Reach Records

Reach Records began in Dallas in 2004, when 25-year-old amateur rapper named Lecrae teamed up with Ben Washer, a friend he met while doing youth ministry.{{cite web|url = http://reachrecords.com/about|access-date = July 6, 2013|website = Reach Records|publisher = Reach Records|title = About}}{{cite web|url = http://reachrecords.com/artists/show/Lecrae|access-date = July 6, 2013|website = Reach Records|publisher = Reach Records|title = Lecrae}}{{cite web|title=Five Christian Hip-Hop Acts You Should Know|url=http://allhiphop.com/2012/04/08/five-christian-hip-hop-acts-you-should-know/|work=AllHipHop|publisher=AHH Holdings|access-date=July 7, 2013|author=AHH Staff and Grandmaster Grouchy Greg|date=April 8, 2012}} According to Lecrae, knowing that people emulate the musicians they hear, it made sense to develop an "urban" label with Christian values.{{cite web|last=DeWitt|first=Amanda|title=Lecrae: How God brought him from searching for significance to serving his Savior. A look at the man, his music, and his message.|url=http://dallasfamilymagazine.com/?p=490|work=Dallas Family Magazine|publisher=Christian Lifestyle Publications|access-date=July 9, 2013|year=2012}}

File:Lecrae sitting in a recording studio.jpg, co-founder of Reach Records]]

In the same year that the label was formed, it released Lecrae's debut album, Real Talk, and in the following year, a more established Christian hip-hop label Cross Movement Records re-released the album, which charted at No. 29 on the Billboard Gospel chart.{{cite web|title=Real Talk - Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/real-talk-mw0000714783/awards|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=July 7, 2013}} Also in 2005, Lecrae formed the hip hop group 116 Clique with his friends Sho Baraka, Tedashii, and Trip Lee, and co-founded the affiliated organization ReachLife Ministries to help minister to urban youth.{{cite web|last=Jeffries|first=David|title=Sho Baraka|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sho-baraka-mn0001000605|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=July 7, 2013}} Over the next five years, Reach Records released albums by 116 Clique, Lecrae, Sho Baraka, Tedashii and Trip Lee, meeting with increasing commercial success. Lecrae's 2008 third studio album, Rebel, became the first Christian rap album to top Billboard Gospel chart, and reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top Christian chart while Trip Lee's 20/20 hit No. 2 on the Gospel chart.{{cite web | last=Rood|first=Philip|url=http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/news/1-press/1096-lecrae-rebel-still-1-on-billboards-top-gospel-album-chart|title=Lecrae Rebel still #1 on Billboard's Top Gospel Album Chart|work=Rapzilla |date=October 16, 2008|access-date=July 7, 2013}}{{cite magazine|title=Lecrae|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=lecrae|chart=all}}|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|access-date=July 7, 2013}}{{cite magazine|title=Trip Lee|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=trip lee|chart=all}}|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 29, 2012}}

In 2009, Lecrae moved from Houston to Atlanta re-locating the Reach Records in the process, and Tedashii released his second studio album, Identity Crisis, which charted at No. 2 on the Gospel chart.{{cite news|last=Landrum|first=Jonathan|title=Gospel artists flock to Atlanta to advance career|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gospel-artists-flock-atlanta-advance-career-124717749.html|agency=Associated Press|work=Yahoo! Finance|access-date=July 7, 2013|date=June 1, 2012}}{{cite magazine|title=Tedashii|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=tedashii|chart=all}}|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|access-date=July 7, 2013}} In 2010, Lecrae topped the Billboard Gospel, Christian, and Independent charts, and hit No. 7 on the Top Rap chart, with Rehab. Trip Lee topped both the Gospel and Christian charts with Between Two Worlds, and Sho Baraka reached No. 3 on the Gospel chart with Lions and Liars.{{cite web|title=Sho Baraka - Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sho-baraka-mn0001000605/awards|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=July 7, 2013}} Sketch the Journalist, a blogger for Houston Chronicle, considered that year's Reach Records Unashamed Tour raising the bar for a traveling Christian hip hop concert.{{cite web|url = http://blog.chron.com/jesusmusik/2010/12/top-10-christian-rap-stories-of-2010/|title = Top 10 Christian Rap Stories of 2010|date = December 28, 2010|access-date = July 11, 2013|website = Jesus Musik|publisher = Houston Chronicle|last = Sketch the Journalist}} Also in 2010, KB, a member of the hip hop group HGA, signed with Reach as a solo act.{{cite web|last=Rood|first=Philip|title=Reach Records Signs New Artist: KB|url=http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/news/1-press/2467-reach-records-signs-new-artist-kb|work=Rapzilla|publisher=Philip Rood and Chad Horton|access-date=July 7, 2013|date=September 21, 2010}}

