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Christian hip hop recording artist Lecrae is an author, entrepreneur, speaker, thought leader, philanthropist and co-owner/president of Reach Records. Lecrae's albums have sold more than three million copies and been nominated for five Grammy Awards, including a win for Best Gospel Album for Gravity. In addition to his new book, I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion but Found My Faith (Zondervan, October 13, 2020), Lecrae released a new album, Restoration, which features John Legend, Kirk Franklin, YK Osiris, Jozzy, Dani Leigh, Marc E. Bassy, BJ The Chicago Kid and more. Lecrae lives in Atlanta, Ga., with his wife and three children.
On your nightstand now:
The Peebles Principles: Tales and Tactics from an Entrepreneur's Life of Winning Deals, Succeeding in Business, and Creating a Fortune by R. Donahue Peebles is on my nightstand right now. Peebles is a Black real estate investor and I'm just starting to build my real estate portfolio. As I learn more about being a Black investor and entrepreneur, there are lessons to learn from his success and even from his failed investments.
Favorite book when you were a child:
My favorite book when I was a child is Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. I think what captured me about that book was all its simple imagery and vivid pictures.
Your top five authors:
My top 5 authors are Tom Skinner, Malcolm Gladwell, Carter G. Woodson, Curt Thompson, M.D., and Timothy J. Keller.
Book you've faked reading:
The book I've faked reading is Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. I've never really read the book entirely, but I've watched all the videos, read the CliffsNotes on it. I still haven't gotten around to reading the series of books, but I feel like I've read them.
Book you're an evangelist for:
The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson is a book that I feel is important for all people, especially for Black people, to read. I feel like it helps Black people understand who they are in society and gives white people a greater understanding of the perils that Black people have to navigate through.
Book you've bought for the cover:
The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America by Frances FitzGerald has such a striking cover, but I think what really interested me was the title. I bought it during a time when I was disenfranchised by the evangelicals and was curious about what the author had to say about them.
Book you hid from your parents:
Funny thing is the books I hid were comic books. Even comic books for kids are pretty graphic, so you can just imagine the ones for adults. So, I figured hiding them was a good way to preserve my collection.
Book that changed your life:
The Bible! It was like a letter from the father you'd never met that you finally got to read. Reading the Bible has changed my life!
Favorite line from a book:
My favorite line from a book comes from Margin by Dr. Richard Swenson. In the book, he says, "Love is not like other resources. There is infinite supply. As a matter of fact, the more it's used the more the supply increases."
Five books you'll never part with:
The Bible, Margin by Dr. Richard Swenson, The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness: The Path to True Christian Joy by Timothy Keller, The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell.
Book you most want to read again for the first time:
Wretched, Pitiful, Poor, Blind, and Naked by Gene Thornton (aka Malice of the Clipse) was my first audiobook, and it's an adventure that I'd go on again.