Lecrae has also contributed op-ed articles to '' Billboard '' dealing with race relations in the United States , including the 2014 Ferguson unrest , 2015 Charleston church shooting , and 2016 shootings of Alton Stirling , Philando Castile , and six Dallas police officers . In these articles , Lecrae has called for understanding and empathy across racial divides and willingness to listen to the oppressed , and also pointed out the need for spiritual healing through Jesus Christ . In mid 2016 , Lecrae did a talk about racial reconciliation at Yale University , titled " Knowledge through Narrative : Bridging the Racial Divide in America " . He also spoke on hip hop culture at a Nashville TEDx conference , decrying the misogyny and violence rampant in much of hip hop 's lyrics but advocating for hip hop to be used as an agent for social change . At the 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards , Lecrae performed an original composition addressing racial injustice in the United States , referencing the shooting of Philando Castile . On October 20 , 2016 , Lecrae wrote in The Huffington Post that he has been struggling with depression and doubt , which was partly caused by the backlash he received from many American evangelicals who are critical of his public stance on race-related issues
Charleston church shooting
Charleston church shooting
Lecrae