Kirk Franklin wants everyone to know one thing. He’s never going to stop pushing the envelope.
“I still have people that want what I do to fit within the realm of what they define as Christian,” says Franklin. “Moving past all the ideology and religious rhetoric that sometimes exists within the community I come from, the message of love that everybody is saying the world needs now can’t come without including the One that created love. Why don’t we simply consider not seeing Him through the lens of dogma per se but to see love as the truth that can stand the test of time? That’s my offering.”
Franklin’s latest musical offering—and 13th studio album—is the aptly titled LONG LIVE LOVE from his RCA-distributed label, Fo Yo Soul Recordings. But even before the album’s May 31st release date, its first single is already laying down some serious groundwork.
“Love Theory” bowed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart and has kept the position on lock for nine weeks. The vibrant track marked the singer’s record-extending seventh No. 1 and his second start atop the chart. With 1 million U.S. streams in its first week per Nielsen Music, “Love Theory” also opened at No. 1 on Gospel Streaming Songs as well as Gospel Digital Song Sales. Its colorful and energetic video has accumulated over 2.5 million YouTube views and counting.