Church Clothes 4 Explained

Church Clothes 4
Type:mixtape
Artist:Lecrae
Cover:Church Clothes 4.jpg
Released:November 4, 2022
Genre:Christian hip hop
Label:Reach
Producer:Juberlee, Ace Harris, Connor Back, theBeatbreaker, DrumGod, Dude Clayy, Simbo, JuanRa, Sims Cashion, Jaden Eli, WEARETHEGOOD, Slikk Muzik, Alex Goose, Matt Zara, Andy Mineo, Dylan Hyde, Leslie Johnson, Curious George, Joel McNeill, Carvello, Lil' Ronnie, CuBeatz, Vinnyforgood, Luis Bacqué, Lecrae, KelbyOnTheTrack, Lyle Leduff, Don Cannon, NIQ Maximus, Andrew Prim, Honorable C.N.O.T.E., M-80, Luke Crowder, Mike & Keys, Money Jezu$, 206Derek, Dunk Rock, Elkan, Steven Shaeffer, Splitmind
Prev Title:No Church in a While
Prev Year:2021

Church Clothes 4 is a 2022 mixtape from Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released on November 4 through his own label Reach Records. It constitutes the final installment of his Church Clothes mixtape series begun in 2012. It includes featured appearances from Andy Mineo, PJ Morton, A.I. the Anomaly, Jon Keith, nobigdyl., WHATUPRG, and Jordan L’Oreal. Two singles were released from the mixtape — "Spread the Opps", on August 5, 2022, and "Fear Not", on October 26, 2022. A deluxe edition of the album, Church Clothes 4: Dry Clean Only, was released February 24, 2023.

Background and recording

Lecrae released the first installment of his mixtape series, Church Clothes, in the summer of 2012. Hosted by DJ Don Cannon, it was intended to exemplify Lecrae's authenticity to both hip hop and his Christian faith.[1] [2] Within 48 hours of its release for free on Datpiff.com, the mixtape was downloaded over 100,000 times. Two more mixtapes followed in subsequent years: Church Clothes 2 in 2013 and Church Clothes 3 in 2016. Lecrae's tenth studio album, Restoration (2020), was announced to be possibly his last studio endeavor, but Lecrae held out the possibility of future mixtapes. He told Rapzilla in 2020 that “...I'll probably do some mixtapes, but I don't know if I'm making another full-featured album. It's a younger generation right now man, so you know, I feel like I may give them another Church Clothes and close a chapter out."[3] [4] In 2021, he and labelmate 1K Phew released the collaborative album No Church in a While.[5] In January 2022, he announced Church Clothes 4. On August 4, 2022, a press release from Reach Records stated that Church Clothes 4 was forthcoming and that it would close out the Church Clothes series. "We did Vol 1, 2, and 3, only right that we keep the legacy with Vol.4. Church Clothes 4 is the last one though!" On September 29, 2022, Lecrae stated in an interview that the previously hinted at J. Cole feature did not materialize.[6]

Release

Two singles preceded the mixtape's release. "Spread the Opps", produced by DrumGod, JuanRa, Simbo, and DudeClayy, was released on August 5, 2022.[7] It was accompanied by a music video directed by Ray Neutron. A second single, "Fear Not", was released on October 26, 2022, and was produced by Lecrae, Juberlee, Cubeatz, and Vinnyforgood.[8] Church Clothes 4 was released on November 4, 2022, on digital platforms and for CD pre-order.[9] [10] A music video for the song "Still in America", directed by Isaac Dietz, from the album was released on the same day.