In January 2011, Derek Minor, then known as Pro, joined the Reach roster in a partnership deal with his own label, Reflection Music Group.{{cite web|last=Rood|first=Philip|title=Reach Records signs PRo|url=http://rapzilla.com/rz/news/38-backstage/2834-reach-records-signs-pro|work=Rapzilla|publisher=Philip Rood and Chad Horton|access-date=July 7, 2013|date=January 25, 2011}} In April, Sho Baraka announced that he was leaving Reach Records, though he continued to tour under the label for the remainder of that year, and remained signed with Reach Booking.{{cite web|last=Rood|first=Philip|title=Sho Baraka's New Future - Leaving Reach Records|url=http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/news/38/3056|work=Rapzilla|publisher=Philip Rood and Chad Horton|access-date=July 7, 2013|date=April 13, 2011}}{{cite web|title=Reach Booking|url=http://reachbooking.com/|publisher=Paradigm Agency|access-date=July 7, 2013}} In the same month, Reach and its affiliate ReachLife announced that they had renewed their contracts with the distribution company Infinity Music and its parent, Central South Distribution.{{cite web|last=Horton|first=Chad|title=Reach Records re-signs with IFINITY Music / Central South Distribution|url=http://rapzilla.com/rz/news/1-press/3055-reach-records-re-signs-with-ifinity-music--central-south-distribution|work=Rapzilla|publisher=Philip Rood and Chad Horton|access-date=July 7, 2013|date=April 12, 2011}} The label announced in July that another artist, Andy Mineo, previously known as C-Lite, had signed with the label.{{cite web|title=Reach Records announces signing of Andy "C-Lite" Mineo at Legacy Conference|url=http://www.dasouth.com/news/24-news/6534-reach-records-signs-andy-qc-liteq-mineo-announces-at-legacy-conference|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121080924/http://www.dasouth.com/news/24-news/6534-reach-records-signs-andy-qc-liteq-mineo-announces-at-legacy-conference|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 21, 2013|work=DaSouth.com|publisher=DaSouth Network|access-date=July 7, 2013|author=DaSouth.com|date=July 28, 2011}} That November, HipHopDX published a story on the filmmaker Art Hooker, who was working on the documentary film Unashamed, which traces the rise of Reach Records and 116 Clique and their contribution to the global underground Christian hip hop movement.{{cite web|last=Lassiter|first=Chris|title=Filmmaker Art Hooker Chronicles Lecrae, Reach Records And Rise Of Christian Hip Hop In 2012 Film "Unashamed"|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.17665/title.filmmaker-art-hooker-chronicles-lecrae-reach-records-and-rise-of-christian-hip-hop-in-2012-film-unashamed|work=HipHopDX|publisher=Cheri Media Group|access-date=July 7, 2013|date=November 18, 2011}}

DaSouth.com noted the high level of activity by the label in 2011, and considered the biggest move that the label that year was its Man Up campaign, a multimedia initiative by 116 Clique which featured a studio album, full-length film, and accompanying curriculum, panel discussion, and concert tour.{{cite web|url = http://www.dasouth.com/features/columns/7715-10-biggest-christian-hip-hop-news-stories-of-2011|title = 10 Biggest Christian Hip Hop News Stories of 2011|date = January 4, 2012|access-date = July 11, 2013|website = DaSouth.com|publisher = DaSouth Network|last = Sketch the Journalist|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120217043025/http://www.dasouth.com/features/columns/7715-10-biggest-christian-hip-hop-news-stories-of-2011|archive-date = February 17, 2012|df = mdy-all}}

