Grammy-winning gospel icon Kirk Franklin announces a genre-blending collaboration with hip-hop powerhouse Glorilla on the new single “This Time,” marking a bold creative shift for the legendary artist. The track arrives ahead of Franklin’s highly anticipated album I Am What I Am, dropping October 30th, and signals a strategic partnership with Uptown Records through his own imprints Fo Yo Soul Entertainment and TRIBL Music Group—a move that positions contemporary gospel at the intersection of spiritual depth and mainstream hip-hop appeal.
Franklin’s willingness to merge hip-hop’s raw energy with gospel’s spiritual foundation has long been his signature—and his lightning rod. While critics argue that secular beats dilute sacred messaging, Franklin has consistently maintained that meeting young audiences where they are culturally is essential to reaching their hearts and minds. With “This Time,” he doubles down on this mission, leveraging Glorilla’s street credibility and generational appeal to craft a conversation starter that refuses easy categorization. In an era where Gen Z gospel listeners demand authenticity over tradition, Franklin’s collaboration signals that the future of the genre belongs to artists willing to challenge its boundaries.
Track “This Time”
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