Lecrae’s career has been full of success in recent years, but that doesn’t shield him from going through the same mental woes as the rest of us. It’s been two years since the devout Christian emcee landed his first #1 album with his seventh studio LP Anomaly. Since then, the album has topped an array of charts like Independent Albums, Rap Albums, Digital Albums, Gospel Albums and Christian Albums.
While he’s grateful for his success, Lecrae felt the need to vent his own inner thoughts and frustrations about the depressing times that stem from the deaths of Michael Brown, Philando Castle, Tamir Rice and others. In a new interview with Billboard, the rapper explains why he signed a new deal with Columbia Records and revealed how he created the first offering off his forthcoming eighth studio album.
“They lashed out and accused me of being political,” said Lecrae. “That drove me to a place of deep despair and depression. What I also found is that a lot of us are wrestling with PTSD. You can’t be exposed to that much death and injustice and walk around unscathed. Layer that on top of losing my cousin to a tragic accident to my DJ passing away to close friends of the family betraying me. All of that culminated in a dark place where I said ‘God, I don’t know how I feel about any of this right now. And if you’re here, I don’t hear you, see you or feel you.’ “Can’t Stop Me Now” was birthed out of that.”
READ: Lecrae Speaks Out About Being Criticized For Supporting ‘Black Lives Matter’
Lecrae also said that he’s teamed up with a wide range of artists for his new album from singer Tori Kelly to producers Hit-Boy and Mike Will Made-It. Although the album is set to drop early next year, Lecrae is prepping his fans for the new year with “The Destination Tour, You’re Accepted.” His fall headline tour will hit 18 cities across the U.S. starting in Columbia, South Carolina next week and wrapping up on Nov. 16 in Asheville, North Carolina.
Listen to Lecrae’s new single “Can’t Stop Me Now (Destination)” below.