died instead of it.

11:02 One more time for good measure.

11:05 Christ ain't watch the party die.

11:06 He died instead of indeed.

11:11 [applause and cheering] Yeah.

11:15 [applause] Indeed.

11:17 Indeed.

11:19 So, so we [singing] in some weird times, you know,

11:22 some [music] crazy times in this world right now.

11:25 And it gets dark and even I find myself wrestling,

11:28 [music] you know, like just navigating the chaos.

11:34 And I've had to learn sometimes you [music] got to pray through the pain.

11:39 You know what I mean?

11:40 Like you got to thank God for the little things.

11:42 Just the fact that you woke up this morning, you know what I mean?

11:44 Sometimes you just got to say, "It's hard, but I still bless you." Yeah.

11:48 Keep me in a safe place.

11:51 When I feel far [singing] away, Lord.

11:54 [music] Yeah.

11:56 When I don't know where [singing] I don't know where to turn.

12:00 Bless you.

12:02 I be praying y'all.

12:03 [singing and music] I'm praying and I pray faithfully calling your name.

12:08 Bless you, Lord.

12:11 Yeah.

12:12 [music] Yeah.

12:14 Bless you, Lord.

12:16 I'm blessed.

12:16 I know it.

12:17 Could have went left.

12:18 I know it.

12:19 I lost my brother.

12:20 He laying [music] in lifeless.

12:21 Only got know he going.

12:23 Life is a gamble.

12:24 I'm learning to dice it.

12:25 You going to get cut up however you slice it.

12:26 Talk to the Lord and he told me that.

12:29 Yeah.

12:29 [music] I still walk in the dark.

12:31 I'm a wrist take.

12:32 I see my brother go down over big faces.

12:33 Lawyers hitting my phone over big cases.

12:35 Life in the dark.

12:36 I was nocturnal.

12:37 Mama said change.

12:38 I [music] was not turning.

12:39 So full of trauma it's not funny.

12:41 It's some things that I done I cannot stomach.

12:44 Yeah.

12:44 [music] It's not accidental.

12:45 Texas the shot.

12:46 I hopped in that rental.

12:47 Old block to Ktown.

12:48 I wrote instrumentals.

12:49 I'm walking through blocks while they clutching they pistols.

12:50 Me and my lady [music] was ducking in Memphis.

12:52 Shootouts and murders.

12:53 We break through the trenches.

12:54 They think I do this to sell my little tickets.

12:56 They wasn't around.

12:57 We went on them missions.

12:58 Walking through prisons.

12:58 I give them life even after the sentence.

13:00 I don't want money, just pay me attention.

13:02 Already love a [singing and music] like or a mission.

13:04 I don't play games, I just play my position.

13:06 Ven Quinton.

13:07 I walk the yard out in Sterling by Denver.

13:08 Deal with the [music] spirit.

13:09 I'm praying with killers.

13:10 I told him I know about a god or forgive them.

13:12 I got the joy.

13:13 Get a lord in my system.

13:14 I lost my cousin but still got his memories.

13:15 They took his life, can't take his spirit.

13:17 I've been through too much to be worried about a [music] critic.

13:19 I know he love me in spite of my sin.

13:21 And I'm not independent.

13:22 And I needed a victim.

13:22 I'm leaning on him.

13:23 Needing to [music] know that he's Jesus is living cuz Jesus still with me.

13:27 Yeah.

13:27 And I'll be praying and I pray [music] faithfully calling your name.

13:33 Bless you, Lord.

13:35 See, I'm blessed.

13:36 I know it.

13:37 Left.

13:38 I know it.

13:39 I lost [music] my brother.

13:39 He laying in life.

13:40 It's only I know he going.

13:42 And life is a gamble.

13:43 I'm learning to dice it.

13:44 You going to get caught up however you talk to the Lord and he told me that.

13:49 Yeah.

13:49 [music] I still walk in the dark on my wrist.

13:52 I'm a risk taker.

13:53 Yeah, I'm a risk taker.

13:55 Mama said change I was not turning.

