10/31/2026
Kirk Franklin is BACK with this one, and I am OVERJOYED! 👏🏾🔥
You DID that, Kirk Franklin
The musicality, the collaborations, the arrangements, the nostalgia, the CREATIVITY! I am OBSESSED with I Am What I Am, but what impressed me most was the brilliance of its construction.
The popular music references, the self-references, and that JACKSON 5 reference?! KIRK!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS?! 🤯😂 And for those of us who grew up in church? DISC TWO?! Oh, what a TREAT! 🙌🏾
The intentionality behind this album is remarkable. Kirk takes us from familiar popular sounds through nostalgic gospel melodies and chord progressions, then ushers us into something fresh and distinctly 21st century. His ability to pull from decades of musical history, across genres and generations, and create something that pushes gospel music FORWARD is extraordinary.
And that’s why the title, I Am What I Am, is so fitting. Kirk has remained true to his musical identity while continuously evolving. He takes everything he’s experienced, created, and learned and transforms it into music that speaks to the times we’re living in.
Even more beautifully, his ability to cross genres while remaining rooted in gospel creates a bridge for people who may have wandered away from the Lord. Oh, they’re coming BACK with this one! 🙌🏾
And perhaps that’s the message for all of us: to proudly declare, “I am what I am,” embracing who God created us to be and the purpose He placed us here to fulfill.
The arrangements, transitions, storytelling, and musical intelligence! This isn’t just a collection of songs. It’s a beautifully constructed musical experience.
This is artistry. This is evolution. This is PURPOSE!
An absolute moment!
A HUGE shoutout to every musician, vocalist, songwriter, producer, arranger, engineer, and creative who brought this masterpiece to life. You ALL deserve your flowers!
Congratulations, Kirk! You did your THING! 👏🏾❤️🎶