In 2012 Reach continued to bring Christian Hip Hop into the mainstream market when it became the first record label to hold its own showcase at the South by Southwest festival.{{cite web|url = http://rapzilla.com/rz/news/38-backstage/4147-reach-records-lands-official-sxsw-showcase|title = Reach Records Lands Official SXSW Showcase|date = February 6, 2012|access-date = July 11, 2013|website = Rapzilla|publisher = Philip Rood and Chad Horton|last = Horton|first = Chad}}{{cite web|url = http://www.dasouth.com/news/24-news/8907-recap-christian-hip-hop-sxsw-2012|title = RECAP: DaSouth.com & Reach Records Invade SXSW 2012|date = March 26, 2012|access-date = July 11, 2013|website = DaSouth.com|publisher = DaSouth Network|last = Sketch the Journalist}} Sketch the Journalist mentioned on DaSouth.com that the appearance of Reach was part of a larger surge of hip hop artists, both Christian and non-Christian, at the festival, as according to him "many are saying that 2012 was the year hip hop took over the South by Southwest festival." XXL noted that the label had "a string of well-received and commercially successful album releases and tours" that allowed it to become more prominent.{{cite web|url = http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/come-up/2012/04/act-like-u-know-trip-lee/|title = Trip Lee – The Come Up|date = April 24, 2012|access-date = July 11, 2013|website = XXL|publisher = Harris Publications|last = Fleischer|first = Adam}} Trip Lee released The Good Life, topping the Christian and Gospel charts and reaching No. 3 on the Rap chart, KB debuted his first studio album, Weight & Glory, at No. 1 on the Christian and Gospel charts and No. 9 on the Independent chart, and Lecrae released both his highly popular mixtape, Church Clothes, and his Grammy Award-winning sixth album Gravity, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Gospel, Christian, Independent, and Rap charts.

In 2013, label affiliates were part of DJ Don Cannon's showcase at South by Southwest.{{cite web|url = http://www.dasouth.com/news/24-news/10995-lecrae-a-reach-records-artists-perform-alongside-secular-rappers-at-sxsw-13|title = Lecrae & Reach Records' artists perform alongside secular rappers at SXSW '13|date = March 11, 2013|access-date = July 11, 2013|website = DaSouth.com|publisher = DaSouth Network|last = Sketch the Journalist}}

2013 saw the releases of Andy Mineo's first studio album, Heroes for Sale, on April 16 which charted No. 11 on the Billboard 200 chart,{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/heroes-for-sale-mw0002499089/awards|title=Heroes for Sale|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=July 7, 2013}} and sold 28,000 units the first week.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23688/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-4-21-2013|title=Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 4/21/2013|publisher=HipHopDX|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427091727/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23688/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-4-21-2013|archive-date=April 27, 2013|access-date=April 24, 2013}} Derek Minor's fourth album, Minorville, was released on September 10. It was his second and last with Reach. Minorville charted No. 1 on Billboard Gospel chart and sold over 8,000 units the first week.{{cite web|url=http://pathmegazine.com/news/gospel-rap/this-weeks-billboard-top-gospel-cds-gospel-rap-artist-derek-minor-takes-1/|title=This Week's Billboard Top Gospel CDs: Gospel Rap Artist Derek Minor Takes #1|date=September 23, 2013 }} Lecrae's mixtape, Church Clothes 2, was released on November 7 and made available for free on DatPiff.com and also sold through iTunes and Reach's website. The mixtape was downloaded over 100,000 times in the first two weeks, and reached to No. 21 on the Billboard 200 chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2013/11/15/reach-records-streams-church-clothes-2/|title=Reach Records Streams Church Clothes 2|date=November 15, 2013|publisher=Indie Vision Music|format=Web|access-date=November 20, 2013}}

