Mayday (Lecrae song)

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.{{cite web|last=Funaro|first=Vincent|title=Lecrae Releases New Music Video 'Mayday' That Features Big K.R.I.T. and Ashton Jones|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/lecrae-releases-new-music-video-mayday-that-features-big-k-r-i-t-and-ashton-jones-86672/|work=The Christian Post|publisher=The Christian Post Company|accessdate=December 16, 2012|format=Web|date=December 14, 2012}} In the second verse, Lecrae provide the solution to K.R.I.T.'s struggle and frustration.{{cite web|title=Gravity – Bio|url=http://www.gravityalbum.com/|work=Lecrae Gravity|publisher=Reach Records|accessdate=August 31, 2012|format=Web}}{{cite web|last=Goss|first=Armond|title=Review – Lecrae 'Gravity'|url=http://rapzilla.com/rz/reviews/4965-review-lecrae-gravity|work=Rapzilla|accessdate=August 30, 2012|format=Web|date=August 28, 2012}} 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.'"{{cite web|last=Ruggieri|first=Melissa|title=Atlanta rapper Lecrae ready to share his message of hope|url=http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-music-scene/2012/09/07/atlanta-rapper-lecrae-poised-to-defy-gravity/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_music_scene|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|publisher=Cox Enterprises|accessdate=September 8, 2012|format=Web|date=September 7, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912085816/http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-music-scene/2012/09/07/atlanta-rapper-lecrae-poised-to-defy-gravity/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_music_scene|archivedate=September 12, 2012}} 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."{{cite web|title=Lecrae – Mayday (feat. Big K.R.I.T)|url=http://www.ihiphopmusic.com/music/lecrae-mayday-feat-big-k-r-i-t|work=iHipHopMusic|publisher=Covanant|accessdate=August 31, 2012|author=Chozen|format=Web|date=August 31, 2012}} 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."{{cite web|last=Famuyide|first=Kazeem|title=LeCrae ft. Big K.R.I.T. & Ashton Jones – "Mayday" [VIDEO]|url=http://hiphopwired.com/2012/12/14/lecrae-ft-big-k-r-i-t-ashton-jones-mayday-video/|work=Hip Hop Wired|accessdate=December 16, 2012|format=Web|date=December 14, 2012}} 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."{{cite web|title=New Music: Lecraeft. Big K.R.I.T. & Ashthon Jones – "Mayday"|url=http://dayandadream.com/2012/08/30/lecrae-mayday-f-big-k-r-i-t-ashthon-jones/|work=Day & A Dream|accessdate=November 28, 2012|author=Brando|format=Web|date=August 30, 2012}}

AllHipHop stated that sonically, the song is the most "organic" track on the album. StupidDOPE said the track "brings back the raw hip-hop the industry seems to be in need of."{{cite web|last=Jeffries|first=Rick|title=Lecrae, Big K.R.I.T & Ashton Jones – Mayday {{!}} New Music|url=http://stupiddope.com/2012/08/31/lecrae-big-k-r-i-t-ashton-jones-mayday-new-music/|work=StupidDOPE|accessdate=September 1, 2012|format=Web|date=August 31, 2012}} 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".{{cite web|title=Back Again|url=http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/albumdetail.php?album_id=11848|work=New Release Tuesday|publisher=NRT Media|accessdate=August 31, 2012|author=mamachacha|format=Web|date=August 27, 2012}} The lush production style by DJ Khalil was described by Complex as "chaotic" and "funky", and StupidDOPE considered the beat "catchy".{{cite web|last=Wiess|first=Sam|title=Listen: Lecrae f/ Big K.R.I.T. & Ashton Jones "Mayday"|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/08/listen-lecrae-f-big-krit-ashthon-jones-mayday|work=Complex|publisher=Complex Media|accessdate=August 31, 2012|format=Web|date=August 30, 2012}}{{cite web|last=James|first=Jesse|title=Lecrae, Big K.R.I.T. & Ashton Jones – Mayday | Music Video|url=http://stupiddope.com/2012/12/14/lecrae-big-k-r-i-t-ashton-jones-mayday-music-video/|work=stupidDOPE|accessdate=December 16, 2012|format=Web|date=December 14, 2012}} The Atlanta Journal-Constitution called the track a "massive song filled with crashing cymbals and thundering drums." Brando of Day & A Dream described the song as "soul wrenching" and "piano driven".

After hearing Gravity at a private listening session, AllHipHop considered the song one of the standout tracks on the album. Rapzilla went further and said that the song is easily the best sonically, lyrically, and conceptually on the album. stupidDOPE praised Lecrae for "blending the heartfelt lyrics of the track with an awesome beat and undertone / melody." 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. AllHipHop also praised Jones, describing her performance on the song's melody and hook as "beautiful", while Respect Magazine called Jones' vocals "captivating." 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." RESPECT. called the instrumentation by Khalil "incredible."

A music video was filmed for the song and was directed by Motion Family.{{cite web|last=Solis|first=Steven|title=Lecrae Filming Music Video for Mayday|url=http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/news/74-behind-the-scenes/5244-lecrae-filming-music-video-for-mayday|work=Rapzilla|accessdate=December 16, 2012|format=Web|date=October 30, 2012}} The video aired December 13, 2012 on the MTV Networks channels MTV Jams, mtvU, and MTV2.{{cite web|last=Solis|first=Steven|title=Lecrae Premiering Mayday Video on MTV Networks|url=http://rapzilla.com/rz/news/38-backstage/5425-lecrae-premiering-mayday-video-on-mtv-networks|work=Rapzilla|accessdate=December 16, 2012|format=Web|date=December 13, 2012}} 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.

• Lecrae – primary artist
• Big K.R.I.T. – featured artist, recording
• Ashthon Jones – featured artist
• DJ Khalil – producer, additional keyboards
• Chin Injeti – bass, guitar
• Rahki – live drums
• Danny Keyz – keyboards
• Lincoln "Bar-None" Morris – vocal production, recording
• Joseph Prielozny – recording
• Carlton Lynn – mixing

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{{Lecrae}}

{{Big K.R.I.T.}}

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Category:2012 singles

Category:Lecrae songs

Category:Big K.R.I.T. songs

Category:Songs written by Big K.R.I.T.

Category:Reach Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by DJ Khalil

Category:Songs written by DJ Khalil

Category:2012 songs

Category:Songs written by Daniel Tannenbaum