Church Clothes 4 | ||||
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Mixtape by | ||||
Released | November 4, 2022 | |||
Genre | Christian hip hop | |||
Length | 41:16 | |||
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 | |||
Lecrae chronology | ||||
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Singles from Church Clothes 4 | ||||
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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.
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.[2] 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.[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!"[1] On September 29, 2022, Lecrae stated in an interview that the previously hinted at J. Cole feature did not materialize.[6]
Two singles preceded the mixtape's release. "Spread the Opps", produced by DrumGod, JuanRa, Simbo, and DudeClayy, was released on August 5, 2022.[7][2] It was accompanied by a music video directed by Ray Neutron.[2] 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.[11]
Preezy Brown from Vibe noted Lecrae's lyricism, apparent immediately on the first track, "CC4", and contemplative and uplifting moments of thought.[12] A major theme of the mixtape is Lecrae's faith deconstruction and coming to accept himself.[6] Another is the need for healing and for people to work together.[13] "Spread the Opps", according to Lecrae, is about him being rejected by others but still holding his own.[14] The song references Genesis 3 as well as Romans 1:16.[14] On "Still in America", Lecrae tried to explore the nuance and diversity of experiences of Americans and try to find unity through common ground.[13][15] "Take Me Up" includes a sample from the group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.[16] Lecrae stated in an interview with Holy Culture that after the first Church Clothes mixtape came out, Krayzie Bone sought him out for conversation.[16] "Fear Not" follows Lecrae's journey from sin to salvation.[8] Ken Partridge from Genius noted that the song's music and lyrics have a "chilly horror-movie vibe" that were perfect for late October.[8] The chorus references Halloween and Partridge considered the first verse, which ends with Lecrae resigned to an early death, to be "pure psychological horror".[8] The song then interludes with Psalm 23:4–6, and the Psalm is then called back to in the second verse.[8] The direct quotes of the Psalm are in Portuguese and Yoruba.[8][11] The song also references Lecrae's pressuring of a then-girlfriend into getting an abortion.[16] On the final song, "Deconstruction", Lecrae recounts his deconstruction and reconstruction, which was triggered just before the fall of 2015.[17] 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.[14] 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.[17] 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.[16]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Jesus Freak Hideout | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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".[18]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "CC4" | Lecrae Moore, Nate Robinson, Jeffrey Lawrence Shannon, Lasanna "Ace" Harris, Connor Back, Alexandria Dollar, Mohamed Elkhalifa | Juberlee, Ace Harris, Connor Back, theBeatbreaker | 1:47 |
2. | "Spread the Opps" | Moore, Harris, Clayton Rogers, Brice Sibomana, Juan Ramón Luis Melián, Robert Labraunte Gullatt, Deandre Hunter, Dollar | DrumGod, Dude Clayy, Simbo, JuanRa | 3:01 |
3. | "Dirt" | Moore, Shannon, Sims Cashion, Jaden Eli, Dollar | Juberlee, Sims Cashion, Jaden Eli | 2:57 |
4. | "Still In America" | Moore, Wesley Eugene Smith, Quinten John Coblentz, Robinson | WEARETHEGOOD, theBeatbreaker | 3:21 |
5. | "Misconceptions 4" (featuring nobigdyl., Jon Keith, and A.I. The Anomaly) | Moore, Dylan Phillips, Jon Keith, Aitina Fareed-Cooke, Rickey Offord, Jakob Zimmerman, Dollar, Montell Jordan | Slikk Muzik | 3:52 |
6. | "Good Lord" (featuring Andy Mineo) | Moore, Andy Mineo, Alex Goose, Matt Zara, Harris | Alex Goose, Matt Zara, Andy Mineo | 3:07 |
7. | "I-45 Freestyle" (additional vocals from Tedashii) | Moore, Dylan Hyde, Leslie Johnson, Curious George, Robinson, Michael Girgenti, Dollar, Tedashii Lavoy Anderson | Dylan Hyde, Leslie Johnson, Curious George, theBeatbreaker | 1:49 |
8. | "Take Me Up" (featuring WHATUPRG) | Moore, J. Raul Garcia, Harris, Joel McNeill, Ryan Bert, Robin William, Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley Jr., Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley, Steven Howse, Anthony Henderson, Bryon Anthony McCane II, Charles C. Scruggs Jr., Danny Towers | Ace Harris, Joel McNeill, Carvello, theBeatbreaker | 3:11 |
9. | "Protect My Peace" (featuring Jordan L'Oreal) | Moore, Jordan L’Oreal, Dollar, Ronnie Jackson, Harris, Hunter | Lil' Ronnie, Ace Harris, theBeatbreaker | 2:53 |
10. | "Fear Not" | Moore, Shannon, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer, Luis Bacqué, Vincent Dean Verdi, Dollar | Juberlee, CuBeatz, Vinnyforgood, Luis Bacqué, Lecrae | 3:17 |
11. | "We Did It" (featuring PJ Morton) | Lecrae, L’Oreal, Dollar, Offord, Hunter | SlikkMuzik, KelbyOnTheTrack | 3:13 |
12. | "Journey" | Moore, Lyle Anthony Leduff Jr., Donald Cannon, Jaron Allen, Harold Allen | Lyle Leduff, Don Cannon, NIQ Maximus, theBeatbreaker | 4:33 |
13. | "Deconstruction" | Moore, Harris, McNeill, Andrew Prim, Robinson | Ace Harris, Joel McNeill, Andrew Prim, theBeatbreaker | 4:09 |
Total length: | 41:16 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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14. | "They Ain't Know" | Moore, Carlton Davis Mays, Jr. | Honorable C.N.O.T.E. | 3:12 |
15. | "Double R Dreamin" (featuring Urstrulyxyz) | Moore, Turrell Thomas Sims, Dollar, Darwin Cordale Quinn, Luke Crowder, Cody Hao Duan, Heath Jackson | C Gutta, Luke Crowder, Cody Hao Duan, Heath Jackson | 2:44 |
16. | "Can You Hear Me Now?" (featuring D Smoke) | Moore, Daniel Anthony Farris, Quinn, Michael Ray Cox, Jr., John Groover, Jacob Guyton, Dollar | C Gutta, Luke Crowder, Mike & Keys, Classified Alias | 3:00 |
17. | "Price Up" (featuring Torey D'Shaun) | Moore, Torey D'Shaun, Lucas DiFabbio, Derek Anderson, Desmond South, 8ae, Stan Greene, Jr., Deandre Hunter | Money Jezu$, 206Derek, Dunk Rock | 2:51 |
18. | "Legacy" (featuring J Paul the Carpenter) | Moore, Jared Foster, Bert, Andrew Andriyashev, Mic Lovay, Nisan Joseph, Timothy Mingo, Paul Omar Elkan Agyei, Steven Shaeffer, Aidan Crotinger, Derek Andrew Kastal, Marcus Fitzgerald Rucker Jr., Verdi | Carvello, Elkan, Steven Shaeffer, Splitmind, Vinnyforgood | 3:20 |
19. | "Best Thing" (featuring Rotimi) | Moore, Olurotimi Akinosho, Bert, Harris, Dollar | Carvello, Ace Harris | 3:12 |
Total length: | 59:35 |
Chart (2022) | Peak position |
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US Christian Albums (Billboard)[19] | 2 |