Kirk Franklin is continuing the mission, striving to show people his sincere love for Jesus Christ. The Gospel icon is back with a new album, I Am What I Am, out everywhere on October 30, and he stopped by our New York studios to talk about his unique blend of music, his navigation through personal accountability and spiritual mentorship, and the maturation of faith during his talk with Big Mack.
LISTEN NOW: Kirk Franklin with Big Mack
Franklin shared candid insights into navigating non-traditional creative directions, such as blending Gospel with Hip-Hop, Classical, and Afrobeat influences, and the critique he has faced from within the religious community.
“I think that whether it's the battle of the space of creativity, or the battle of just getting people's attention to wanna share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them, that is all a battle,” he shares. “I understood that, and I signed up for that over 3 decades ago. That doesn't bother me, what has been difficult is sometimes a rejection that you get from your own community, when they don't wanna take a chance to figure out why you move the way you move.”
I Am What I Am is very purposeful for Kirk, right down to the title. “it's very much conclusive, you know, it's almost like it's the book closing,” Franklin reveals. “It's the mic drop, it is the finality of the conversation, whether you like me or you don't like me, you agree or you disagree, you have questions or concerns, you know, I've spent my entire life striving, striving to show people my sincere love for Jesus Christ."
For more from Kirk Franklin, check out the full conversation above.
‘I Am What I Am’ is out everywhere on October 30
‘I Am What I Am’ is out everywhere on October 30
