Mayday (Lecrae song)

"Mayday" is a song by Christian hip hop recording artist Lecrae, featuring guest vocals from fellow American rapper Big K.R.I.T. and American Idol finalist Ashthon Jones. Released on August 30, 2012, it is the fourth single off the album Gravity, which was released on September 4, 2012. The song's lyrics focus on religion, spirituality, and the role of grandmothers in developing faith and stability. It features a confession by Big K.R.I.T in which he expresses frustration with Christian hypocrisy. The song has been well received by critics and is considered one of the best songs off the album, with the lush instrumental production by DJ Khalil and the vocals by Ashthon Jones attracting particular praise. Stylistically, "Mayday" is described as having both a very "raw" and "organic" sound and R&B flow, with "chaotic" and "funky" production.

"Mayday"
Single by Lecrae featuring Big K.R.I.T. and Ashthon Jones
from the album Gravity
ReleasedAugust 30, 2012 (2012-08-30)
GenreHip hop, R&B
Length4:54
LabelReach
Songwriter(s)Lecrae Moore, Justin Scott, Ashthon Jones, Lincoln Morris, Torrence Esmond, Khalil Abdul-Rahman, Pran Injeti, Columbus T-Smith, Daniel Tannenbaum
Producer(s)DJ Khalil, vocal production by Lincoln "Bar-None" Morris
Lecrae singles chronology
"Tell the World"
(2012)		 "Mayday"
(2012)		 "Round of Applause"
(2013)
Big K.R.I.T. singles chronology
"What U Mean"
(2012)		 "Mayday"
(2012)		 "Gossip"
(2012)
Music video
Video on YouTube
Audio sample
The single received praise for its production work by DJ Khalil and the sung vocals by Ashthon Jones.[1][2][3]
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Lyrics and style

Lyrically, the song is based around a line where Big K.R.I.T. confesses his lack of church attendance and expresses frustration with church hypocrisy.[4] In the second verse, Lecrae provide the solution to K.R.I.T.'s struggle and frustration.[5][6] At a listening party for the album Gravity, Lecrae described the theme of the song as about "'those days when we’re just throwing up a prayer.'"[7] iHipHop appreciated the approach of the song, stating that "when it comes to rap with a positive message, it’s quite difficult for most artist to pull it off without sounding all preachy, and for the lack of a better term, corny. Apart from Lupe Fiasco, Lecrae is one of the few cats that kicks real world raps and not sound like a preacher."[8] HipHopWired also praised Lecrae for managing to speak "on that real without sounding entirely too preachy" and elaborated that this "is a feat in today's pseudo-conscious rap, where a lot of MC's say as they do and not do as they say."[9] In a review for Day & A Dream, journalist Brando noted the performers evocation of their elders and stated how, especially in the Southern United States, grandmothers are "matriarchs to faith and stability and these two men know better than most to convey that message abroad."[10]

AllHipHop stated that sonically, the song is the most "organic" track on the album.[2] StupidDOPE said the track "brings back the raw hip-hop the industry seems to be in need of."[11] NewReleaseTuesday noted the song's role in the sequencing on the album, stating that the song's smoother, R&B sound is a jarring transition from the dancehall vibe of the preceding track "Violence".[12] The lush production style by DJ Khalil was described by Complex as "chaotic" and "funky", and StupidDOPE considered the beat "catchy".[13][14] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution called the track a "massive song filled with crashing cymbals and thundering drums."[7] Brando of Day & A Dream described the song as "soul wrenching" and "piano driven".[10]

Critical reception

After hearing Gravity at a private listening session, AllHipHop considered the song one of the standout tracks on the album.[2] Rapzilla went further and said that the song is easily the best sonically, lyrically, and conceptually on the album.[6] stupidDOPE praised Lecrae for "blending the heartfelt lyrics of the track with an awesome beat and undertone / melody."[11] The rhymes by Big K.R.I.T. and Lecrae were described by HipHopWired as "perfectly fluid", with Ashthon Jones’ soulful vocals complementing the lush production work by DJ Khalil.[1] AllHipHop also praised Jones, describing her performance on the song's melody and hook as "beautiful", while Respect Magazine called Jones' vocals "captivating."[2][3] The single's production work by DJ Khalil has also been praised, with Rapzilla stating that "[Khalil] provides the perfect backdrop for K.R.I.T. to walk into your church in the middle of service and express his frustrations with hypocrisies and for Crae to walk in behind him and calm the mob down while still co-signing K.R.I.T.’s verse."[6] RESPECT. called the instrumentation by Khalil "incredible."[3]

Music video

A music video was filmed for the song and was directed by Motion Family.[15] The video aired December 13, 2012 on the MTV Networks channels MTV Jams, mtvU, and MTV2.[16] It features Lecrae, Big K.R.I.T., and Ashthon Jones in a church attending the funeral service of a friend, with Big K.R.I.T. playing the church organ.[4][9][14]

Personnel

References
  1. Blanco, Alvin Aqua (August 30, 2012). "Lecrae ft. Big K.R.I.T & Ashton Jones – "Mayday" [LISTEN]" (Web). Hip Hop Wired. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  2. DelaCuesta, JP (July 25, 2012). "VIDEO: Lecrae Previews New Album "Gravity" And Speaks On His State Of Mind In 2012" (Web). AllHipHop. AHH Holdings. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  3. Afromighty (August 30, 2012). "New Music: Lecrae – "Mayday" (feat. Big K.R.I.T. & Ashton Jones)" (Web). RESPECT. Musinart. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  4. Funaro, Vincent (December 14, 2012). "Lecrae Releases New Music Video 'Mayday' That Features Big K.R.I.T. and Ashton Jones" (Web). The Christian Post. The Christian Post Company. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  5. "Gravity - Bio" (Web). Lecrae Gravity. Reach Records. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  6. Goss, Armond (August 28, 2012). "Review - Lecrae 'Gravity'" (Web). Rapzilla. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  7. Ruggieri, Melissa (September 7, 2012). "Atlanta rapper Lecrae ready to share his message of hope". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Archived from the original (Web) on September 12, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  8. Chozen (August 31, 2012). "Lecrae – Mayday (feat. Big K.R.I.T)" (Web). iHipHopMusic. Covanant. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  9. Famuyide, Kazeem (December 14, 2012). "LeCrae ft. Big K.R.I.T. & Ashton Jones - "Mayday" [VIDEO]" (Web). Hip Hop Wired. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  10. Brando (August 30, 2012). "New Music: Lecraeft. Big K.R.I.T. & Ashthon Jones - "Mayday"" (Web). Day & A Dream. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  11. Jeffries, Rick (August 31, 2012). "Lecrae, Big K.R.I.T & Ashton Jones – Mayday | New Music" (Web). StupidDOPE. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  12. mamachacha (August 27, 2012). "Back Again" (Web). New Release Tuesday. NRT Media. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  13. Wiess, Sam (August 30, 2012). "Listen: Lecrae f/ Big K.R.I.T. & Ashton Jones "Mayday"" (Web). Complex. Complex Media. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  14. James, Jesse (December 14, 2012). "Lecrae, Big K.R.I.T. & Ashton Jones – Mayday | Music Video" (Web). stupidDOPE. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  15. Solis, Steven (October 30, 2012). "Lecrae Filming Music Video for Mayday" (Web). Rapzilla. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  16. Solis, Steven (December 13, 2012). "Lecrae Premiering Mayday Video on MTV Networks" (Web). Rapzilla. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
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