Franklin’s all-star collaborations over the years have included working with R. Then in 1997, his God’s Property from Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation album, featuring the #1 R&B single ‘Stomp’ – a collaboration with Salt-N-Pepa’s Cheryl James – topped the gospel and R&B charts and rose to #3 on Billboard’s pop chart.įranklin’s Midas touch continued on his three subsequent, best’selling albums: The Nu Nation Project (1998), The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin (2002) and Hero (2005). This release also earned Franklin his first Grammy, for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. After following up with a popular Christmas album, Franklin continued his reign in 1996 with Whatcha Lookin’ 4, which hit #1 on the Gospel and Christian charts and reached #2 R&B chart. His platinum-selling debut Kirk Franklin & The Family spent nearly two years on the gospel charts – where it was #1 for over 40 weeks – while also crossing over to the R&B charts. The Fort Worth, Texas native has truly been revolutionizing gospel music for the masses since signing with GospoCentric Records in 1993. Leading up to the album’s release on December 18, its first single ‘Declaration (This Is It!)’ – which builds upon a melodic foundation based on the classic song by Kenny Loggins & Michael McDonald – is quickly rising on the gospel airplay charts.
On his latest disc, he confronts his demons while fully relying on God to help him overcome The Fight Of My Life (on his Fo Yo Soul Entertainment label via Zomba Gospel).
Yet five Grammy Awards, 11 Dove Awards, and a string of multi-platinum albums haven’t kept him immune from life’s daily spiritual battles. Over the past decade and a half, gospel crossover superstar Kirk Franklin has been an uplifting voice for a generation of listeners seeking strength beyond the struggles of this life.