Kirk Franklin

Kirk Franklin

Kirk Dewayne Franklin is an American gospel rapper and music producer born on January 26, 1970, in Fort Worth, Texas. Raised by his aunt Gertrude after being abandoned by his mother, Franklin demonstrated exceptional musical talent from an early age, beginning piano lessons at four years old. Despite a troubled teenage years marked by rebellion and personal struggles, a traumatic witnessing of a friend's death by shooting at age 15 prompted his return to faith and music. He quickly rose through gospel circles, gaining attention from industry legend Milton Biggham and leading the DFW Mass Choir at just 20 years old.

Franklin's professional career launched in 1992 with the formation of "The Family," a 17-voice choir that released their breakthrough debut album in 1993, becoming only the third gospel album to achieve platinum status. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Franklin achieved unprecedented crossover success, blending gospel with contemporary urban music styles. His 1997 collaboration "God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation" achieved 3× platinum certification, while the lead single "Stomp" became a crossover hit reaching MTV rotation and topping the R&B charts. He continued innovating with subsequent projects including "The Nu Nation Project" (1998) and his solo work "Hero" (2005), establishing himself as a bridge between traditional gospel and mainstream music audiences.

Beyond recording, Franklin has built a comprehensive entertainment empire. He founded Fo Yo Soul Entertainment in 2004 and later launched Fo Yo Soul Recordings as an RCA imprint, signing and developing emerging artists. He served as host and executive producer of BET's "Sunday Best," positioning himself as a tastemaker and mentor in gospel music. Franklin has accumulated 20 Grammy Awards and 22 GMA Dove Awards, along with numerous other accolades including his 2021 induction into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame as an inaugural member.

Franklin's personal journey has profoundly shaped his artistic mission. He has publicly discussed overcoming a decades-long pornography addiction beginning in childhood and detailed family struggles in his 2010 autobiography "The Blueprint." A near-fatal stage fall in 1996 and a 2021 controversy involving his son Kerrion recording a private conversation further humanized his public persona. In 2023, Franklin reconciled with his biological father Richard Hubbard and released his documentary "Father's Day: A Kirk Franklin Story," bringing full-circle his lifelong journey from abandonment to family restoration and spiritual leadership.