By Rodney K. Jackson
It has been almost ten years since Kirk Franklin burst on to the scene with Gospel’s biggest hit in years, “Why We Sing”, from his debut album, Kirk Franklin and the Family. Franklin’s latest release, The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin, has been certified gold and it serves as a testament for a man who has experienced tragedies, commercial success, a brush with death, group changes, and spiritual revelation.
“The things you go through with certain groups and challenges make you wanna throw in the towel but this is one of the best seasons of my life because it has grown me,” says Kirk, “it has kind of deepened my faith and my personal relationship with the Lord”.
On the opening track of The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin, a woman is heard leaving her baby with her elderly mother. The woman seemingly hurried and frustrated promises she will return but it is assumed that she didn’t. The elderly woman then prays over the baby asking the Lord to make him a “man of God”. Born in Forth Worth, Texas, Kirk was raised in a strict Baptist home by his aunt. Displaying a gift for music early, Kirk went on to lead the Mt. Rose Baptist Church at age 11. Influenced by secular and Gospel groups like the Winans, Cameo, George Clinton, and James Cleveland, Kirk developed a style that integrated the best of both worlds.
Prior to releasing his first album, Franklin founded a 17-piece group, called “The Family”. When Vicki Mack-Lataillade, president of Gospel-Centric Records, heard his demo tape, she immediately signed him to a record deal. The 1993 debut of “Kirk Franklin and the Family” became the first Gospel record to go platinum. Kirk admits that working with a record label and staying focused on God’s plan and purpose can present challenges. “Sometimes it’s not an easy fit [dealing with records labels,]” says Kirk, “but there will always be challenges”. “If there wasn’t a challenge and every piece fit, then there would be no room for growth”.
This musical and spiritual growth has paved way for opportunities many Gospel artists dream of doing. In 2001, Kirk scored, wrote, and produced the soundtrack for the motion picture Kingdom Come. Kirk has also recorded and produced tracks for guest artists such as R. Kelly, Donnie McClurkin, Mary J. Blige, Bono, and Pastor Shirley Caesar. Franklin realizes the importance and power of using Christians who sing secular music to help spread the “good news”. But his philosophy and method is not without its critics. Many traditional artists feel Kirk Franklin’s music is unscriptural and it takes the focus away from God.
‘With people of color even if you don’t go to church, you’ve been to church and I think that it is something even deeper than the music, its compelling God to man.” “It’s the message in the music”. “A traditional sound doesn’t hurt Gospel music, it’s all in the presentation”. There are some contemporary Gospel songs that are not good for the genre. That are too watered down…that’s what hurts the progression”.
Kirk believes that music and television play a part in how Christians are viewed by each other and the world. “Television shows you what they want you to see. It’s unfortunate but Christians don’t even watch Christian television cause Christian television is so out of touch”. “Christian TV can sometimes come across as unreal, those who are Christian, more twenty-first century style, we turn it on and don’t see anything that depicts us”.
“There’s always room for more Gospel music but there is always the opportunity for it to get watered down when it becomes popular. Its easy for compromise to slip in so its important for those who are holding the torch to make sure that they don’t compromise for the sake of ratings and music sales”. PUB
