Music Review: Kirk Franklin, 'Hero'

10/03/2005 12:00 PM, AP
Aimee Maude Sims

On Kirk Franklin's latest album "Hero," when the gospel superstar sings "To all my people in the struggle, you think God's forgotten about you, here's some pain medicine," he's describing pain he's all too familiar with.

On the cathartic track "Letting Go," Franklin somberly recounts being given up by his mother, struggling with pornography and sex, and getting high in the church's parking lot to Tears for Fears chorus: "Shout, Shout, let it all out." Then Franklin's stellar vocal ensemble delivers the "pain medicine," singing in unison on the title track: "Jesus, You are my hero/You came and you saved the day."

The album contains Franklin's typical but explosive mix of hip-hop and R&B-flavored gospel. He also uses samples from soul classics — from Earth Wind and Fire's "Keep Your Head to the Sky" to Randy Crawford's "You Bring the Sun Out" — to create this "comfort-food for the soul." Patrice Rushen's "Haven't You Heard" provides the funky underlay to the standout track "Looking for You."

Buoyed by a boisterous horn section and percussion work by Sheila E., the well-crafted album has Franklin moving nimbly through gentle a cappella interludes from Fred Hammond and Yolanda Adams to vocal free-for-alls with J. Moss and Tye Tribbett. Add to the mix guest appearances by Stevie Wonder and Marvin L. Winans, plus Franklin's singing and DJ-ing, and you've got a tablespoonful of sugar that makes this medicine go down even easier.