Kirk Franklin doesn’t hesitate to speak out on controversial issues. But he’s also no stranger to the other side of the flak.
Franklin spoke out in defense of Erica Campbell, part of the Mary Mary duo. She’s taking heat for a track on her new solo album called “I Luh God.”
The song falls into the Southern hip-hop style known as “trap gospel.” Some argue it sounds too much like secular music.
“I am very, very good friends with Erica, and she has a great heart for God, she has a great heart for ministry, and I just believe that the heart always wins,” says Kirk Franklin, speaking of Campbell.
Franklin, who broke ground with his “Stomp” single in the 1990s, can relate to the backlash.
“It’s very hard when you hear churches talk about you,” Franklin says. “And some people start to question your heart, and when some people start to question your motives, it could be very hard for you because you’re in your early 20s and you don’t really understand what all the fuss is about, because you’re doing just what’s real to you.”
What do you think of Campbell’s new single?