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.
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 /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, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Producer - Samuel A. Ward, Composer - Katherine Lee Bates, Lyricist - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel, LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Patrice Rushen, Composer, Lyricist - Charles Mims Jr., Composer, Lyricist - BROWN Sheree, Composer, Lyricist - Fred Washington, Composer, Lyricist - Shawn Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Dorinda Clark-Cole, Associated Performer, Associated Performer - Kirk Franklin with Dorinda Clark-Cole, Associated Performer - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Tobymac, Associated Performer, Associated Performer - Sonny (of P.O.D.), Associated Performer, Associated Performer - Kirk Franklin with TobyMac & Sonny (of P.O.D.), Associated Performer - Roland Orzabal, Composer, Lyricist - Ian Stanley, Composer, Lyricist - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Clare Fischer, Composer - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Brent Fischer, Composer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - J Moss, Associated Performer, Associated Performer - Tye tribbett, Associated Performer, Associated Performer - Kirk Franklin with J Moss & Tye Tribbett, Associated Performer - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Andre Harris, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Vidal Davis, Composer, Lyricist, Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Yolanda Adams, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Marvin L. Winans, Associated Performer, Associated Performer - Kirk Franklin with Marvin L. Winans, Associated Performer - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Maurice White, Composer, Lyricist - Philip Bailey, Composer, Lyricist - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Stevie Wonder, Associated Performer, Associated Performer - Kirk Franklin with Stevie Wonder, Associated Performer - Susaye Greene, Composer, Lyricist - Henry Redd, Composer, Lyricist - Nathan Watts, Composer, Lyricist - June Deniece Williams, Composer, Lyricist - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - Not Applicable, Composer, Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Ernie Green, Co-Producer, Composer, Lyricist - Jessy Dixon, Composer, Lyricist - Thomas Snow, Composer, Lyricist - DJ Rogers, Composer, Lyricist - Shaun Martin, Co-Producer - Chris Godbey, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Kirk Franklin, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Associated Performer - Not Applicable, Composer, Producer
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Album review
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 /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 20 track(s)
- Total length: 01:17:26
- Main artists: Kirk Franklin
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Gospocentric
- Genre: Jazz Gospel
(P) 2005 Zomba Gospel LLC
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog 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.