Restoration is the ninth solo studio album by American Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released on August 21, 2020, through Reach Records. The album features appearances from YK Osiris, Marc E. Bassy, John Legend, Jozzy, Kirk Franklin, DaniLeigh, BJ the Chicago Kid and Gwen Bunn. A deluxe edition of the album, with six additional tracks, was released on November 13, 2020, which included additional guest appearances from Rapsody, Ty Brasel, as well as labelmates Andy Mineo, Hulvey, WHATUPRG, Wande and 1K Phew. The album peaked at No. 1 on the US Christian Albums chart and No. 5 on the UK Christian & Gospel Albums chart. It received universal critical acclaim. It also received a Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song nomination at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards for the song "Sunday Morning".
| Restoration | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 21, 2020 | |||
| Genre | Christian hip hop | |||
| Label | Reach Records | |||
| Producer |
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| Lecrae chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Restoration | ||||
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Background
editLecrae announced the album along with a new upcoming book, I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion but Found My Faith, in February 2020.[1][2] Lecrae subsequently left Columbia Records and returned to being a fully independent artist.[3]
During the several years prior to the album's release, Lecrae had struggled with clinical depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and marital problems, and considered abandoning Christianity.[4][5][6] He attributes much of this to trauma he encountered in his childhood,[5] trauma which resurfaced when he started facing relentless criticism from many Christians.[7] After a trip to Israel with a group of Christian hip hop artists, including labelmate Andy Mineo as well as FLAME, Derek Minor, Canon, and Spechouse, which included the group being baptized in the Jordan River, Lecrae was restored in his faith.[7] He also went to therapy and repaired his relationship with his wife.[5]
Promotion
editOn March 20, 2020, Lecrae released the album's lead single "Set Me Free" featuring YK Osiris.[8] On June 24, 2020, the second single "Deep End" was released.[9] On July 17, 2020, the third single "Drown" featuring John Legend was released.[10]
Conceptual theme
editLecrae has stated that the theme of the album is about mending what is broken, both as an individual and in society, and finding holistic restoration and healing, particularly from God.[6] He told Forbes that "I think a lot of times we're looking for where that restoration can come from and we're missing the reality that we have the God-given ingenuity and the light in us to do the work that we want to see done in society and in the world. I believe that's possible. I've sat in therapist chairs. I've done meditation. I believe holistically we can be restored, regardless of our circumstances. That's the heartbeat of the album."[6] In an interview with The Christian Post, he said that "God is more perfect than I am and there's nothing we can do to make Him love us more or less. There's no situation that we're in that He's not wanting to help us through."[5]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [11] |
| American Songwriter | [12] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout |  [13] |
Neil Z. Yeung from AllMusic rated the album four-and-a-half stars out of five and considered it the best album of Lecrae's career.[11] Scott Fryberger of Jesus Freak Hideout gave the album 4 stars out of 5, praising the theme, sound and lyrics of the album. He also praised Lecrae for his vulnerability on the album by saying "Lecrae's journey through hell and back is inspirational and relatable, and the music it's paired with is some of his best work in years".[13] Tess Schoonhoven of American Songwriter rated the album 4.5 out of 5. They were of the opinion that the feature credits on Restoration rendered it more multi-dimensional than 2018's Let the Trap Say Amen, and remarked that it "sheds a surprising and approachable light into the niche genre [of Christian hip hop]".[12]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Restore Me" |
|
| 1:17 |
| 2. | "Set Me Free" (featuring YK Osiris) |
| GAWVI | 2:58 |
| 3. | "Wheels Up" (featuring Marc E. Bassy) |
|
| 4:04 |
| 4. | "Over the Top" |
| 30 Roc | 3:12 |
| 5. | "Self Discovery" |
|
| 2:28 |
| 6. | "Deep End" |
| Anthony Gardner | 2:41 |
| 7. | "Drown" (featuring John Legend) |
|
| 3:21 |
| 8. | "Saturday Night" (featuring Jozzy) |
| Oshi | 2:08 |
| 9. | "Sunday Morning" (featuring Kirk Franklin) |
|
| 4:02 |
| 10. | "Zombie" |
|
| 2:32 |
| 11. | "Keep Going" |
|
| 2:28 |
| 12. | "Still" (featuring DaniLeigh) |
|
| 2:56 |
| 13. | "Only Human" (featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
|
| 3:49 |
| 14. | "Nothing Left to Hide" (featuring Gwen Bunn) |
|
| 3:37 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "10 Toes" |
|
| 3:09 |
| 16. | "Rich and Famous" (featuring WHATUPURG & Ty Brasel) |
|
| 3:26 |
| 17. | "Come Thru Jesus" |
|
| 2:09 |
| 18. | "Deep End (Remix)" (featuring Rapsody) |
| MrWriteNow | 2:39 |
| 19. | "Restored" (featuring 1K Phew, Wande, Hulvey) |
|
| 4:37 |
| 20. | "Celebrate More" (116 featuring Lecrae, Andy Mineo & Hulvey) |
|
| 3:11 |
| Total length: | 1:00:37 | |||
Sample credits
- "Set Me Free" contains a sample from "Shackles (Praise You)" performed by Mary Mary and interpolations from "Same Old Story" written and performed by TQ Dat Mayne featuring B.B. King
- "Deep End" contains a sample from "Deep End" performed by John Summit and interpolations from "Deep End Freestyle" written and performed by Sleepy Hallow and Fousheé
- "Zombie" contains a sample from "We're Blessed" performed by Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ and interpolations from "I'm 'n Luv (wit a Stripper)" written and performed by T-Pain featuring Mike Jones
- "Keep Going" contains interpolations from "Celebrate More" written and performed by 116, Andy Mineo & Hulvey featuring Lecrae
Charts
edit| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Christian & Gospel Albums (OCC)[14] | 5 |
| US Billboard 200[15] | 69 |
| US Christian Albums (Billboard)[16] | 1 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[17] | 13 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[18] | 39 |
References
edit- ^ Be Allah, Sha (February 27, 2020). "New York Times Bestselling Author Lecrae Talks Forthcoming Book and Album". The Source. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ Sarachik, Justin (February 27, 2020). "Lecrae Announces Details & Release Date of New Book 'I Am Restored'". Rapzilla.
- ^ Amorosi, A. D. (May 29, 2020). "In Leaving a Major Label, Faith-Based Rapper Lecrae Embraces the Spirit of Independence Along with Spirituality". Variety.
- ^ Gibson, Charity (September 5, 2017). "Lecrae Explains Why He Nearly Left Christianity and Contemplated Suicide (Video)". The Christian Post. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Law, Jeannie (August 21, 2020). "Lecrae candidly talks marriage issues, depression, trap of fame and power of God's restoration". The Christian Post. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c McIntyre, Hugh (April 24, 2020). "Lecrae Talks New Single, Album, Movie And Book: Interview". Forbes. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ a b Sarachik, Justin (April 22, 2020). "Lecrae Found Restoration After an Identity Crisis Left Him Feeling Like a Failure [INTERVIEW]". Rapzilla. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ "Set Me Free - Single". Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ "Deep End - Single". Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ "Drown - Single". Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ a b Yeung, Neil Z. "Lecrae - Restoration". AllMusic. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ a b Schoonhoven, Tess (November 2, 2020). "Lecrae Sheds An Approachable Light On a Niche Genre With 'Restoration' – American Songwriter". American Songwriter. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ a b Fryberger, Scott (August 20, 2020). "Lecrae Restoration". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ "Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. August 28, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ "Lecrae Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ "Lecrae Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ "Lecrae Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ "Lecrae Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2020.