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'Kirk Franklin breaks chart history' continued...
From Wes Jay, Woodlands Media.
Gospo Centric artist Kirk Franklin broke chart history with his release The
Rebirth of Kirk Franklin, 19 February 2002.
The project rocketed to the top of the charts selling more than 90,000
units its first week out, breaking multiple chart records for street week
sales.
The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin debuted at #4 on Billboard's Top 200 chart,
placing Franklin as the highest debut ever on the chart for any solo
Christian artist. Receiving top placement across the board on four charts,
The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop
Albums, #1 on Billboard's Contemporary Christian Albums, #1 on Billboard's
Top Gospel Albums and #1 SoundScan for Christian Retail.
A follow-up to the 2x Platinum, The Nu Nation Project, The Rebirth of Kirk
Franklin includes all new songs recorded live at Houston's Lakewood Church
and features guest appearances by Pastor Shirley Caesar, Bishop T.D. Jakes,
Donnie McClurkin, Crystal Lewis, Jaci Velasquez, late Willie Neal Johnson,
Papa San, Alvin Slaughter, Richard Smallwood, and dc Talk's Toby Mac.
Highlights of The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin include a brand new studio
recording and current Gospel radio hit, "911" (nine one one) with Bishop
T.D. Jakes, and "He Reigns," featuring a re-working Rich Mullin's "Awesome
God." Also included is the rock-radio-ready hidden bonus studio track,
"Throw Yo Hands Up" featuring dc Talk's Toby Mac.
In addition to the massive sales of The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin, Franklin
has also been making the round at television to support his new release.
With recent appearances on CNN Headline News, BET's Celebration of Gospel,
among others, upcoming highlights include a Grammy Award performance (Feb.
27th), Soul Train (March), Politically Incorrect (March 4) and Live At The
Apollo (April), among others.
Franklin's premiere single "911" (with special guest Bishop T.D. Jakes) is
also receiving heavy radio airplay. Already a Gospel radio smash, "911" is
currently climbing the Urban and Urban AC charts in the US.
As far as recent awards, Franklin garnered two Stellar Awards for
Urban/Inspirational Performance of the Year (Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary;
Kingdom Come Soundtrack; Gospo Centric) and Rap/Hip Hop Gospel CD of the
year (Kingdom Come Soundtrack, Gospo Centric). Franklin also received five
GMA Dove Award nominations for Producer of the Year and double nominations
for producer/performer for Urban Recorded Song of the Year ("Thank You,"
Kingdom Come, The Soundtrack; Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary) and Special
Event Album of the Year (Kingdom Come, The Soundtrack).
Franklin, who has become the most commercially successful artist in Gospel
music history, often described by this staggering inventiveness and
inspiration, has sparked a musical revolution throughout the past decade.
With sales of over 10 million units, Franklin has dominated the Gospel
charts as well as a sizeable chunk of mainstream R&B and Contemporary
Christian charts. |
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