Kirk Franklin's 'Rebirth' Slated For February

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Top-selling gospel artist Kirk Franklin is scheduled to release a new album, The Rebirth Of Kirk Franklin, on February 19, 2002. The album's first single "911," featuring a poignant dialogue with Bishop T.D. Jakes regarding the effects of the September 11 terrorist attacks, has been receiving spins on gospel radio.

The follow-up to April's Kingdom Come soundtrack, which Franklin wrote and produced, includes 11 songs including Jakes, Donnie McClurkin, Richard Smallwood, Crystal Lewis, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Jaci Valesquez, DC Talk's Tobymac, and the late Willie Neal Johnson.

The album features two versions of the "The Blood Song." Alvin Slaughter, Lewis, and McClurkin on the studio rendition, and Velasquez on the live recording. About the album title, Franklin said: "I, personally--Kirk--am going back to that place of purity that that little boy lived as a natural matter of course."
The album also includes songs, "Brighter Day," "He Reigns," and "Lookin' Out."

In 1998, Franklin's video for "Stomp," from his triple-platinum God's Property From Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation, was the first gospel video to go into MTV's heavy rotation.