Kirk Franklin Said No to Hiding Kanye West’s Name on a Gospel Record — and He’d Do It Again
Written by Kiss Media on 1 November 2026
Kirk Franklin has never been afraid of a tough conversation — especially when it comes to who gets credit for the music. In a recent chat on HOT 97 with Nessa, the gospel legend looked back on a surprising offer from Kanye West, and the reason he turned it down says everything about how Franklin moves.
The story goes back to the day after Thanksgiving in 2014, when West showed up at Franklin’s home with his father and cousin in tow, fresh off a drive from Oklahoma. Franklin joked that his guests ate all his Thanksgiving leftovers before the conversation turned serious. West wanted to contribute beats to gospel music, but with a catch: he offered to do it without taking credit, worried that his involvement might upset the Christian community. Franklin shut that down on the spot. In his words, accepting music from someone while hiding their name would send the message that a person’s gift is good enough but they themselves are not. That distinction mattered to him then, and it clearly still does.
Franklin has spent years facing criticism for working with secular artists, and he has consistently refused to let that pressure decide who he collaborates with. The two did eventually work together in the open, on “Ultralight Beam,” the opening track of West’s 2016 album The Life of Pablo, and Franklin later joined Ye on Saturday Night Live alongside Chance the Rapper and a gospel choir. The collaboration drew criticism from some Christian listeners, but Franklin stood by it — and he has kept that same energy ever since.
That stance is front and center again in his current work. Franklin’s collaborations with GloRilla, including “Rain Down On Me” and their reunion on “This Time” from his new album I Am What I Am, released Friday, October 30, have drawn objections from some religious listeners questioning whether the Memphis rapper belongs in gospel music. Franklin has pushed back, saying the criticism aimed at GloRilla has been hurtful and that she doesn’t need anyone’s permission to make music that moves people.
More than a decade after that Thanksgiving visit, Franklin’s message hasn’t changed: if you’re good enough to make the music, you’re good enough to be named on it.
Do you agree with Kirk Franklin’s stand? Let us know in the comments, and send your requests to the Kiss 101.7 request line at +1 302-357-9831.
Source: HotNewHipHop
