Twenty-time Grammy Award-winning gospel music icon Kirk Franklin has released his highly anticipated 14th full-length solo album, I Am What I Am, through Uptown Records. The ambitious double-disc project brings together traditional gospel, Afrobeats, hip-hop and R&B, featuring collaborations with Davido, Karen Clark Sheard, GloRilla, Jelly Roll, Tim Rogers and Tobe Nwigwe. With seven live recordings and seven studio tracks, Franklin celebrates his gospel roots while exploring new musical directions.
I Am What I Am showcases two distinct sides of Kirk Franklin’s artistry through a 14-track collection divided between live and studio recordings. The seven live performances highlight the choir-driven gospel sound that helped establish Franklin as one of the genre’s most influential artists, while the seven studio recordings explore contemporary sounds and cross-genre collaborations. The album’s focus track, “Hope In You,” features Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido, bringing together gospel and Afrobeats influences.
Another standout collaboration, “This Time,” features Memphis rapper GloRilla and incorporates elements of Mandrill’s “Children of the Sun.” The energetic track combines Franklin’s signature gospel-inspired production with GloRilla’s distinctive hip-hop delivery, highlighting her versatility as a performer. Additional collaborations with Jelly Roll, Tim Rogers and Tobe Nwigwe further expand the album’s musical range, demonstrating Franklin’s commitment to connecting gospel music with audiences across generations and genres.
Ahead of the album’s release, Franklin introduced the project with “Thank You For Everything,” featuring gospel legend Karen Clark Sheard of The Clark Sisters. The song became the fastest-growing record at gospel radio, according to the release, and received its live television debut at the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. Its accompanying music video also premiered on BET Her. Earlier this year, Franklin announced a partnership with Uptown Records in conjunction with his Fo Yo Soul Entertainment and TRIBL Music Group, supporting the release of his latest project.
I Am What I Am – Tracklisting
01. Free Me Tonight (feat. Jelly Roll)
02. This Time (feat. Glorilla)
03. Hope In You (with Davido)
04. It Gets Better (with Tobe Nwigwe)
05. Able
06. Do It Again
07. Stay
08. Someday (Live)
09. It Is Well (Live)
10. Welcome In (Live)
11. Thank You For Everything (Live) (with Karen Clark Sheard)
12. Holy (Live)
13. Beautiful Thorns (Live)
14. Time (Live) (with Tim Rogers)
