R3- Kirk Franklin- Hello Fear

March 31, 2011

By Sacoyah Montgomery

Kirk Franklin has done it again with his newly released album “Hello Fear” with tracks featuring Marvin Sapp, John P. Kee, Beverly Crawford & more.  This album couldn’t come at a more perfect time- when this generation is afraid to walk in their purpose.  Each track takes you on a spiritual journey that every Christian can relate to.  “Hello Fear” invites the audience to uncover their fears and replace them with grace, hope, faith, courage and strength with such tracks as: Hello Fear, Before I Die, I Am and Smile.  Kirk has seamlessly combined genres together with purpose.  Even though this album is marvelously produced, the lyrics are what makes this album a winner!

Hello Fear empowers the listener to face fear and ultimately let it go.  Kirk personifies “fear” as that relationship that is not healthy.  That boyfriend or girlfriend that just needs to leave.  A classic “Break Up” song.

“Hello Fear, before you sit down there’s something I need to explain……Never again will I love you.  My heart it refuses to be your home.  Today I remember apart from you is where I belong…..Farwell, goodbye, so long…..Sorry fear, grace took your place.”

Before I Die just makes you want to get up and dance with its enticing DC go-go beat.  But again it’s not the beat it’s the lyrics.

“Right before I die I gotta live.  Live out my dreams so I can be what He planned for me not just for me but so they can see much more of Him and less of….”

Smile, another classic upbeat encouraging message to lift your heat and spirit during troubling times:

“I smile, even though I’m hurt I smile, I know God is working so I smile….Now everyday ain’t goin be perfect, but it still don’t’ mean today won’t have purpose.”

These are just a couple of the stand outs on the album.   Don’t let me be the judge for you, go to the store now and see for yourself.

***At press time Kirk Franklin’s “Hello Fear” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Gospel Charts, #5 on the Billboard Top 200 and sold 80,000 units in the first week of its release.