Kirk Franklin previews new album I AM WHAT I AM in Atlanta event

Kirk Franklin, a twenty-time Grammy Award-winning gospel artist, held an exclusive album playback event in Atlanta on October 12 at Sessions Atlanta in Uptown Records, according to hiphopnc.com. The preview was for his upcoming double album, I AM WHAT I AM, set for release on October 30.

Presented by Fo Yo Soul Recordings, TRIBL Records, and Uptown Records, the event allowed invited guests to hear new music and learn about the personal experiences influencing Franklin's latest work, as reported by thebeatdfw.com and wiznation.com.

Franklin reflected on spending over a year developing the project and discussed how changes in Black church culture, such as the removal of choirs, challenged his creative process. He emphasized the album embraces both his signature sound and his personal journey, including struggles with anxiety and depression, according to thebeatdfw.com.

The double album features seven studio recordings and live church recordings, showcasing different aspects of Franklin's artistry. It includes collaborations with artists like Jelly Roll, TobyMac, Isaac Carree, and Davido. The listening session began with a track featuring Jelly Roll, blending spoken-word and soulful melodies, as detailed by hiphopnc.com and wiznation.com.

Franklin also used the event to advise emerging artists to focus on authenticity and building their careers steadily rather than following trends, highlighting his own experience of over three decades in gospel music, according to thebeatdfw.com.