How Lecrae Built His Music Empire: Secrets to Independent Success & Balancing Faith with Music
Jan 23, 2025
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Lecrae, an award-winning Christian hip-hop artist, discusses his incredible journey in the music industry, including how growing up in Houston shaped his artistry. He reveals his blueprint for building an independent label and the power of social media in surpassing mainstream artists. Lecrae shares insights on the significance of independent touring and why he believes it fosters stronger fan connections. He also reflects on the current state and future of hip-hop, tackling the challenges and opportunities for aspiring artists.
Lecrae's entrepreneurial journey reveals how his unique experiences shaped his perspective on building an independent music label and brand.
He emphasizes the importance of effectively using social media to propel independent artists to unexpected heights in the music industry.
Lecrae discusses the necessity of balancing artistic authenticity and fan expectations while transitioning to themes of spirituality and faith.
Deep dives
Revamping the Educational Experience
The relaunch of EYLU (Earn Your Leisure University) signifies an evolution in the approach to financial education, aiming to provide an expansive learning experience. In 2023, the program will introduce various components, including monthly financial planning calls, book club discussions, real estate-focused sessions, and access to two comprehensive home buying blueprints. Additionally, the initiative encompasses 27 local chapters throughout the United States, allowing for live and interactive teaching sessions to replace pre-recorded videos. This revamped structure is designed to enhance engagement and accessibility for participants, reflecting a commitment to fostering financial literacy.
Automating Financial Savings
Acorns offers a solution to the common struggle of saving and investing by automating the process for users. It allows individuals to start investing with as little as $5, thus making it accessible regardless of wealth or income. The platform also recommends a diversified portfolio tailored to users' financial goals, ensuring that even those without extensive investment knowledge can participate. By transforming spare change into investment opportunities, Acorns encourages a mindset of continuous financial growth and security without the burden of daily financial decision-making.
Staying Financially Fit During Holidays
The holiday season often leads to financial strain for many individuals, resulting in increased debt or depletion of savings to cover expenses. However, the Chime checking account provides features aimed at promoting financial control, such as no maintenance fees and early access to direct deposits. The SpotMe program allows users to overdraft their accounts up to $200 without fees, offering a safety net during times of need. This emphasis on community support and accessible banking options encourages users to maintain financial health during a typically challenging period.
The Positive Influence of Lecrae
Lecrae stands out in the music industry for his focus on balancing hip-hop with positive and uplifting messages. His unique position allows him to cater to a demographic that seeks meaningful content amid widespread negative influences in mainstream music. By intertwining personal narratives with themes of faith and resilience, he significantly impacts listeners, especially young people. Additionally, his entrepreneurial journey, running a record label and garnering awards, exemplifies how artists can thrive by staying true to their message and connecting with their audience.
The Challenge of Maintaining Authenticity
As artists transition in their careers, particularly those who change their lyrical themes towards spirituality or faith, they often face scrutiny from their audiences. Lecrae emphasizes the importance of taking fans on this journey rather than abruptly shifting away from previous content. This gradual approach fosters understanding and allows listeners to connect more deeply with the artist's evolution. Maintaining authenticity involves being genuine about one's experiences and ensuring that any changes feel natural rather than forced, thereby keeping the audience engaged and supportive.
In this episode of Earn Your Leisure, we sit down with Lecrae to discuss his remarkable journey in the music industry and his blueprint for success as an independent artist. We dive into how growing up in Houston inspired him to create his own music label, the steps to building a label, and how he leveraged social media to surpass Nicki Minaj on the iTunes charts. Lecrae also shares the lessons he learned while working at a corporate cable company and how those lessons helped shape his music career. Additionally, he reflects on the pivotal first feature that made him realize his life was about to change and provides insights into the ever-evolving hip-hop market.
Lecrae breaks down the secrets to successfully touring as an independent artist and explains why he believes independently touring is better than partnering with major players like Live Nation. He also discusses his preparation for the BET Cypher, why he avoids pay-what-you-want strategies for his music, and whether playlist placement still matters in 2025. These insights offer valuable advice for aspiring artists navigating the modern music industry.
Lastly, we explore a bigger question: is hip-hop on the verge of following the same decline as rock ‘n’ roll? Lecrae shares his thoughts on the current state of hip-hop and its future. Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or fan of music, this episode is packed with wisdom, strategies, and inspiring lessons from one of the most successful independent artists in the industry.