Kirk Franklin

Gospel music legend Kirk Franklin joins Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men for an unforgettable conversation on On That Note, discussing his groundbreaking influence on gospel music, the connection between the church and modern R&B, his unexpected collaboration with GloRilla, and the evolution of the music industry. With more than three decades in music, Kirk Franklin has consistently pushed boundaries by blending gospel, hip-hop, and R&B to create a sound that changed the landscape of contemporary gospel music.

Kirk opens up about the inspiration behind his musical approach, why the Black church played such an important role in shaping generations of legendary artists, and how that foundation helped influence some of the biggest names in R&B. Shawn and Kirk take a deep dive into the relationship between gospel and mainstream music, discussing artists like Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Justin Timberlake, Teddy Riley, and Rodney Jerkins, and why Kirk believes the industry’s connection to its musical roots has changed.

The conversation also explores the cultural importance of the Black church, the loss of platforms like BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel, the impact of Sunday Best, and why today’s emerging artists may be missing the traditional experiences that helped develop legendary performers. Kirk gets candid about faith, vulnerability, personal imperfections, and the disconnect between younger generations and church leadership.

He also shares the story behind working with GloRilla, their connection through gospel music, and the creative process behind bringing different musical worlds together. Plus, Kirk explains why he writes his gospel songs at the piano instead of writing to pre-existing production, and why the message and emotion behind a song will always come before the beat.

It’s an honest, funny, and thought-provoking conversation between two longtime friends and musical pioneers. CHAPTERS & TOPICS INCLUDE: Kirk Franklin’s three-decade impact on gospel music Blending gospel, hip-hop, and R&B The Black church’s influence on modern R&B Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Jermaine Dupri & the church connection Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin & generations of church-raised artists The importance of BET, Bobby Jones Gospel & Sunday Best Kirk Franklin on faith, vulnerability, and imperfect leadership His unexpected musical collaboration with GloRilla The inspiration and creative process behind his music Why the message matters more than the production Subscribe to On That Note for more conversations about music, culture, creativity, and the stories behind the artists who shape the industry.

Hosted by Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men. #KirkFranklin #ShawnStockman #OnThatNote #GospelMusic #GloRilla #BoyzIIMen #RnB #HipHop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit