Kirk Franklin brings the full breadth of his musical identity to I Am What I Am, his first double album. Across 14 tracks divided between studio recordings and live church performances, the gospel innovator makes room for hip-hop, soul, Afrobeats, and the communal power of a choir. Connecting it all is the faith that has guided his work for more than three decades.

The title carries a personal declaration. After years of having his approach to gospel questioned, Franklin is comfortable letting his music and convictions speak for themselves. In a recent Audacy interview, he described the album’s name as “the finality of the conversation,” explaining that his creative choices have always served his desire to share his love for Jesus Christ. That sense of acceptance gives the project a clear purpose: embracing every part of the artist he has become.

The studio half brings together collaborators whose backgrounds reflect Franklin’s expansive musical interests. Jelly Roll joins him on “Free Me Tonight,” Davido appears on “Hope In You,” and Tobe Nwigwe contributes to “It Gets Better.” On “This Time,” GloRilla adds her unmistakable Memphis presence to a celebration powered by horns, handclaps, and an interpolation of Mandrill’s “Children Of The Sun.” Franklin has long understood the possibilities of bringing gospel and hip-hop into the same room, and these collaborations continue that conversation with a fresh cast of voices.

The live recordings draw directly from the Black church traditions that shaped him. Recorded with a choir, band, and congregation, this half includes “Someday,” “It Is Well,” “Welcome In,” “Holy,” and “Beautiful Thorns.” Karen Clark Sheard joins Franklin on “Thank You For Everything,” while Tim Rogers appears on “Time,” connecting the project to singers steeped in gospel’s expressive vocal tradition. The format gives collective worship a full seven-song stretch of its own.

For an artist whose catalog includes “Stomp,” “I Smile,” and “Love Theory,” reaching people through different musical languages has been central to the mission. I Am What I Am gives those interests room to coexist, bringing adventurous collaborations and church-centered performances together under a title that asks Franklin to answer only to his faith and himself.