Round of Applause (Lecrae song)

Last updated
"Round of Applause"
Round of Applause (Lecrae song).jpg
Single by Lecrae
from the album Church Clothes, Vol. 2
ReleasedMay 14, 2013 (2013-05-14)
Genre
Length3:49
Label Reach Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) K.E. on the Track
Lecrae singles chronology
"Tell the World"
(2012)
"Round of Applause"
(2013)
"I'm Turnt"
(2013)
"Round of Applause (Remix)"
Round of Applause - Remix (Lecrae song).jpg
Remix by Lecrae featuring B.o.B
from the album Church Clothes 2
ReleasedMay 21, 2013 (2013-05-21)
Genre
Length4:54
Label Reach Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) K.E. on the Track

"Round of Applause" is a single by Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released on May 14, 2013. The lead single from the commercial version of his mixtape Church Clothes 2 , it was followed a week later by an extended, non-commercial version which featured B.o.B. Upon the release of the album's track-listing on November 2, which listed "Round of Applause" without B.o.B's feature, Reach Records producer Alex Medina tweeted that the commercial version of Church Clothes 2 does not contain the feature, while the free version hosted by Don Cannon does contain B.o.B's feature. [1]

Contents

Lyrics and style

Produced by K.E. on the Track, sonically the song features an "anthemic trap beat", a menacing synth line, and "street shaking, attention grabbing drums". [2] [3] Lyrically, the song congratulates college graduates and those who succeed in life despite the odds against them. [3] [4] Lecrae created a website page for the single, on which he expressed he was "Proud of all the graduates out there. Never overlook the unique opportunity you have in education. There are many paths you could have taken, obstacles to deter you, and things to distract you, but you beat the odds." [5]

Reception

The song for the most part met with a positive reception, with Danitha J of The Source calling the collaboration between Lecrae and B.o.B "epic" and praising Lecrae for his positive message. [6] Writing for Jesus Freak Hideout, Kevin Hoskins thought "Lecrae and B.O.B. spit honest words laid over nice beats throughout the entire listen". [7] Christian Music Zine considered the song a highlight from the album, [8] and HipHopDX praising "Round of Applause", alongside the tracks "Misconception pt. 2" and "Was it Worth it", for offering topical and conceptual depth. [9] On June 4, 2013, Lecrae performed the single live on BET's 106 & Park. [10] On June 21, 2013, Pepsi included the extended version of the song in its list "Three Songs You Need to Hear Right Now", along with Justin Timberlake's "Don't Hold the Wall" and will.i.am's "Bang Bang". [2] [11] "Round of Applause" charted at No. 45 on the Christian Songs chart. [12]

In contrast to this reception, Aubrey McKay of Wade-O Radio leveled criticism at the song, in particular the collaboration with B.o.B. McKay stated that in his opinion Lecrae and B.o.B "didn't mesh well together", and that "B.o.B.'s verse was sub-par". [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lecrae</span> American rapper (born 1979)

Lecrae Devaughn Moore is an American Christian rapper.and singer-songwriter/dancer. Since having began his career in 2004, he has released ten studio albums and three mixtapes as a solo artist, as well as three studio albums as a lead member of the hip hop group 116 Clique.

<i>Rehab</i> (Lecrae album) 2010 studio album by Lecrae

Rehab is the fourth studio album by Christian hip hop artist Lecrae. It was released on September 28, 2010 on Reach Records. According to the Reach Records website, the album's "motto" is "The Christian life is an entrance into rehab." Centered on release and freedoms from inhibiting addictions and habits, Rehab is a highly conceptual album. Rehab is nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album at the 53rd Grammy Awards. The album was named the Best Album of 2010 in the "Best of 2010: Rapzilla.com's Staff Picks" awards, and Lecrae was also named Artist of the Year. The song "Background" and the album itself were nominated for Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year and Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year, respectively, at the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lecrae discography</span>

