Just as lives often change, so did the world of gospel music, when earth dons a new son in the voice of Kirk Franklin. But you may already know this and all the history behind this young gifted man of God. Of course, you’re well aware of his humble beginnings as choir director prior to his breakout hits with “the Family” in conjunction to working with numerous choirs. You probably know too that he’s the pen behind an old but familiar tune by the Georgia Mass Choir called “Joy”. But why bore you with what you may already know?

Mr. Franklin has been used mightily of the Lord to have broken down barricades and meshed worlds together through his ministry of music and he did it in about 5 albums and nearly 15 years. But I like to believe that his mission was already set in motion way before the world knew a Kirk Franklin & the Family. It’s very evident that God had His hand on Kirk all the while, just listen to the track “First Love” and you’ll find out. When the song that’s affectionately known to be one of the 1990s crowning moments in gospel music “Why we sing” dropped back in 1993, the world of gospel music as we knew literally, musically, and spiritually changed. People who weren’t into gospel music or interested in church, suddenly found themselves flooding the churches in droves and changing their lives around. That song would be the primer coat and base for all local church choirs, gospel choirs, choruses, ensembles as well as some recording artists forth coming and musicians everywhere to go by. Not to mention one of the biggest selling records this side of gospel.

We dare not forget to mention one of Kirk’s biggest successes in gospel today, God’s Property and how that propelled many ministries and artists in gospel alike from, David and Tamela Mann of Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion to the upcoming and a well known songwriter and producer in his own right as well as co-collaborator on the many hits you hear from Kirk and many others, Myron Butler.

Now on his 6th release entitled Hero, Kirk has proven more times than mentioned that he is well proficient at handling the awesome task of songwriter, producer, arranger, composer, and whatever else he chooses. You can always look forward to a lyrical journey and authentication from Kirk. His ability to hold captive the listener is astonishing and brilliant all at once and it’s no wonder everybody wants to work with him.

The lyrics alone are enough to make one weep at how open and honest he is, just check out “Let it go” where he speaks unequivocally of his life and the pain bore. If there could be a comparison between what an artist paints or draws, I’d say Hero is to what Picasso is to painting. A beautiful picture captured on CD is what Hero is.

“I wanted this record to be a more horizontal record” says Kirk, there are so many people hurting that need lifting and this is what God has giving me to do on this record to encourage them.

There’s quite a few head bangers on here too with the current hit track already, Looking for you and Could’ve been me featuring new gospel cats Tye Tribbett and J.Moss who’s also taking the world of gospel music by storm. Believe me when I say, Kirk has produced a masterpiece in Hero!

What’s very evident this time unlike many of the records you hear where there are a lot of artists being featured, Kirk has uniquely paired up with different artists and allowed them to do what they do and yet you can sense that this is a Kirk Franklin record because of the beautiful writing and arranging he’s done. Check out the band of who’s who from Doc Powell who is one of the world’s greatest smoothjazz guitarist, Isaac Caree of Men of Standard and John P Kee, this brother is well known for being one of the meanest vocals in the world, and to not mention the background vocalist would be an over sight…they’re singing their heads off! Featured also, Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, the lovely Dorinda Clark Cole on the title cut Hero and Marvin Winans on a song that you can tell will be another standard in the vein of something about the name Jesus.

But also another highlight, drum roll please...Stevie Wonder!-yes that’s right Stevie singing a tune called “Why” and trust me when you hear it you’ll wonder why won’t Stevie Wonder hurry up and do a gospel record?. Now all of that with some of the heaviest gospel musicians and producers like Shaun Martin and super producer hit makers and my home boys, Vidal Davis and Andre Harris known for their work with Jill Scott, Musiq, Floetry, Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige, Ciara, Usher and a host of others. I suggest you run to the nearest record shop and pick Hero up and prepare to be ministered to.