January 28, 2014, saw the release of Andy Mineo's EP Never Land, selling 26,000 units the first week, charting at No 13 overall on the Billboard 200.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.27372/title.hip-hop-album-sales-week-ending-2-2-2014|title=Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 2/2/2014|author=Andres Tardio|date=February 5, 2014|work=HipHop DX}} On March 4, KB released his EP entitled 100. The EP peaked to No. 22 overall on Billboard 200 while selling 14,000 units the first week.{{cite web|url=http://wadeoradio.com/kb-100-first-week-sales-billboard-itunes/|title=KB '100' Posts Strong First Week Sales, Tops Christian Billboard Chart|website=Wade-O Radio|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315174504/http://wadeoradio.com/kb-100-first-week-sales-billboard-itunes/|archive-date=March 15, 2014|access-date=November 23, 2017}} Tedashii released his fourth album, Below Paradise, on May 27, three years after his previous release. The album peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200, while selling more than 13,800 units the first week.{{cite web|url=http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2014/06/04/tedashii-hits-the-billboard-charts/|title=Tedashii Hits The Billboard Charts|author=JoshIVM|date=June 4, 2014|publisher=Indie Vision Music|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817034538/http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2014/06/04/tedashii-hits-the-billboard-charts/|archive-date=August 17, 2014|access-date=June 5, 2014}} Lecrae released Anomaly, the follow-up to the Grammy-winning album Gravity on September 9.{{cite web|url = https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/anomaly/id897749424|title = iTunes Album page; Lecrae 'Anomaly'|date = September 9, 2014|access-date = September 19, 2014|website = iTunes|publisher = Apple}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 88,587 copies in the United States.{{cite web|last=Tardio |first=Andres |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.30683/title.hip-hop-album-sales-lecrae-jhene-aiko-jeezy |title=Hip Hop Album Sales: Lecrae, Jhene Aiko, Jeezy |work=HipHop DX |publisher=Cheri Media Group|date=September 17, 2014 |access-date=September 17, 2014}} It is the first time an album topped both the Billboard 200 and the Gospel Albums chart. Lecrae also became the fifth artist, after Chris Tomlin (2013), TobyMac (2012), LeAnn Rimes (1997) and Bob Carlisle (1997) to score a No. 1 album on both Christian Albums and the Billboard 200. Anomaly also marks the sixth time that Lecrae topped the Gospel Albums chart and the fifth time he topped the Christian Albums chart. Since then, Lecrae has released two albums. He released All Things Work Together in 2017 and Let the Trap Say Amen (a collaborative album with Zaytoven) in 2018. He has also been featured on many single hits, including "Coming In Hot", his latest, a duo with Andy Mineo.{{cite magazine|last1=Caulfield|first1=Keith|title=Lecrae Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6251697/lecrae-earns-first-no-1-album-on-billboard-200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 18, 2014|date=September 17, 2014}} In its second week of sales, the album sold 27,000 copies, bringing the total to 115,000 copies sold.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/salescht.cgi |title=Building Album Sales Chart |language=en |date=9 Aug 2014 |magazine=Hits |access-date=19 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915012320/http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/salescht.cgi |archive-date=September 15, 2014 }} In its third week of sales, the album sold another 17,000 copies, bringing the total to 137,000 copies.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.30875/title.hip-hop-album-sales-chris-brown-jennifer-hudson-lecrae-jeezy|title=Hip Hop Album Sales: Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson, Lecrae, Jeezy|work=HipHopDX|date=October 2014 |access-date=October 9, 2014}} As of October 8, 2014, the album has sold 149,000 copies.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.30972/title.hip-hop-album-sales-prince-chris-brown-childish-gambino|title=Hip Hop Album Sales: Prince, Chris Brown, Childish Gambino|work=HipHopDX|date=October 8, 2014 |access-date=October 9, 2014}}

On January 13, 2016, Reach Records announced that one of its on-staff producers, Gawvi, formerly known as G-Styles, was signed as an official artist, and that he would be releasing his first studio album, We Belong. It was released March 2017. Gawvi was dropped from the label in February 2022, after, in the aftermath of his 2020 divorce, allegations surfaced that he had sent multiple women unsolicited sexually explicit photos of himself.{{Cite web |last=Huckabee |first=Tyler |date=February 1, 2022 |title=Reach Records Has Severed Ties With GAWVI Following Allegations of Unsolicited Explicit Photos |url=https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/music/reach-records-has-severed-ties-with-gawvi-following-allegations-of-unsolicited-explicit-photos/ |access-date=March 6, 2022 |website=RELEVANT |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |date=February 1, 2022 |title=Christian Hip-Hop Artist Gawvi Dropped by Reach Records After Allegations of Unsolicited Explicit Photos |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/gawvi-allegations-dropped-reach-records-1235025608/ |access-date=March 6, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}

On October 28, 2022, Reach Records signed Nigerian born, UK based award-winning musician, singer-songwriter, Limoblaze, to its roster.{{Cite web |title=Reach Records Announces New Artist Limoblaze with Release of 'Sunday In Lagos' |url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2022/10/28.ReachRecordsAnnouncesNewArtistLimoblazewithReleaseofSundayInLagos.asp |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=www.jesusfreakhideout.com}}

On June 13, 2024, Reach Records announced their latest signee Jackie Hill Perry. She dropped her single "First Draft" the following day, making it her first single release under the label.https://radiou.com/insider/jackie-hill-perry-signs-with-reach-records-lecraes-record-label/

On February 6, 2025, the label signed Puerto Rican artist Alexxander to the roster following his appearance on the 116 track, "King David."https://rapzilla.com/2025-02-reach-records-signs-puerto-rican-artist-alexxander/

• Derek Minor is currently with Reflection Music Group and eOne, with which Reach signed a dual distribution deal during Derek Minor's tenure at Reach.

