Name: Hero by Kirk Franklin
Brand: Kirk Franklin
SKU: 888880375339
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 4 (140 reviews)

ALBUM

Kirk Franklin's seventh album, Hero, is special in more ways than one. The disc is his second as the sole titular artist -- no Family, God's Property, or budding protégé to introduce to the world -- and his first-ever all-out studio album, a prospect that gives him more leverage to try new things and push the envelope in ways that doing a live recording wouldn't let him. Franklin is unique in that he's more a master of ceremonies and choir leader than anything else, which means Hero's ambitious, often intricate compositions are meant for others to sing and make their own. In this case, the guest list is an endless parade of gospel luminaries new and established, including Yolanda Adams, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Marvin Winans, J. Moss, Tye Tribbett, and Franklin's own terrific backup vocalists. Not surprisingly, these collaborations represent Hero's churchier side, which can range from explosive ("Could've Been") and dramatic ("Hero") one moment to demure and understated the next ("Afterwhile," "Brokenhearted"). Stylistically, though, Franklin is at his best when he ventures outside of gospel into realms his peers rarely visit, like disco-pop ("Looking for You"), classic R&B ("Keep Your Head"), '80s pop/rock ("Let It Go"), and soul ("Why," featuring none other than Stevie Wonder). It's these out of the box experiments with their winsome throwback samples, horns, thumping beats, and those versatile backup vocalists that reveal the why of Franklin's superstar status in gospel: he's not just an artist, but a multifaceted entertainer, producer, songwriter, and arranger -- a tireless renaissance man who has rightfully earned his place as the best-selling artist in the history of the genre he loves. ~ Andree Farias

1. Intro (America The Beautiful)

by Kirk Franklin

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Samuel A. Ward; Composer
Lyricist: Katherine Lee Bates; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

2. Looking for You

by Kirk Franklin

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Patrice Rushen
Kirk Franklin
Sheree Brown
Charles Mims Jr.
Fred Washington; Composer
Lyricist: Patrice Rushen
Kirk Franklin
Fred Washington
Charles Mims Jr.
Sheree Brown; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shawn Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

3. Hero

by Kirk Franklin, Dorinda Clark-cole

Featured Artist: Dorinda Clark-cole; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Dorinda Clark-cole
Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Lyricist: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

4. Interlude # 1

by Kirk Franklin

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Lyricist: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

5. Let It Go

by Kirk Franklin, Tobymac

Featured Artist: Sonny (of P.o.d.)
Tobymac; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Sonny (of P.o.d.)
Kirk Franklin
Tobymac; Performer
Composer: Kirk Franklin
Ian Stanley
Roland Orzabal; Composer
Lyricist: Roland Orzabal
Kirk Franklin
Ian Stanley; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

6. The Process

by Kirk Franklin

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Kirk Franklin
Clare Fischer
Brent Fischer; Composer
Lyricist: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

7. Imagine Me

by Kirk Franklin

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Lyricist: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

8. Could've Been

by Kirk Franklin, J Moss, Tye Tribbett

Featured Artist: J Moss
Tye Tribbett; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Tye Tribbett
Kirk Franklin
J Moss; Performer
Composer: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Lyricist: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

9. Better

by Kirk Franklin

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Kirk Franklin
Andre Harris
Vidal Davis; Composer
Lyricist: Vidal Davis
Kirk Franklin
Andre Harris; Composer
Producer: Andre Harris
Vidal Davis
Kirk Franklin; Production

10. Afterwhile

by Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin
Yolanda Adams; Main Performer
Performer: Yolanda Adams
Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Lyricist: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

11. Brokenhearted

by Kirk Franklin, Marvin Winans

Featured Artist: Marvin L. Winans; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Marvin L. Winans
Kirk Franklin
Marvin Winans; Performer
Composer: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Lyricist: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

12. Without You

by Kirk Franklin

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Lyricist: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

13. Keep Your Head

by Kirk Franklin

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Maurice White
Kirk Franklin
Philip Bailey; Composer
Lyricist: Kirk Franklin
Maurice White
Philip Bailey; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

14. Why

by Kirk Franklin, Stevie Wonder

Featured Artist: Stevie Wonder; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Kirk Franklin
Stevie Wonder; Performer
Composer: June Deniece Williams
Kirk Franklin
Susaye Greene
Henry Redd
Nathan Watts; Composer
Lyricist: Susaye Greene
Henry Redd
Kirk Franklin
Nathan Watts
June Deniece Williams; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Chris Godbey
Shaun Martin; Production

15. First Love

by Kirk Franklin

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Lyricist: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

16. The Appeal

by Kirk Franklin

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Lyricist: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

17. Brokenhearted (Reprise)

by Kirk Franklin

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Lyricist: Kirk Franklin; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Chris Godbey; Production

18. Interlude #2

by Kirk Franklin

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Composer: Not Applicable
Various Artists; Composer
Performer: Kirk Franklin; Performer
Producer: Not Applicable
Various Artists; Production

19. Sunshine

by Kirk Franklin

Primary Artist: Kirk Franklin; Main Performer
Performer: Kirk Franklin; Performer
Composer: Thomas Snow
Kirk Franklin
Jessy Dixon
Dj Rogers
Ernie Green
D.j. Rogers; Composer
Lyricist: Jessy Dixon
Thomas Snow
Dj Rogers
Ernie Green
Kirk Franklin
D.j. Rogers; Composer
Producer: Kirk Franklin
Shaun Martin
Ernie Green
Chris Godbey; Production