Content and style

Preezy Brown from Vibe noted Lecrae's lyricism, apparent immediately on the first track, "CC4", and contemplative and uplifting moments of thought.[11] A major theme of the mixtape is Lecrae's faith deconstruction and coming to accept himself. Another is the need for healing and for people to work together.[12] "Spread the Opps", according to Lecrae, is about him being rejected by others but still holding his own.[13] The song references as well as 1:16 NIV. On "Still in America", Lecrae tried to explore the nuance and diversity of experiences of Americans and try to find unity through common ground.[14] "Take Me Up" includes a sample from the group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.[15] Lecrae stated in an interview with Holy Culture that after the first Church Clothes mixtape came out, Krayzie Bone sought him out for conversation. "Fear Not" follows Lecrae's journey from sin to salvation. Ken Partridge from Genius noted that the song's music and lyrics have a "chilly horror-movie vibe" that were perfect for late October. The chorus references Halloween and Partridge considered the first verse, which ends with Lecrae resigned to an early death, to be "pure psychological horror". The song then interludes with 23:4–6 NIV, and the Psalm is then called back to in the second verse. The direct quotes of the Psalm are in Portuguese and Yoruba. The song also references Lecrae's pressuring of a then-girlfriend into getting an abortion. On the final song, "Deconstruction", Lecrae recounts his deconstruction and reconstruction, which was triggered just before the fall of 2015.[16] After Lecrae tweeted about the killing of Michael Brown, he encountered backlash from many Christians online and was further hurt by the response he received from pastor Voddie Baucham. Lecrae fell into clinical depression. As he worked through his church trauma, he came to the conclusion that Western society has twisted the teachings of Christianity and so he reconstructed his faith with a more Eastern context instead. Lecrae said in his interview with Holy Culture that this song was one of four that he feels he was prompted by God to write.

Critical reception

Matt Baldwin of Jesus Freak Hideout rated the mixtape four stars out of five, describing it as an "autobiographical telling of his deconstruction journey that ultimately lead to his reconstruction and strengthening of his faith... [shining] like a beacon for those walking through the valley of the shadow of death".

Credits

Notes and References

  1. Web site: August 3, 2022 . Lecrae Announces 'Church Clothes 4' . 2022-11-07 . Jesus Freak Hideout.
  2. Web site: August 8, 2022 . Lecrae to drop 'Church Clothes 4' . 2022-11-07 . EEW Magazine . en-US.
  3. Web site: Sarachik . Justin . July 27, 2020 . Rapzilla.com on Instagram: "Hear how @cjluckeydope, @coopytrill, and @lecrae are impacting their communities and making a difference. Hosted by @justinsarachik" . 2022-11-07 . . en . Instagram.
  4. Web site: Law . Jeannie Ortega . 2021-01-13 . Lecrae working on new Christian mixtape, announces Church Clothes 4 . 2022-11-07 . . en-US.
  5. Web site: Meara . Paul . November 4, 2022 . Lecrae Releases 'Church Clothes 4' To Conclude Long-Running Mixtape Series . 2022-11-07 . . en.
  6. Web site: West . Lamar . September 29, 2022 . Lecrae Talks Cut J. Cole Feature, Deconstruction Comments, & 'Church Clothes 4' [INTERVIEW] ]. November 11, 2022 . Rapzilla.
  7. Web site: Spread the Opps - Single by Lecrae . November 7, 2022 . Apple Music.
  8. Web site: Partridge . Ken . October 27, 2022 . Lecrae Finds Salvation On New Song "Fear Not" . 2022-11-07 . . en.
  9. Web site: Church Clothes 4 by Lecrae . November 7, 2022 . Apple Music.
  10. Web site: Church Clothes 4 CD . https://web.archive.org/web/20221107021841/https://lecrae.store/products/church-clothes . November 7, 2022 . 2022-11-07 . Lecrae . en.
  11. Web site: Sadler . Armon . Brown . Preezy . Sadler . Armon . 2022-11-04 . Drake & 21 Savage's 'Her Loss' Album Is Our Gain This New Music Friday . 2022-11-07 . . en-US.
  12. Web site: 2022-11-05 . Rise Up Tonight – In the Nest with Lecrae . 2022-11-11 . . en-US.
  13. Web site: Grey . Abigail . 2022-08-09 . Lecrae's new single for "Church Clothes 4" is Out Now . 2022-11-07 . Good Gospel Playlist . en-US.
  14. Web site: McCann . Natalie . 2022-11-01 . Rapper Lecrae talks the final chapter to his 'Church Clothes' mixtape series . 2022-11-11 . . en-US.
  15. Web site: Skinner . Avis . 2022-11-07 . Church Clothes 4 is here and you'll never believe what Thug inspired Lecrae! . 2022-11-11 . Holy Culture . en-US.
  16. Web site: Jackson . Jesse T. . 2022-11-04 . New Lecrae Song 'Deconstruction' Mentions John Piper, Voddie Baucham, Tim Keller, Tony Evans, and Judah Smith . 2022-11-07 . ChurchLeaders . en-US.
  17. Web site: November 4, 2022 . Lecrae Releases Church Clothes 4, The Final In The Mixtape Series! . November 7, 2022 . Jesus Freak Hideout.

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