The discography of Lecrae, an American Christian hip hop artist, consists of 11 studio albums, two of which were collaborative; four mixtapes; two extended plays, one of which was collaborative; 136 singles, including 79 as a featured performer; 77 music videos, including 39 as a featured performer; and 87 guest and other appearances. Lecrae debuted with Real Talk in 2004 through Reach Records; the album was re-issued the following year by Cross Movement Records. After the Music Stops followed in 2006 and his third solo album, Rebel, was released in 2008 and reached No. 1 on the Gospel chart, the first Christian hip hop album to do so. Rehab, his fourth solo album, was released in 2010 and reached No. 1 on the Gospel, Christian, and Independent charts, and garnered a nomination at the 53rd Grammy Awards. Rehab: The Overdose, was released on January 11, 2011, and peaked at No. 1 on the Christian and Gospel charts. Lecrae began garnering mainstream attention when he performed at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher and was featured on the Statik Selektah song "Live and Let Live" from his Population Control album.

<i>Church Clothes</i> 2012 mixtape by Lecrae

Church Clothes is the first mixtape by Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released for free on May 10, 2012, and hosted by DJ Don Cannon. It featured No Malice of Clipse on the song "Darkest Hour", and included production work by 9th Wonder, Boi-1da, S1 and Street Symphony. Label-mates Tedashii and Andy Mineo, as well as other fellow Christian hip-hop artists such as Dre Murray, Thi'sl, Swoope, Christon Gray, and Braille, also made appearances on the album. The mixtape was downloaded 100,000 times in 48 hours, and met with critical acclaim. It received controversy in Christian media upon its release due to its condemnation of hypocrisy in the Christian Church and Lecrae's collaboration with the mainstream producer Don Cannon. A shorter, remastered EP version was released on iTunes on June 25, 2012. The EP debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Christian Albums and Gospel Albums charts.

<i>Gravity</i> (Lecrae album) Album by Lecrae

Gravity is the sixth studio album by American Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released on September 4, 2012. The album features appearances from Big K.R.I.T., Mathai, Ashthon Jones, Sho Baraka and Mali Music, along with labelmates Trip Lee, Andy Mineo, Derek Minor, who was formerly known as PRo, and Tedashii. Producers on the album include DJ Khalil, Street Symphony along with his production team Heat Academy, and The Watchmen. The first single off the album, "I Know", was released on July 24, 2012, and was followed by "Tell the World" featuring Mali Music on August 15, 2012, and "Mayday" featuring Big K.R.I.T. and Ashthon Jones on August 30, 2012. Reach Records released five music videos for the album: "Lord Have Mercy", featuring Tedashii along with No Malice of Clipse, on August 1, 2012, "Tell the World", featuring Mali Music, on October 19, 2012, "Mayday", featuring Big K.R.I.T. and Ashthon Jones, on December 13, 2012, "Fakin'", featuring Thi'sl, on February 1, 2013, and "Confe$$ions", featuring David Banner, on April 30, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Mineo</span> American musician (born 1988)

Andrew Aaron Mineo, is an American Christian hip hop artist, producer, music executive, and video director based in New York City. He is signed to Reach Records and his creative initiative Miner League. In addition to his solo work, he is a member of Reach Records' hip hop collective 116 Clique.

Derek Laurence Johnson Jr., better known by his stage name Derek Minor and former stage name PRo, is an American Christian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, actor, and screenwriter. He co-founded the hip-hop record label Reflection Music Group (RMG) with Doc Watson, and signed to Reach Records in a joint venture between the two labels in 2011. In 2012, Johnson announced that he had changed his stage name from Pro to Derek Minor. In 2014, he announced that as his two-album contract with Reach was complete, he would no longer be publishing releases through that label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reach Records</span> American label of Christian hip hop

Reach Records is an American independent record label specializing in Christian hip hop. The label was founded in 2004 by Ben Washer and the hip-hop artist Lecrae. In addition to Lecrae, the Reach Records roster contains artists like Tedashii, Trip Lee, Andy Mineo, 1K Phew, WHATUPRG, Anike, Hulvey, Limoblaze, and Jackie Hill Perry. The hip-hop collective 116 operates under the label and consists primarily of the label's solo acts. The artists Sho Baraka, Derek Minor, Aha Gazelle, KB, and Gawvi were formerly signed to the label, and DJ Official was under the label until his death.

