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Lecrae is Billboard's Top Gospel Artist for 2014


Published: Dec 10, 2014 12:29 AM EST

Fans of Lecrae have much to rejoice.  According to Billboard's year end tally, Lecrae comes up topping most of the magazine's Gospel lists.  

With a string of eight top 10 entries on Hot Gospel Songs (including three No. 1s) this year and a well-received album in Anomaly, Christian rap/hip-hop artist Lecrae is the No. 1 Gospel Artist for the year, the top Hot Gospel Songs Artist, the No. 1 Gospel Albums Artist, and the No. 1 Gospel Digital Songs Artist. Anomaly similarly leads the Gospel Albums list for the year.

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Lecrae's "Anomaly" 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. Two songs earned nominations for the 2015 Grammy Awards; "All I Need is You" was nominated for Best Rap Performance and "Messengers" for Best Contemporary Christian Music.  

Here are the Top 10 Gospel Albums of 2014 according to Billboard:

1. Anomaly -- Lecrae

2. WOW Gospel 2014 -- Various Artists

3. Best Days -- Tamela Mann

4. Help -- Erica Campbell

5. Grace -- Tasha Cobbs

6. Church Clothes Vol. 2 -- Lecrae

7. Live Through It -- James Fortune & FIYA

8. Never Land -- Andy Mineo

9. Greater Than -- Tye Tribbett

10. Withholding Nothing -- William McDowell