Kirk Franklin

In the end music and ministry prevailed. Franklin returned to the church and landed another choir directing position. He also co-founded a gospel group, The Humble Hearts. They recorded one of Franklin's compositions and got the attention of industry legend Milton Bigham. Impressed, Bigham enlisted Franklin to lead the DFW Mass Choir in a recording of Franklin's song "Every Day With Jesus." Next, Bigham hired Franklin to lead the choir at the 1990 Gospel Music Workshop of America Convention, a major industry gathering. Franklin was just 20 years old. He traveled across the country, writing songs for choirs and performing. In 1992, he formed The Family with a group of friends. They produced Kirk Franklin & The Family, which had several record companies vying for the group. The following year, Franklin signed with up-and-coming label Gospo Centric, founded by Vicki Mack Lataillade.

Throughout his career, Franklin has striven to spread the ministry through music. In doing so, he has forged a new genre - Hip Hop Gospel. With the release of The Nu Nation Project, Franklin aims to advance gospel music even further. "There are so many walls that still have to be knocked down," explains Franklin. "There are so many places gospel music can't go because of the lyrical content even though the music is progressive. I love many styles of music, and on this album I wanted to express them all." And express them he does. One track, "Lean On Me", is a star-studded celebration featuring R. Kelly, Bono, Mary J. Blige and Crystal Lewis. The tempo slows down quite a bit with the introspective "Hold Me Now," a song very close to Franklin's heart. "It's real intimate, a very transparent song. It shows some of my scars and feelings about being a Christian in this business. I'm a gospel artist who has to deal with a secular business. I walk a very tight rope. I stay focused through prayer."

Franklin has already taken gospel music to new horizons. His youthful appeal has not only increased gospel music's fan base, but also sales and media attention. Because of Franklin's instant success, the industry has had to reconsider the sales potential of gospel music. Franklin proved this even more when he helped usher in the group God's Property. Their single "Stomp" enjoyed support not only from gospel radio stations, but from many urban outlets as well. The video got major airplay on MTV. The Franklin-produced album reached number one on the R&B and gospel charts and number three on the Billboard Pop Album charts. It also took home a Grammy for Best Gospel Album by a Choir or Chorus.