<i>Church Clothes 2</i> 2013 mixtape by Lecrae

Church Clothes 2, officially Church Clothes, Vol. 2, is the second mixtape by Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released on November 7, 2013 by Reach Records. Hosted by Don Cannon, it follows Lecrae's previous mixtape, Church Clothes, and Grammy Award-winning full-length album Gravity, both of which came out in 2012. Two versions of the album were released, a free version with host Don Cannon, and a commercial version off iTunes without the DJ. The first single off the album, "Round of Applause", was released on May 14, 2013. On May 21, a remixed version of the song, featuring rapper B.o.B, was released. A second single off the album, "I'm Turnt", dropped on October 18, 2013. The mixtape was downloaded over 100,000 times on DatPiff.com in the first two weeks and debuted at No. 21 on the Billboard 200 chart, No. 1 on the Top Christian and Gospel charts, and No. 3 on the Top Rap chart.

Beautiful Eulogy is a Christian experimental hip hop group and production team from Portland, Oregon, signed to the label Humble Beast. Composed of rappers Braille and Odd Thomas and producer Courtland Urbano, the group coalesced in 2011 while the three artists were involved in the creation of Braille's seventh release, Native Lungs. Known for its experimental and eclectic sound, the group melds myriad styles of hip hop with genres such as folk, electronic, hymn tunes, and modern worship music. After contributing a song to the charity compilation King Kulture and making a guest appearance on Lecrae's Church Clothes, the band released its debut album, Satellite Kite, on June 19, 2012. A second album, Instruments of Mercy, came out on October 29, 2013. Called one of the most innovative hip hop groups in Portland, Beautiful Eulogy has met with critical acclaim, with particular praise directed at the group's creative, unconventional sound and deep theological lyrics.

<i>Anomaly</i> (Lecrae album) 2014 studio album by Lecrae

Anomaly is the seventh studio album by American Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released on September 9, 2014, through Reach Records. The album features appearances from Crystal Nicole, Kari Jobe, and For King & Country, along with label-mate Andy Mineo. Anomaly met with a positive critical reception, and the song "Nuthin", released for streaming as a single on July 1, 2014, was nominated for the 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards in the best Impact Track category. The album also fared well commercially, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with over 88,000 copies sold. It also debuted at No. 1 on the Top Gospel Albums chart, marking the first time that any artist has ever topped both the 200 and Gospel charts. Anomaly won Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year at the 2015 GMA Dove Awards, and Rap, Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year at the 2015 Stellar Awards. Two songs earned a nomination for the 2015 Grammy Awards; "All I Need Is You" was nominated for Best Rap Performance, and "Messengers", featuring For King & Country, won Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.

"I'm Turnt" is a song performed by Christian hip hop artist Lecrae for his second mixtape Church Clothes 2 (2013). It was released on October 18, 2013, by Reach Records as the second single from the record. An accompanying music video was released on December 17, 2013.

<i>Satellite Kite</i> 2012 studio album by Beautiful Eulogy

Satellite Kite is the debut album by the Portland, Oregon-based experimental hip hop trio Beautiful Eulogy, released through Humble Beast Records in both commercial and free formats on June 19, 2012. The album was praised for its eclectic and heavily folk-influenced sound, unconventional production, highly skilled rapping, and deep theological lyrics.

Mez, formerly known as King Mez, is an American rapper, producer, songwriter and music video director. He is perhaps best known for his work with Dr. Dre and on the 2019 rap album Revenge of the Dreamers III. He was born on a military base in Fort Campbell, KY and grew up in Southeast Raleigh, NC.

John Lawrence Givens, known professionally as John Givez and sometimes Juan Dando, is an American musician, who plays hip hop, R&B, soul, funk and neo soul music. He is cousins with fellow rapper JGivens. John has released two studio albums, Four Seasons in 2013, Soul Rebel in 2015, while both releases charted on the Billboard magazine charts.

