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.

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. In the second verse, Lecrae provide the solution to K.R.I.T.'s struggle and frustration. 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.'" 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." 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." 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."