Kirk Franklin is a 56 year old gospel singer, rapper, songwriter, composer, producer, choir director & author from Fort Worth, Texas who would put out over a dozen full-lengths in the past 3 decades. My favorites of which being his 5th album The Nu Nation Project under Interscope Records & the RCA Records-backed Long Live Love, but seeing that the Fo Yo Soul Recordings founder had left RCA to join a relaunched Uptown Records now distributed by Republic Records for a brand new extended play had me intrigued.
“Free Me Tonight” featuring Jelly Roll samples “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins so they can ask God to set them free this evening whereas “This Time” featuring Glorilla flips “Dey Know” by the late Shawty Lo to discuss everything being ok in the end. “Hope in You” featuring Davido brings a bit of an Afrobeats vibe to the table expressing optimism of their partners seeing them for what’s in their heart while “It Gets Better” featuring Tobe Nwigwe finds the pair talking about dark times never lasting.
The 2nd single “Able” winds down the last leg of I Am What I Am passionately describing everything God’s capable of doing whether it’s making our day better or changing the way we live while the lead single “Do It Again” sings about the Lord restoring what we’ve destroyed & turning sorrow into happiness. “Stay” sends off the of the EP with a gospel outro advising that today could be the day God answers your prayers if one sticks around long enough for the sun to shine on them.
I Am What I Am would be an unquestionable recommendation if people are looking for a gospel project in 2026 to cleanse theirs ears from WWE Hall of Famer Kid Rock’s latest album Halfway 2 Jesus dropping a couple weeks earlier. Not simply because the message Kirk Franklin’s been delivering since his debut doesn’t get comprised by the inclusion of secular guests or needless to say: The sincerity behind it, but it’s also I’d honestly rank it amongst the most enjoyable music that I’ve heard from him in some time.
Score: 3.5/5
Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!
