Kingdom Book One is a collaborative live album by Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin. The album was released on June 17, 2022, via Tribl Records, Fo Yo Soul Entertainment and RCA Inspiration.[1] The album features appearances by Naomi Raine, Chandler Moore, Brandon Lake, Lizzie Morgan, Dante Bowe (in his last appearance before his dismissal from the group later that year), Maryanne J. George, and Ryan Ofei.[2] The album serves to raise awareness on the injustice of mass incarceration.[3] The deluxe edition of the album was released on July 22, 2022.[4]
| Kingdom Book One | ||||
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| Live album by | ||||
| Released | June 17, 2022 | |||
| Recorded | March 2022 | |||
| Venue | Everglades Correctional Institution, Miami-Dade, Florida, US | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 93:17 | |||
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| Producer |
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| Maverick City Music chronology | ||||
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| Kirk Franklin chronology | ||||
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The album was supported by the release of "Kingdom" and "Bless Me" as promotional singles. "Kingdom" peaked at number 17 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart, and number six on the Hot Gospel Songs chart. "Bless Me" peaked at number 19 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, and number eight on the Hot Gospel Songs chart. To promote the album, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin will embark on the Kingdom Tour, which is set to span cities across the United States.[5]
Kingdom Book One debuted at number two on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart and the Top Gospel Albums chart in the United States, and at number five on the Official Charts' Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart in the United Kingdom. The album received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards.[6]
Background
In March 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin announced that they will be embarking on the Kingdom Tour, with a collaboration album titled Kingdom initially set to be released by the artists following the conclusion of the tour.[7] On May 20, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin announced that they will release a collaborative album titled Kingdom Book One on June 17, 2022.[8]
The artists recorded the album at the Everglades Correctional Institution in Miami-Dade, Florida, with 1,300 inmates participating in the recording of the album.[9] The recording serves to spotlight the injustices around mass incarceration.[10] Maverick City Music founder Tony Brown asserted that this is an issue which primarily affects black and brown people and that issues affecting these communities would take precedence in their music as the group matures in their artistry.[11] Brown shared that he hoped the album would encourage people to proactively address it in ways such as donating to organizations fighting mass incarceration and volunteering in adversely affected communities.[12]
On July 18, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin announced that they will be releasing the deluxe edition of Kingdom Book One on July 22.[13] The deluxe edition of the album features nine new songs that were recorded while they were on tour.[14]
Release and promotion
Promotional singles
On May 20, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin released "Kingdom" featuring Naomi Raine and Chandler Moore as the first promotional single from the album, accompanied with its music video, while concurrently availing the album for digital pre-order.[15] "Kingdom" peaked at number 17 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart,[16] and number six on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.[17]
On June 3, 2022, "Bless Me" was released by Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin as the second promotional single from the album, accompanied with its music video.[18] "Bless Me" peaked at number 19 on the Hot Christian Songs chart,[16] and number eight on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.[17]
On July 15, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin released "Exodus" and "The Name" featuring Brandon Lake and Maryanne J. George as promotional singles from Kingdom Book One (Deluxe), concurrently availing the album for digital pre-order.[19]
Other songs
On June 17, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin released the music video of "Fear Is Not My Future" featuring Brandon Lake and Chandler Moore, filmed at Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.[20] The music video's release is in remembrance of the Charleston church shooting which occurred at the church seven years prior on June 17, 2015.[20] "Fear Is Not My Future" peaked at number 26 on the Hot Christian Songs chart,[16] and number 11 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.[17]
On June 29, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin released the music video of "The One You Love" featuring Brandon Lake, Dante Bowe and Chandler Moore, filmed at Everglades Correctional Institution in Miami-Dade, Florida.[21]
On July 12, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin released the music video of "Why We Sing" featuring Brandon Lake, filmed at Everglades Correctional Institution in Miami-Dade, Florida.[22]
Performances
On June 20, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin performed "Kingdom" on The View in commemoration of Juneteenth.[23] The performance, which featured Naomi Raine, Chandler Moore, and Brandon Lake, was aired on ABC.[24] On June 23, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin performed "Kingdom" on their Tiny Desk Concert performance as part of NPR Music's commemoration of Black Music Month.[25] On June 26, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin did a live televised performance of "Kingdom" and "Melodies From Heaven" at the 2022 BET Awards.[26] On July 6, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin performed "Kingdom" on NBC's Today Show.[27] On July 15, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin performed "Kingdom" on Fox & Friends as part of the All-American Summer Concert Series at Fox Square.[28] On August 30, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin released a live performance video of "Bless Me" filmed at Vevo Studio through Kirk Franklin's YouTube channel.[29]
