Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
In the mid-2000s, fans, critics and the Recording Academy couldn't heap enough praise on Kanye West's brilliant, visionary fusion of rap/hip-hop with classic pop textures. But long before West was dominating the pop scene, Kirk Franklin was bringing this same type of cross-genre genius to the gospel world. While he was something of a breakout superstar of his genre in the '90s, he also was creating amazing faith based projects well into the 2000s. Beginning with a boxing ring bell and running close to 80 minutes over 16 tracks, The Fight of My Life packs a multi-faceted emotional punch that might challenge fans of only feel-good, happy expressions of "God is Great, all the time" type songs. Exulting in shouts, interjections, and his trademark talk-rap style over an exuberant female choir, bright orchestrations, and edgy scratches, Franklin uses a brilliant reworking of the Kenny Loggins-Michael McDonald lite pop classic "This Is It" to fashion his upfront statement of faith "Declaration (This Is It)." Through this track, he attributes his ability to come through all his trials to the Almighty's grace, but later, he (or rather, his female entourage) reflects refreshingly on his doubts on the gorgeous, heartfelt ballad "Help Me Believe." Then comes "Hide Me," in which he feels lost in life; while not understanding God's ways, he seeks shelter to help his faith grow. More than simply, wonderfully honest, ultra-hip gospel, this is modern-day Psalming at its best. Blending grooves, horn textures, choir textures and in your face rap, the fight constantly balances trust ("He Will Supply," "Jesus") with the darker issues confronting the idea of maintaining faith in a difficult world. The angry, blistering rock guitar driving "I Am God" underscores the tension of wanting to break free while God keeps pursuing and asking for our trust; this track breaks the typical Franklin mold and sounds more like crackling, anthemic Christian rock. The message is always the artist's focus, but with so many tracks, the stylistic diversity (from buoyant, atmospheric '70s disco on "Still in Love" to the tribal African vibe of "I Like Me" and the torchy ballad "Chains") makes the disc a soul-stirring blast from start to finish. This is one fight that will leave the listener smiling through the bruises. All contemporary gospel should be this musically joyful and lyrically raw and honest.
© Jonathan Widran /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From £10.83/month
Kirk Franklin, Performer - Kirk Franklin, Producer - Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Michael McDonald, Composer - Michael McDonald, Lyricist - Kirk Franklin, Performer - Kirk Franklin, Producer - Kenny Loggins, Composer - Kenny Loggins, Lyricist - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Kirk Franklin, Producer - Kirk Franklin, Composer - Kirk Franklin featuring Rance Allen, Performer - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin, Producer - Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Kirk Franklin, Performer - Kirk Franklin, Composer - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin, Producer - Kirk Franklin, Composer - Kirk Franklin, Performer - Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Kirk Franklin, Composer - Kirk Franklin, Performer - Kirk Franklin, Producer - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Kirk Franklin, Producer - Kirk Franklin, Performer - Kirk Franklin, Composer - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin, Producer - Kirk Franklin, Performer - Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Kirk Franklin, Composer - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin featuring tobyMac, Performer - Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Kirk Franklin, Composer - Kirk Franklin, Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin, Producer - Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Kirk Franklin, Performer - Kirk Franklin, Composer - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin, Composer - Kirk Franklin, Performer - Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Kirk Franklin, Producer - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Kirk Franklin, Composer - Kirk Franklin, Performer - Kirk Franklin, Producer - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin featuring Da' T.R.U.T.H., Performer - Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Kirk Franklin, Producer - Kirk Franklin, Composer - Emmanual Lambert, Composer - Emmanual Lambert, Lyricist - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin, Composer - Kirk Franklin, Performer - Kirk Franklin, Producer - Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin, Composer - Kirk Franklin, Producer - Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Kirk Franklin featuring Doug Williams and Melvin Williams, Performer - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin, Producer - Kirk Franklin, Lyricist - Kirk Franklin, Composer - Kirk Franklin, Performer - Harold Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2007 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
In the mid-2000s, fans, critics and the Recording Academy couldn't heap enough praise on Kanye West's brilliant, visionary fusion of rap/hip-hop with classic pop textures. But long before West was dominating the pop scene, Kirk Franklin was bringing this same type of cross-genre genius to the gospel world. While he was something of a breakout superstar of his genre in the '90s, he also was creating amazing faith based projects well into the 2000s. Beginning with a boxing ring bell and running close to 80 minutes over 16 tracks, The Fight of My Life packs a multi-faceted emotional punch that might challenge fans of only feel-good, happy expressions of "God is Great, all the time" type songs. Exulting in shouts, interjections, and his trademark talk-rap style over an exuberant female choir, bright orchestrations, and edgy scratches, Franklin uses a brilliant reworking of the Kenny Loggins-Michael McDonald lite pop classic "This Is It" to fashion his upfront statement of faith "Declaration (This Is It)." Through this track, he attributes his ability to come through all his trials to the Almighty's grace, but later, he (or rather, his female entourage) reflects refreshingly on his doubts on the gorgeous, heartfelt ballad "Help Me Believe." Then comes "Hide Me," in which he feels lost in life; while not understanding God's ways, he seeks shelter to help his faith grow. More than simply, wonderfully honest, ultra-hip gospel, this is modern-day Psalming at its best. Blending grooves, horn textures, choir textures and in your face rap, the fight constantly balances trust ("He Will Supply," "Jesus") with the darker issues confronting the idea of maintaining faith in a difficult world. The angry, blistering rock guitar driving "I Am God" underscores the tension of wanting to break free while God keeps pursuing and asking for our trust; this track breaks the typical Franklin mold and sounds more like crackling, anthemic Christian rock. The message is always the artist's focus, but with so many tracks, the stylistic diversity (from buoyant, atmospheric '70s disco on "Still in Love" to the tribal African vibe of "I Like Me" and the torchy ballad "Chains") makes the disc a soul-stirring blast from start to finish. This is one fight that will leave the listener smiling through the bruises. All contemporary gospel should be this musically joyful and lyrically raw and honest.
© Jonathan Widran /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 01:16:54
- Main artists: Kirk Franklin
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Fo Yo Soul - Gospo Centric
- Genre: Jazz Gospel
(P) 2007 Verity Gospel Music Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.