Kirk Franklin Releases Bold Double Album ‘I Am What I Am’
Kirk Franklin Releases Bold Double Album ‘I Am What I Am.’ Gospel trailblazer Kirk Franklin has released I Am What I Am, his first-ever double album and 14th studio project, marking a confident new chapter after more than three decades of boundary-pushing music.
The 14-track set, which arrived October 30 via Uptown Records in partnership with Fo Yo Soul Entertainment and TRIBL Music Group, is split evenly between two distinct sides of the 20-time Grammy winner. The first disc delivers polished studio recordings that lean into contemporary sounds, including Afrobeats, R&B, soft rock, and hip-hop, while the second returns to the choir-driven, church-rooted gospel that made him a household name.
Franklin has framed the project as both a celebration and a quiet reckoning. At a recent listening party, he joked that he needed “a little gravy on my God,” capturing the spirit of an album that refuses to dilute its faith while expanding its sonic reach. After years of answering critics about his collaborations and stylistic choices, the artist said he’s reached a place of resolve.
“I’ve been trying to explain myself for the last 33 years,” Franklin shared. “This felt like the right opportunity to let people know that I listen and I hear everything that is being said. I am aware. This is my humanity.”
The album’s guest list reflects that duality. Memphis rapper GloRilla joins him on the energetic “This Time,” a track that already extended Franklin’s record to 10 No. 1s on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart. Afrobeats star Davido appears on the featured track “Hope In You,” while country-rap force Jelly Roll opens the project with the reflective “Free Me Tonight.” Tobe Nwigwe, Karen Clark Sheard, and Tim Rogers also contribute, bridging generations and genres.
Live cuts such as “Someday,” “It Is Well,” and “Thank You For Everything” (featuring Clark Sheard) reconnect with the traditional gospel power that first defined Franklin’s career, while studio standouts like “Able,” “Do It Again,” and “Stay” showcase his continued evolution.
With I Am What I Am, Franklin isn’t asking for permission or offering lengthy defences. He’s simply presenting the full picture, choir robes and all, and inviting listeners to meet him there. The album is streaming now on all platforms.
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