13:57 So full of trauma it's not funny.

13:58 So full of trauma [music] it's not funny.

14:00 It's some things that I've done I cannot stop.

14:03 Yeah.

14:03 But it's all right.

14:08 You know I sometimes when you going through

14:10 [singing] things I don't know if you like me.

14:13 You be praying like God if you get me

14:14 out of this I'm going to tell everybody about you.

14:16 I'm going to change.

14:17 I'm going to do the right thing.

14:19 And one day God hit me [music] and was like,

14:22 "Am I still not worthy for [singing] you to tell people about me?

14:25 Even though I didn't get you out the jam, [music] I was with you in the jam."

14:29 And it challenged me, man.

14:31 Be like, "You know what?

14:32 No matter what, [music] I'm going to tell the world about them." Yeah.

14:36 I'mma tell the world, tell them.

14:37 I'mma tell them everywhere I go.

14:40 Tell the [music] world, tell them.

14:42 I'm a bill boy.

14:43 Tell the world tell them.

14:45 I'm broadcasting like a radio.

14:47 Tell her what you want to know.

14:50 [singing] Brand new.

14:52 Yeah.

14:55 Listen, I don't know what you're dealing with, what you going through,

14:57 but I can promise you this.

14:58 If you woke up this morning, that's all the evidence you need to know.

15:02 Your story's not done.

15:03 Still being written.

15:05 So hang on.

15:05 [music] Keep fighting.

15:07 Keep on fighting, man.

15:08 Don't give up.

15:10 Yeah.

15:10 Fight [singing] a little longer, [music] my friend.

15:13 Yeah.

15:14 It's all [singing] worth it in the [music] end.

15:17 And when you got nobody to turn to, hold on and I'll find you.

15:24 I'll find you.

15:24 I'll find you.

15:26 I'll find you.

15:26 I'll find you.

15:29 Yeah.

15:29 Hold [singing] on and I'll find you.

15:31 Yeah.

15:31 I'm hanging on by your thread.

15:33 And all I'm clinging to is prayers.

15:35 And every breath is like a battle.

15:37 I feel like I ain't come prepared cuz death's knocking on the front door.

15:40 [music] Pain's creeping through the back.

15:42 Fears crawling through the windows, waiting for him to [music] attack.

15:45 [singing] They say, "Don't get bitter,

15:47 get better." I'm working on switching them letters.

15:49 But tell God, I'mma need a whole lot of hope.

15:51 Keeping it together.

15:53 Smiling in everyone's face.

15:54 I'm crying whenever [music] they leave a room.

15:56 They don't know the battle I face.

15:58 They don't understand what I'm going through.

16:00 The world trying to [music] play with my soul.

16:02 I'm just trying to find what I thought.

16:03 I'm trying to remember the way.

16:05 I'm trying to [music] get back to my own, but I can't do this on my own.

16:09 That's why I'm just trusting in you cuz I don't know

16:11 where else to go and I don't know what else to do.

16:14 Fight a little [singing] longer, my friend.

16:18 Yeah.

16:18 [music] It's all worth it in the end.

16:22 When you got When you got nobody to turn to and I'll find you.

16:29 Come on.

16:29 I'll find you.

16:31 I'll find you.

16:32 That's right.

16:33 Just hold on and I'll find you.

16:37 I'll find you.

16:38 I'll find you.

16:39 Yeah.

16:40 Wait a little longer and I'll find you.

16:44 By you.

16:46 I'll find you.

16:48 Hold on.

16:49 I'll find you.

16:51 I will I will [music] I will find you.

17:01 Yeah.

17:03 Oh.

17:06 Yeah.

17:11 [music] [applause]

17:13 Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, [music] give it up for Madison,

17:19 Liz, Mayhem, Swoop, Nate, Josh, Mike, and Joe.

17:27 My name is Craig.

17:28 I love y'all, man.

17:29 God bless [applause] y'all.

17:31 [cheering] [music] [cheering] [applause] [applause and cheering] [applause]

17:56 Thanks for watching.

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