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Kirk Franklin, born on January 26, 1970, is a platinum-selling musician who blended gospel and hip-hop in the 1990s. He released his first gospel album, "Kirk Franklin & Family", in 1993.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, he was raised by his aunt Gertrude Franklin. He developed a talent for music early, playing the piano at age four and becoming music director of his church at age eleven. After getting kicked out of school in his teenaged years, after a girlfriend became pregnant, he returned to the church after a friend was shot to death. After leading the DFW Mass Choir at the 1990 Gospel Music Workshop of America Convention, he organized "The Family", a seventeen-voice choir, in 1992 and began his recording career.
He has integrated hip hop styles with gospel themes in albums such as The Nu Nation Project. His album God's Property, which has achieved success on the Billboard Pop Album, R&B and gospel charts.
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