Genre: R&B/Urban, Traditional/Contemporary Gospel
For fans of: Tye Tribbett and G.A., Natalie Wilson and S.O.P., George Clinton, Stevie Wonder
Label: Fo Yo Soul Entertainment/Zomba Recording Group

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Before the arrival of Kirk Franklin in 1993, contemporary gospel music leaned toward inspirational quiet storm—'positive' messages alluding to Jesus and a righteous walk of faith set to lightly groovin' tracks that appealed primarily to adults. Upon the arrival of Kirk Franklin, the music and the culture of contemporary Christianity got an energy boost that could give Red Bull a run for its money! Injecting a vigorous and youthful excitement to faith-walking, Kirk Franklin made it cool to be Christian, placing Godly messages in the same heavy rotation as other urban pop music. Over the last 14 years with hits such as "Stomp;" "Whatcha Lookin' For;" "Looking for You;" "Revolution;" and "Lean on Me," Kirk ascended to the upper echelons of gospel and pop. Beyond the music, he's a highly exalted example of a man who achieved success without selling his soul (literally or figuratively) or his integrity. His messages now inhabit books, an upcoming movie, and he even hosts his own BET talent search program, "Sunday Best."

Grammy-winning, multi-platinum, crossover gospel king Kirk Franklin is a man accustomed to firsts. For example, he was the first gospel artist to sell over a million copies of his first album, Kirk Franklin & The Family. However, it was the first of a different kind that led him to title his 11th and latest CD The Fight of My Life. It marked the first time that Kirk ever had so much trouble bringing his divinely inspired songs to life … for Kirk was facing an artistic drought the likes of which had never plagued him before.

The album was originally supposed to be the soundtrack for the motion picture "Church Boy," a story loosely based on Franklin's life story struggles and triumphs—of the Forth Worth, TX-born gospel star who, against all odds, made a way out of no way. But when shooting for the film was abruptly postponed, the rug was pulled out from under Franklin, affecting not only his life but that of his family and his ministry. "I titled this album The Fight of My Life because that's precisely what I was in," he says, still shaken by the circumstance. "I had scheduled two months to devote to that movie. Now that schedule had a giant hole in it leaving me without a Plan B—no vision, no direction—which immediately meant financial challenges for me and my people."

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