By Vicki Franks ’20
Arts & Life Editor
Hundreds headed to the Bennett Center gym to see world-famous, Christian rapper Lecrae.
Benji Suprice (‘18) was an energetic master of ceremonies, opening the concert with a boys vs girls dance competition between two groups of Gordon students on the stage. The two groups were competing for both bragging rights, and some Lecrae merchandise. It was a close competition, but the boys ultimately came out on top.
“This show is gonna be dope, lit, every adjective you can think of,” Suprice said to a roaring crowd of Gordon students and visitors. The performance began with no shortage of lights and smoke filling the Bennett gym.
“I’m a product of the grace of God and hip hop music” were Lecrae’s opening words. “I’m evidence that God can use anything and everything in this world.”
Lecrae is known for his life-changing conversion to Christianity, dedicating his life and career to God.
“[It was] really fun. The vibe was good and Lecrae was very chill, but then he would talk about a lot of truth,” said Jasmine Ye (‘19), a student ambassador who helped out with the concert.
After each song, the rapper shared words of wisdom and encouragement with the concert-goers. During one of those in-between moments, he shared how while he was growing up, prison time seemed to be a “rite of passage,” to him. Since coming to faith, Lecrae now goes to prisons to share God’s love with those behind bars. During one of those visits, he told the crowd that he met a man on death row and was struck by the man’s joy despite being sentenced to die. The man told the rapper that he was blessed.
“If that man on death row can smile, we have no excuse not to,” Lecrae told the audience.
The rapper went on to tell the concert-goers that his purpose in making songs about his past hurts and “scars” is not to make people feel bad for him, but to help others find healing. He spoke about his most recent album, sharing that this time he did not necessarily make it to inspire people, but because he himself was in a dark place.
“[It was a] phenomenal opportunity,” Surprice said after the concert. “Lecrae killed it… It was cool when he started talking. It was almost like he was preaching. It wasn’t just rap, it wasn’t just one style of music, but it was this collective getting-together, letting God be glorified.”
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