And don’t sleep on those remixes – they’re worth the price of admission alone.įorgotten favorites: “Savior More Than Life,” “Whatcha Lookin’ 4 (Remix),” “Anything 4 U”Ĥ. That energy permeates through this LP, a blend of traditional hymns and uptempo cuts powered by absolutely incredible vocal performances. It might be his most underrated work.įorgotten favorites: “Miracles,” “Over,” “My World Needs You”Įdd said: Live gospel albums work so well because they convey the feeling and emotion from the congregation. A really great selection singles are supported by strong album cuts on this one. Kirk steps away from “religion” on this one for the sake of building stronger spiritual relationships, using his platform to speak on social issues that resonate today. I hadn’t heard it in years and it’s much better than I remembered.
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Specifically, this LP is a lot more streamlined than most of Kirk’s releases and the lack of filler makes for a lean yet powerful presentation.įorgotten favorites: “F.A.V.O.R.,” “Forever/Beautiful Grace,” “Spiritual”Įdd said: Of all the releases I revisited during this ranking, Losing My Religion took me most by surprise. Some might think it’s blasphemy to rank such a new release so high on the list but it’s worthy.
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Like a lot of his projects, this one is a little too lengthy but it doesn’t take away from its positive impact.įorgotten favorites: “Help Me Believe,” “Hide Me,” “How I Used to Be”Įdd said: Kirk’s most recent release keeps his legacy SKRONG, already standing out as one of the year’s best releases.
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The Fight of My Life brings many of those challenges to the forefront, giving listeners the tools to power through their own struggles. And on a personal note, I think this album stayed in my mom’s CD player till like 2004.įorgotten favorites: “Something About the Name Jesus,” “Gonna Be A Lovely Day,” “Hold Me Now”Įdd said: Give Kirk credit, he’s been very open and honest about his personal struggles. That’s a great thing – it brings authenticity to his music. It’s a great bridge between tried-and-true gospel and the current sounds of the time. Kirk waves off those criticisms and embraces contemporary sounds with the Nu Nation Project, but in many ways, it feels a little more traditional than its predecessor. Although it’s a bit frontloaded and drags a bit in the second half it’s still a pretty good outing.įorgotten favorites: “Hello Fear,” “Before I Die,” “Everyone Hurts”Įdd said: By 1998, Kirk’s contemporary take on gospel gave him worldwide acclaim, and more than a few dirty looks from old-school ministers who thought he was flirting too closely with the secular world. There’s quality to be found for sure but there is a lack of cohesion that pushes this one down the list.įorgotten favorites: “911,” “My Life, My Love, My All,” “Lookin’ Out For Me”Įdd said: Hello Fear is Kirk’s attempt at a concept album, tackling those deep-rooted insecurities that plague us all. I’m not sure if those delays are to blame but Rebirth feels a little disjointed when compared to other releases. 11 terror attacks – caused this released to be delayed so the album could be retooled to speak to that tragedy. Overall, it’s solid – the Latin-influenced tracks help liven up his usual formula – but there are very few standouts, making this one pretty forgettable.įorgotten favorites: “When You Fall,” “Donna,” “Free”Įdd said: Ministry is most effective when it directly speaks to the times. Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5Įdd said: Of all of Kirk’s myriad releases, his 2000 collabo with 1NC seems to be the most forgotten. You can’t even find it on most streaming services. As usual, this list will skip his compilation albums but everything else is up for grabs. Rankings are determined by song quality, album consistency, and impact on the genre. Today, we’re looking back at that success, revisiting Kirk’s entire career and ranking his albums from bottom to top. That’s exactly what Kirk did, to widespread acclaim and success. I mean, Jesus’ whole mission was to take His message outside of church walls. Your grandma n’ dem may have been annoyed by Kirk’s hyperactive performances and R&B-tinged production, but his songs remained rooted in faith while connecting to audiences whose ears were once closed. As a musician, songwriter and director, Kirk moved gospel into a more contemporary direction in the mid-90s, widening the horizons of his ministry.
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While the ill-informed may write him off as “the churchy DJ Khaled,” he’s MUCH more than some hyperactive loudmouth with an offering basket full of ad-libs. For my generation, no name has been more synonymous with gospel music than Kirk Franklin’s.