<i>Church Clothes 3</i> 2016 mixtape by Lecrae

Church Clothes 3 is the third mixtape by Christian hip hop recording artist Lecrae. It was released on January 15, 2016, through his label Reach Records. The mixtape is the third in his Church Clothes series, and his first major release since his studio album Anomaly (2014). It features guest appearances from E-40, N'dambi, Propaganda, John Givez, JGivens, Jackie Hill Perry, and then-label-mate KB. While the previous two mixtapes were hosted by DJ Don Cannon, on Church Clothes 3 S1 served as executive producer on the tape. In addition to S1, Epikh Pro, Black Knight, GAWVI, and others contributed production to the mixtape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Sims</span> American recording artist and songwriter

Natalie Lauren Sims, also known by her stage name Natalie Lauren and former stage name Suzy Rock, is a musician, songwriter, graphic designer, visual artist, writer, and music executive from Tulsa, Oklahoma. As a solo artist she performs within the Christian hip hop and R&B genres, having released a studio album, eight singles, three extended plays, a mixtape, and a live extended play as well as being featured on numerous songs by other artists. She also is a member of High Society Collective – along with Sho Baraka, Swoope, and J.R. – which released a studio album, Circa MMXI: The Collective, in 2012. She released her first studio album, Handle with Care, in 2020 through Rostrum Records. Five singles were released for the album: "Meditate" in 2019, and "Something Something", "Just Breathe", "Back to Love", and "Bra Off" in 2020. A live EP of the same title was released in 2024.

<i>All Things Work Together</i> 2017 studio album by Lecrae

All Things Work Together is the eighth studio album by American Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released on September 22, 2017, through Reach Records and Columbia Records, also making it his first major label release. The album features appearances from Tori Kelly, Ty Dolla Sign, 1K Phew, Kierra Sheard, Taylor Hill, Aha Gazelle, Jawan Harris and Verse Simmonds.

<i>Church Clothes 4</i> 2022 mixtape by Lecrae

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.

References

  1. Medina, Alex (November 2, 2013). "mrmedina: Church Clothes 2 iTunes version: ..." Twitter. Archived from the original on January 16, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  2. 1 2 HipHopDX (June 21, 2013). "Three Songs You Need to Hear Right Now". Pepsi.com. PepsiCo. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  3. 1 2 James, Jesse (May 14, 2013). "Lecrae – Round Of Applause | New Music". StupidDope. Complex Media. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  4. "Lecrae - Round of Applause ft. B.o.B." Rapzilla . May 21, 2013. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  5. DJ Wade-O (May 14, 2013). "New Music: Lecrae – "Round of Applause" [AUDIO]". Wade-O Radio Show. Archived from the original on June 14, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  6. J, Danitha (May 21, 2013). "B.o.B Joins Lecrae on "Round Of Applause (Remix)"". The Source . L. Londell McMillan. Archived from the original on May 23, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  7. Hoskins, Kevin (November 25, 2013). "Lecrae, "Church Clothes, Vol. 2" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. John DiBiase. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  8. Peronto, Anthony (November 11, 2013). "Lecrae – Church Clothes Vol. 2 (Review)". Christian Music Zine. Tyler Hess. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  9. Burgess, Omar (November 14, 2013). "Lecrae - Church Clothes 2 (Mixtape Review)". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on November 17, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  10. Horton, Chad (June 4, 2013). "Lecrae's 106 and Park Interview 6/4/13". Rapzilla . Archived from the original on August 8, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2025.Solis, Steven (June 5, 2013). "Lecrae's Performance on BET's 106 & Park". Rapzilla . Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  11. Attia, Amir (June 21, 2013). "Justin Timberlake, Lecrae Crack Pepsi's "Songs You Need To Hear Right Now" List". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  12. "Lecrae - Chart history - Christian Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  13. McKay, Aubrey (November 14, 2013). "Album Review: Lecrae – Church Clothes 2". Wade-O Radio. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2013.