Join The Atlanta Press Club on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. EDT for a discussion in an online webinar with Grammy winner and platinum-selling hip-hop artist, Lecrae. The Atlanta-based rapper, entrepreneur, philanthropist and author discusses his new book, I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion But Found My Faith. The conversation moderator is Atlanta journalist Christina Lee, whose writing has appeared in Billboard, The Washington Post, Pitchfork, Complex and other publications. Special guests to be announced!
Below is more information about the book:
Two-time GRAMMY winning hip-hop artist and bestselling author Lecrae had inspired millions with his redemptive and gut-honest art. But when his personal life spun into chaos, he was forced to face the buried impact of the unhealed wounds—sexual abuse, physical trauma, addiction, and depression—that threatened to tear it all apart. Along the way, he realized the wounds we all carry have the potential to be unlikely guides to healing and freedom for ourselves, and others.
With vulnerable honesty and transformational yet simple steps you can apply today, Lecrae shares the personal practices he uses in his daily life for mental, emotional, and spiritual health. With powerful prose, he gives an unflinching look at the personal and public spaces that sadly hurt us so often—culture, politics, family, church, personal failure—and reminds us that learning to let go and forgive is the birthplace for the life of creativity and freedom God has for us.
I Am Restored is an inspiring charge to embrace the lasting healing and restoration available now, and that we all desperately long for, because no matter what you’ve experienced, God is near, He hears, and He’s not done with you yet.
With his 9th studio album, Restoration, dropping on August 21st and the follow up to his New York Times bestselling book, I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion, But Found My Faith, releasing on October 13th, Lecrae is giving fans a behind the scenes view of his life in The Road To Restoration, a three-part video narrative posted on his YouTube channel.
“Restoration is taking something broken and making it whole again,” explains Lecrae. “Through restoration we take something that has been stripped of its value and bring back its worth, meaning, and purpose. I want people to journey with me on The Road To Restoration. The journey begins with this three-part video experience, then there’s the album, Set.Live virtual concert, and book! Collectively they’re all pieces of a puzzle and each piece helps you to understand the next. When all the pieces come together, you’ll get the full picture.”
The YouTube video series begins with The Road To Restoration: The Dreamer (Part 1) opening with a 14-year-old Lecrae sharing his dream of growing up to become a rapper, family man, and businessman! The irony of watching the young 8th grader, is not only did he become a rapper, but he would become a multi Grammy Award-winning platinum selling artist who made history as the first artist to debut in the #1 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 and Gospel Album Chart in the same week! Now also husband and father of three, Lecrae adds New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, speaker, thought leader, philanthropist, and Co-Owner/President of Reach Records to his achievements.
While on the surface, it appeared that Lecrae was living his dream, secretly his life was spinning out of control. Ready to walk away from everything—his career, marriage, and family – Lecrae decided to finally face the traumas he had experienced, and deal with it, step by step. The Road To Restoration is a window into my journey towards restoration. “It’s easy to think that life gets easier the more successful you get. But, the more successful I became, the more I had to fight for something I couldn’t maintain. It broke me, but it also opened the door for me to be restored.”
The second step of The Road to Restoration: Closing The Gap (Part 2) includes Lecrae meeting his father. “For the first time in my life I got to sit down and talk to my father face to face and I went through so many emotions seeing him but I’m thankful that I finally got to ask him all the questions I never got to ask. It was healing and now he texts me almost every day!”
The Road to Restoration: This Is Not The End (Part 3) shows how Lecrae is restoring his own family and the steps he’s taken to prioritize them. “I used to be a creative who was taking time for the family but now I’m a family man who is fighting to stay creative,” shares Lecrae. “Just being a young black man who was fatherless, lived in a disenfranchised community, I’ve been restored to understanding that my worth, my value is not predicated by where I came from, or what’s happened to me. I’ve been made whole through spiritual restoration, through my faith in God, through therapy and and recognize that I have infinite purpose and worth.”
“Restoration is ongoing… an endless pursuit towards accepting what God has for you and trusting Him to lead you to what’s ahead,” shares Lecrae. “It is the key essential for life. As painful as the things I’ve gone through, as painful as the things you’ve gone through, none of it is beyond restoration.” The Road To Restoration video series also features appearances from: NBA All Star player Steph Curry, former NBA player Jeremy Lin, music industry executive & “Silence The Shame” mental health advocate, Shanti Das, Reach Records artists Tedashii, Grammy-award winning songwriter Natalie Lauren Sims and more.
Please continue on the journey and watch Lecrae’s the three- part video series, The Road To Restoration below and pre-order the album Restoration and book I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion But Found My Faith” today! The album features artists across all genres including John Legend, Kirk Franklin, YK Osiris, Jozzy, Dani Leigh, Marc E. Bassy, BJ The Chicago Kid and more. The first single Set Me Free, features YK Osiris (produced by GAWVI) and was followed up by Deep End, (produced by Anthony Gardner), Drown ft. John Legend (producers Danny Majic, DJ Frank E, and Ace Harris) and Zombie.
May you remember the sacrifice the Lord made on this Good Friday when He allowed His precious son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross that we may be able to have a relationship with Him.
RADIO ONE recently announced a National Dayof Prayer campaign to be held today on Good Friday, April 10, 2020. The Radio One COVID-19 National DayofPrayer, #OneinPrayer, will feature syndicated radio personalities, Erica Campbell, host of Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell; Willie Moore, Jr. of the Willie Moore, Jr. Show and Darlene McCoy, host of the Nightly Spirit with Darlene McCoy, joined by gospel music artists, pastors and special guests to prayfor the country and world as it confronts the effects of the global pandemic.
Among the participants in the prayer campaign are: Grammy Award-winning hip hop artist Lecrae; civil rights leader and president of the National Action Network, Rev. Al Sharpton; civil rights leader and founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Rev. Jesse Jackson; Pastor John Gray; film and television producer, New York Times best-selling author and minister, DeVon Franklin; minister Cora Jakes Coleman; best-selling author and ministry leader, Dr. Cindy Trimm; multi-award-winning gospel artists Pastor Donnie McClurkin; Pastor Smokie Norful; Pastor Charles Jenkins; the Prince of Praise, Byron Cage; Tasha Cobbs-Leonard; gospel singer, rapper and producer, Canton Jones; and Pastor Mike, Jr.
They will join the on-air personalities live on the Radio One Praise stations each hour from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and live on Instagram, at the bottom of each hour. The goal is to unite the country together to prayfor our leaders, the healthcare professionals on the frontlines, families whose loved ones have been diagnosed or lost due to the virus, and all Americans and businesses who are reeling from the uncertainty caused by this global pandemic.
“During these challenges times, I am grateful that our company can serve as a voice of hope and a vehicle ofprayerfor our world as it faces this global pandemic,” said Cathy Hughes, chairwoman, Urban One, Inc. “It is especially meaningful since so many churches will not be able to hold traditional Good Friday and Easter services due to the social distancing mandates. As a company, we are honored to provide an opportunity to join arms with our gospel artists and the faith community inprayer. This is what service and community are all about.”
The live prayers will run across all of Urban One digital platforms, including TVOne.TV, iOne Digital, www.GetUpErica.comand @getuperica on Facebook and Instagram.
