Kirk Franklin has seen every one of those memes. a
“He don’t wanna do nothing, he be talking,” Franklin said. “He be just running his mouth. It’s because we were supposed to been done got together. We was going to do something in Florida, in Miami. He don’t wanna do nothig’. It’s because I think he’s really, really, really afraid that I could be his daddy.”
The sun-kissed terrains of Fort Worth, Texas, heralded the arrival of a soon-to-be musical luminary on January 26, 1970. While growing up amid challenges, Kirk Franklin always had an ear tuned to the symphonies of the heavens. His fervent passion for gospel and an uncanny ability to contemporize its delivery soon made him a voice of his generation. Today, he’s not just an emblem of spiritual charisma and creativity but, as Fresherslive points out, commands an impressive net worth of $8.5 million by 2023.
From his early days with The Family, a seventeen-voice choir, Kirk showcased an aptitude for blending traditional gospel with modern sensibilities. Albums like God’s Property and The Nu Nation Project were more than just records; they were cultural moments. Here was gospel that even your hip-hop-loving cousin would nod along to, proving Franklin’s genius in expanding the genre’s audience.
Taking Center Stage: From Choirs To Arenas
NASHVILLE, TN – JANUARY 14: Kirk Franklin presents during the 27th Annual Stellar Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House on January 14, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Stellar Awards)
Franklin’s music journey didn’t plateau. The world saw hits like “Stomp,” a groundbreaking collaboration with the faithful and the secular dancing in tandem. Tours across continents, accolades graced his mantle and collaborations with luminaries from every music corner solidified his reputation as the ambassador of modern gospel.
Kirk’s influence didn’t remain confined to the auditory realm. His presence in television, notably with Sunday Best, showcased his mentorship capabilities. This was Franklin in a new avatar – a judge, a guide, a beacon for budding gospel talent. His forays into film production reiterated his storytelling prowess, ensuring that narratives of faith found a home on the silver screen.
Further, to understand Franklin fully, one must look beyond the stage. He’s tirelessly advocated for social issues, intertwining his music with hope, resilience, and justice messages. Initiatives like the Franklin Imagine Group are not mere organizations but platforms that empower, educate, and elevate communities, echoing Kirk’s belief in the transformative power of faith and music.
CHICAGO – MAR 23: Singer Kirk Franklin poses for photos during “The Experience With Kirk Franklin” at the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Chicago Illinois on MAR 23, 2011. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
In the grand theater of gospel music, Kirk Franklin’s act is both a celebration and an evolution. He’s sung the songs of old with a new beat, penned choruses that echo across generations, and, in the process, fashioned a legacy that will resonate for ages. To encapsulate him merely as a musician would be reductive; he’s a movement, a force, a testament to what happens when talent meets purpose.
Juneteenth is one month away, and Live Nation Urban confirmed this week that it will put on a second annual Juneteenth: A Global Celebration For Freedom at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Coi Leray, Davido, Jodeci, Kirk Franklin, Miguel, and SWV were revealed as participating acts, with a promise of more to come.
“We have once again partnered with [Jesse Collins Entertainment] on the production of the broadcast as well as @cnn who will be airing the concert experience live worldwide on June 19 at 8 p.m. EST,” Live Nation Urban and the Greek Theatre jointly posted to Instagram.
The caption continued, “In our second year, the concert will feature a wide array of icons and artists spanning across the entertainment and music industry including @Miguel, @KirkFranklin, @officialSWV, @Davido, @CoiLeray and @Jodeci, with more artists and presenters to be announced.”
The company additionally noted that Questlove and Adam Blackstone will serve as the show’s music directors.
“We are proud to once again partner with Live Nation Urban to broadcast this powerful Juneteenth event on our platforms,” Chris Licht, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide said in a statement, per Billboard. “We want to be a destination for people to both understand and celebrate a holiday of this magnitude.”
Kirk Franklin has topped the Billboard Gospel Songwriter’s chart for 100 straight weeks. He is the first artist to reach the 100-week mark in history.
In June 2019, Billboard released its Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts, as well as rankings for each genre, including Latin, Christian, Gospel, R&B/hip-hop, Country, Rock & Alternative, R&B, Rap, and Dance/Electronic.
