Kirk Franklin Talks Kanye West's Song, 'Ultra Light Beams'
Kirk Franklin surprised people by appearing on rapper Kanye West's recent album The Life Of Pablo, but the gospel music star is revealing his purpose for appearing on the project.
Franklin, the 46-year-old gospel music artist, songwriter and producer, is featured praying on West's song "Ultra Light Beams." In an interview with Hip Hollywood, Franklin revealed how he got involved in the project.
"He asked me to be apart of this one song and it's very clear what I represent. No profanity, or something that is outside of my faith or what I preach," Franklin said. "I'm just here to walk out life with people, and whoever. I'm not a pastor to the stars, I ain't trying to be all that, My job is to just win people to God."
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Franklin appeared on "Saturday Night Live" to perform the song with West, singers Kelly Price and the Dream. For the gospel artist, West is not beyond God's grace.
"As a Christian I'm trying to be what God wants me to be to whoever, and nobody is beyond receiving Him," he said. "Nobody's unforgivable, or unredeemable."
The musicians were first pictured in a studio when an image on Instagram surfaced on Jan. 29. Since then, 38-year-old West spoke highly of Franklin, 46, in interviews.
While some have questioned why Franklin would be spending so much time with a rapper who frequently engages in public rants, named his sixth album "Yeezus" and uses profane lyrics in his music, Franklin explained his perspective on the matter.
"Before one song was released, I was crucified because my brother asked me to take a picture. Again 'no Kanye, you're not good enough,'" Franklin said on Instagram. "No. That is a dangerous message I believe we send to the world when our posture is they have to meet certain requirements before they are worthy to kiss the ring. It says people are not redeemable, forgivable or candidates for grace."
Franklin's 12th studio album is called Losing My Religion and he believes shunning West would be acting out of a religious nature.
"I will not turn my back on my brother. I will love him, prayerfully grow with him," he wrote. "However long he'll have me, and however long the race takes. To a lot of my Christian family, I'm sorry he's not good enough, Christian enough, or running at your pace...and as I read some of your comments, neither am I."