• Joseph Prielozny{{cite web|url = http://www.linkedin.com/pub/joseph-prielozny/19/559/641|title = Joseph Prielozny|access-date = July 21, 2013|website = LinkedIn|publisher = LinkedIn Corporation|last = Prielozny|first = Joseph}}
• Nate "The Beatbreaker" Robinson{{cite web|url = http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/news/74-behind-the-scenes/6386-lecrae-performs-on-bets-106-a-park|title = Lecrae appears and performs on BET's 106 & Park|date = June 3, 2013|access-date = July 21, 2013|website = Rapzilla|publisher = Philip Rood and Chad Horton|last = Solis|first = Steven}}
• Dirty Rice

• Lasanna "Ace" Harris{{Cite web|url=https://rapzilla.com/2019-03-reach-records-ace-harris-poduction|title=Reach Records' Ace Harris Talks Daily Duties & How Artists Can Improve|last=Sarachik|first=Justin|date=March 4, 2019|website=Rapzilla|language=en-US|access-date=March 25, 2020}}
• Alex Medina{{cite web|url = http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/news/38/5458|title = DJ Official & Alex Medina 'Gravity The Remix' EP Cover, Release Date & Special Guest Producers Revealed|date = December 20, 2012|access-date = July 21, 2013|website = Rapzilla|publisher = Philip Rood and Chad Horton|last = Solis|first = Steven}}
• Nate "The Beatbreaker" Robinson
• Natalie Sims{{cite web|url=http://www.msnatalielauren.com/portfolio_page/venice-art-pavilion/|title=Reach Records, Director of A&R|website=Natalie Lauren|access-date=December 1, 2016}}

• Street Symphony (co-signed with Track or Die){{cite web|url = http://www.dasouth.com/news/24-news/10852-lecrae-wins-2013-grammy-award|title = Lecrae wins 2013 Grammy Award|date = February 10, 2013|access-date = July 21, 2013|website = DaSouth.com|publisher = DaSouth Network|last = Sketch the Journalist}}
• DJ Official (formerly signed with Cross Movement Records){{cite web|url=http://www.dasouth.com/features/interviews/6507-video-interview-dj-official-of-reach-records|title=VIDEO INTERVIEW: DJ Official of Reach Records|last=Tre9|date=July 25, 2011|website=DaSouth.com|publisher=DaSouth Network|access-date=July 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130721023900/http://www.dasouth.com/features/interviews/6507-video-interview-dj-official-of-reach-records|archive-date=July 21, 2013}} — died on August 14, 2016

Reach Records received its first official RIAA certification when Lecrae went gold with 500,000 units of his Anomaly album, recognized on August 26, 2016. He went gold again with his ATWT single "I'll Find You" featuring Tori Kelly on March 27, 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=lecrae#search_section|title=Gold & Platinum - RIAA|work=RIAA|access-date=April 11, 2018|language=en-US}}

Andy Mineo went gold, his first plaque, with "You Can't Stop Me," recognized by the RIAA on January 17, 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=andy+mineo#search_section|title=Gold & Platinum - RIAA|work=RIAA|access-date=April 11, 2018|language=en-US}}

"Coming In Hot" by Lecrae and Andy Mineo, was certified Gold in August 2021.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-26 |title=Lecrae and Andy Mineo's "Coming In Hot" Goes Gold - The Gospel Music Association |url=https://gospelmusic.org/news/lecrae-and-andy-mineos-comin-in-hot-goes-gold |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=gospelmusic.org |language=en}} On October 16, 2023, the RIAA certification for this single would change to Platinum.{{Cite web |last=Mullin |first=Darius |date=2023-11-09 |title=Andy Mineo and Lecrae Go Platinum with 'Coming in Hot' |url=https://rapzilla.com/2023-11-andy-mineo-lecrae-go-platinum-coming-in-hot/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=Rapzilla |language=en-US}} Days later, KB's Church Clap alongside Lecrae would be certified Gold.{{Cite web |last=Sarachik |first=Justin |date=2023-11-09 |title=KB & Lecrae Earn Gold Record for 'Church Clap' Song |url=https://rapzilla.com/2023-11-kb-lecrae-earn-gold-record-church-clap-song/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=Rapzilla |language=en-US}}

• 116 Clique
• Cross Movement Records
• List of hip hop record labels

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website}}

{{Lecrae}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:American independent record labels

Category:Christian hip-hop record labels

Category:Record labels established in 2004

Category:Evangelical Christian record labels

Category:2004 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)