Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin (Image courtesy of Shore Fire Media)
Mon 23 May 2022 12:15 pm
Out Friday, June 17 via Tribl Records / Fo Yo Soul / RCA Inspiration
√ Recorded in the Florida prison yard, the record raises awareness of mass incarceration and features background voices from over 1,300 inmates
√ New single, ‘Kingdom’; “The Kingdom Tour” will begin on June 1 in Miami
On Friday, June 17, Grammy-winning music collective Maverick City Music and 16-time Grammy winner Kirk Franklin will bring the injustices around mass incarceration – and the voices of 1,300 inmates – to the forefront of the stage with the release of their collaborative album “Kingdom Book 1”, released on June 17 via Tribl Records / Fo Yo Soul Entertainment / RCA Inspiration. title track from the album “Kingdom” was released on Friday.
Taking the idea of ”prison performance” to another level, the 11-track genre-transcending project, made entirely from the grounds of a Florida prison, features Maverick City Music and Franklin recording the experience alongside over 90% of those who remain incarcerated at the location.
Joined by men from all walks of life – different gangs, races and backgrounds – “Kingdom Book 1” has evolved from an unfiltered message of love and universal acceptance into a passionate and powerful movement that embodies the beliefs fundamentals of the collective to inspire and help others.
“I think this album is for all fans who love music, and we hope these songs and the stories behind them will serve as a way to raise awareness of the challenges people face every day – many of which are forgotten. “, Jonathan Jay of Maverick City Music explains. “For me, the most impactful part of this experience was the prisoners’ reaction to the mere memory of being human. It was an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and excitement that ran through every day we spent with these men. . It was amazing, and I think if more people just became aware of those feelings, they would want to help find a solution to the problems that come with incarceration.”
“We want awareness around issues that affect the community we represent, as black and brown people, primarily,” continues Tony Brown of Maverick City Music. “It’s important that we can not only share our songs, but also share the heart and life that these songs come from. Most of us have been touched by these issues in one way or another, and as we mature as artists, the things that matter most to us must take priority.This is one of them.
“Besides raising awareness, I hope this album will motivate people to do something about these issues,” Brown said. “It’s about being proactive – giving to foundations that help understand how to stop mass incarceration, volunteering in communities that are seriously affected by it, and acknowledging that it’s a reality. If we can get a small number people to just recognize that the problem exists, so that’s a huge win for us.”
This year is set to be the biggest yet for the young pioneers of Maverick City Music. The group just won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and completed a landmark television performance on the show. Nominated in four categories at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, with three nods in one category, and receiving three nominations at the 2022 K-Love Awards last week, the group will take the music and movement behind “Kingdom Book 1” on the road. this summer with their title “Kingdom Tour” alongside Franklin. Scheduled to kick off June 1 in Miami, the extensive 37-date trek will hit arenas across the country through the end of July, including in Toronto. Fans can buy tickets for the almost complete tour here.
About Maverick City Music
Maverick City Music is a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-gender collective that brings hope to everyone, regardless of race, gender preference and faith. Launched in 2018 after hosting 17 songwriting camps – which brought together over 100 Christian artists and songwriters – Maverick City Music is a collective of acclaimed artists that include: Chandler Moore, Brandon Lake, Naomi Raine , Chris Brown, Dante Bowe, Tiffany Hudson, MJ George, Joe L Barnes and Aaron Moses. The band’s album “Old Church Basement”, a collaboration album with Elevation Worship, broke streaming records on Apple Music and Spotify. On Apple Music, the band set a new world record for most first-day streams for a Christian and gospel album; and on Spotify, the album broke the US record for most streams in one day for an album by a Christian band, and was No. 4 of all US albums its first weekend of release. Maverick City Music recently won a Grammy for Contemporary Christian Album, and in addition to being the first year eligible for the nomination, they also performed on the TV show.
About Kirk Franklin
For over 30 years, artist, songwriter and producer Franklin has made an indelible impact on culture, bridging hip-hop, pop and gospel and creating timeless hit songs and albums along the way. . Kingdom is Franklin’s first studio album since his 2019 album, “Long Live Love,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and won two Grammy Awards.
In addition to this collaboration with Maverick City Music, “Kingdom Business,” the new television series that Franklin is executive producing, premiered on BET+ on May 19.