“As a songwriter, there are few things more gratifying than seeing your work connect with people on a deep level,” Franklin tells Billboard. “To have my music resonate with so many for 100 weeks is truly a humbling experience. I am grateful beyond words to those that love my music for their support and to everyone who has played a part in bringing my music to life.”
Franklin’s continued run at the top of the chart comes from a trio of songs created with Maverick City Music. He also holds the records for most Hot Gospel No. 1 songs.
Good Words With Kirk Franklin‘s second season is now available, according to an announcement made today by Kirk Franklin and Sony Music Entertainment. Franklin draws listeners into shared moments with some of the largest stars in entertainment through intimate dialogues examining religion, redemption, and the reality of today’s world. The first episode, which debuted today, is an open discussion with Grammy-nominated musician Tamar Braxton.
This season, Dr. Bernice A. King, Iyanla Vanzant, John Boyega, Jenifer Lewis, Karamo Brown, Omarion, Tamron Hall, Tobe and Fat Nwigwe, W. Kamau Bell, and others will participate in thought-provoking discussions that Franklin will host. Together, they discuss and investigate their ideas on self-expression, race, religion, and politics while making room for laughter and joy.
“Good Words is a podcast where culture meets faith and a place where my guests can be real and open like you have never heard before,” said Franklin. “I’m excited to return for a second season and share more enlightening conversations with some of my favorite artists and thought leaders.”
Janicia Francis and Danielle Jones-Wesley are the producers of Good Words with Kirk Franklin at Somethin’ Else, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.
The 2022 BET Awards was by far the biggest night for the culture. SOHH let’s recap the greatest award show that celebrates black music. BET Awards Pre-Show Before the biggest award show in black culture kicked off, the pre-show got us all hyped for the night. TV personality Terrence J and social media influencer Pretty […]
After a very long two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual Roots Picnic curated by festival co-founders Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is back and better than ever. This past weekend, The Mann in Philadelphia was filled with beautiful Black people, Black music, Black excellence – a powerful representation in […]
According to several confirmed reports, Kerrion Franklin, gospel singer Kirk Franklin’ son, was detained yesterday after being pulled over in Beverly Hills in a routine traffic stop, where a gun was discovered. With Franklin already facing criminal charges in Texas, he was arrested and booked in the Los Angeles County Jail.
Podcast host Larry Reid spoke to the Bad Boys: Los Angeles star from behind bars, who says he was “wrongfully arrested and stopped because of his tail light.” Reid said that Franklin got into an altercation with the arresting officers, which led to him getting a charge for resisting arrest.
“Kerrion told me on the phone that they’re trying to slap two other charges on him just because and that the charges were not true,” Reid said. “So, Kerrion is saying he did not resist arrest and that there was no gun that they found that was his. So, I’m assuming that he’s alleging that the gun was planted.”
Reid says that Kerrion maybe extradited to his home state of Texas, but will remain in the L.A. County Jail until his next hearing, but is currently being held without bail.
Go to 33 minutes in the video below to hear more details about this story.
Let me begin by encouraging you not to believe the bad press about Space Jam: A New Legacy — I saw the film in theaters this past weekend and it more than held up to the original. LeBron isn’t quite as great as he was in Trainwreck, but it’s close! And there’s a heartwarming family angle that was missing in the original. If you like watching toons play basketball and be silly, then you’ll love the film. And if you do go watch it, keep your ears peeled for a soundtrack that’s stuffed to the brim with rappers and musical legends, partially due to LeBron’s avid love for hip-hop I’m sure.
One such soundtrack cut is Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin collaborating on the celebratory gospel track, “We Win,” and now the pair have dropped a video for it, too. Sure, there are some moments of footage from the film, but the visual also includes Lil Baby rapping from the court, Kirk playing piano courtside, and even cute clips of younger players getting their hoop on. It’s the kind of song that a move about overcoming struggle definitely needs for that joyful, final moment, and slates along other songs of the summer remarkably well. Check out the clip above.
Gospel icon Kirk Franklin is giving Kanye West his flowers. The 16-time Grammy-winning artist has dished out his thoughts on Yeezy and offered pure praise for the recently separated husband to reality TV star Kim Kardashian. Kirk Franklin Gives Kanye West G.O.A.T Title Franklin called ‘Ye one of the greatest artists of all-time and applauded […]
