Kirk Franklin Battles Racism

12/03/1998 4:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Lisa Zhito

(12/3/98, 1 a.m. PST) - Gospel/ R&B trailblazer Kirk Franklin has been lauded for his many achievements on the record charts, but one cause especially close to his heart concerns ending racism in this country.

Franklin, whose The Nu Nation Project became the first gospel album to ship platinum and only the second contemporary Christian album to do so (myLAUNCH, 11/2), says his latest record is a step in that direction. The first single, "Lean On Me," features an eclectic group of guest vocalists, including Bono from U2, R. Kelly, Mary J. Blige and Christian singer Crystal Lewis.

"Bringing Crystal Lewis and Bono on the first single is a good move," he notes. "I'm putting together a group of young people that's almost like God's Property, but smaller. You're going to see Hispanic kids involved with white kids and black kids. We're bringing down the walls, slowly but surely. Break them down!"

God's Property is the Fort Worth, Texas-based youth choir, produced by Franklin, which achieved multi-platinum sales thanks to its 1997 hit, "Stomp." Franklin is now named in a suit over rights to the group by its founder, Linda Searight (myLAUNCH, 11/19).

A Kirk Franklin feature is coming soon to myLAUNCH.

-- Lisa Zhito, Nashville