Touring
On March 11, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin announced that they will embark on the Kingdom Tour.[30] The tour featured Jonathan McReynolds and Housefires accompanying them as special guests.[31] The tour commenced at FTX Arena in Miami on June 1, 2022, and concluded at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Illinois on August 7, 2022.[32] The final four performances on the tour were called "Kingdom Nights" and featured Tamela Mann as a special guest.[33]
On September 1, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin announced a 14-date extension of the Kingdom Tour.[34] The new tour extension began on November 3, 2022, at the Barclays Center in New York City, and concluded on November 22, 2022, at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.[35]
Reception
Critical response
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| 365 Days of Inspiring Media | 5/5[36] |
| The Journal of Gospel Music |  [37] |
In a positive review for the Journal of Gospel Music, Robert Marovich said "The act of remembrance implicit in singing Kirk Franklin catalog songs is the troupe's way of reminding listeners that the inmates, like the songs, must not be forgotten."[37] Joshua Andre in his 365 Days of Inspiring Media review opined that "as a whole, this is a near-flawless, powerful, and well-constructed album, with the concept of going into the prisons and recording live in the prisons, being inspiring, impacting, confronting, and encouraging. Kingdom Book One isn't a sanitised album. But it doesn't have to be. Maverick City Music's goal is to win souls for Jesus- and I think they might have done that with this release. A stellar album and a project that will be timeless, Kirk needs to be congratulated, as do everyone else involved."[36] Reviewing for Others Magazine, Jared Proellocks wrote: "This is not necessarily an album of songs to be replicated in a congregational worship setting but a vulnerable declaration of praise and love to God."[38]
Accolades
| Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Grammy Awards | Best Gospel Album | Won | |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album | |||
| GMA Dove Awards | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Pending |
Commercial performance
Kingdom Book One debuted at number 151 on the Billboard 200, including number 2 on the Top Christian Albums[42] and Top Gospel Albums charts[43] with 8,000 album-equivalent units.[44]
In the UK, the album debuted on the OCC's Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart at number 5.[45]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kingdom" (featuring Naomi Raine and Chandler Moore) |
| 9:26 |
| 2. | "Fear Is Not My Future" (featuring Brandon Lake and Chandler Moore) |
| 10:25 |
| 3. | "Bless Me" | Franklin | 4:32 |
| 4. | "Jealous" (featuring Chandler Moore and Lizzie Morgan) |
| 14:51 |
| 5. | "Talkin Bout (Love)" (featuring Chandler Moore and Lizzie Morgan) |
| 6:03 |
| 6. | "The One You Love" (featuring Brandon Lake, Dante Bowe, Chandler Moore) |
| 10:47 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "My Life Is in Your Hands" (featuring Chandler Moore) | Franklin | 7:01 |
| 2. | "Melodies From Heaven" (featuring Chandler Moore and Maryanne J. George) | Franklin | 3:22 |
| 3. | "I Smile" (featuring Lizzie Morgan) |
| 3:30 |
| 4. | "Why We Sing" (featuring Brandon Lake) | Franklin | 3:45 |
| 5. | "Take Me Back" (featuring Dante Bowe, Chandler Moore, Ryan Ofei) |
| 19:34 |
| Total length: | 93:17 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Kingdom" (featuring Naomi Raine and Chandler Moore) | 9:26 |
| 13. | "Fear Is Not My Future" (featuring Brandon Lake and Chandler Moore) | 17:40 |
| 14. | "Bless Me" | 4:34 |
| 15. | "Jealous" (featuring Chandler Moore and Lizzie Morgan) | 14:52 |
| 16. | "Talkin Bout (Love)" (featuring Chandler Moore and Lizzie Morgan) | 6:06 |
| 17. | "The One You Love" (featuring Brandon Lake, Dante Bowe, Chandler Moore) | 10:45 |
| 18. | "My Life Is in Your Hands" (featuring Chandler Moore) | 7:00 |
| 19. | "Melodies From Heaven" (featuring Chandler Moore and Maryanne J. George) | 3:20 |
| 20. | "I Smile" (featuring Lizzie Morgan) | 3:23 |
| 21. | "Why We Sing" (featuring Brandon Lake) | 3:41 |
| 22. | "Take Me Back" (featuring Dante Bowe, Chandler Moore, Ryan Ofei) | 19:31 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kingdom Book One Interlude" | Kirk Franklin | 1:00 |
| 2. | "Kingdom" (featuring Naomi Raine and Chandler Moore) | 9:26 | |
| 3. | "Fear Is Not My Future" (featuring Brandon Lake and Chandler Moore) | 10:25 | |
| 4. | "Bless Me" | 4:32 | |
| 5. | "Jealous" (featuring Chandler Moore and Lizzie Morgan) | 14:51 | |
| 6. | "Talkin Bout (Love)" (featuring Chandler Moore and Lizzie Morgan) | 6:03 | |
| 7. | "The One You Love" (featuring Brandon Lake, Dante Bowe, Chandler Moore) | 10:47 | |
| 8. | "My Life Is in Your Hands" (featuring Chandler Moore) | 7:01 | |
| 9. | "Melodies From Heaven" (featuring Chandler Moore and Maryanne J. George) | 3:22 | |
| 10. | "I Smile" (featuring Lizzie Morgan) | 3:30 | |
| 11. | "Why We Sing" (featuring Brandon Lake) | 3:45 | |
| 12. | "Take Me Back" (featuring Dante Bowe, Chandler Moore, Ryan Ofei) | 19:34 | |
| 13. | "Kingdom Book Two Interlude" | Franklin | 0:59 |
| 14. | "Exodus" |
| 3:01 |
| 15. | "I Am" | Franklin | 2:17 |
| 16. | "The Name" (featuring Brandon Lake and Maryanne J. George) | Franklin | 5:08 |
| 17. | "Hold Tight" (featuring Ryan Ellis & Lizzie Morgan) |
| 3:51 |
| 18. | "Conclusions" | Franklin | 4:33 |
| 19. | "God's Got Us" (featuring Chandler Moore) | Franklin | 4:29 |
| 20. | "I Found You" (featuring Chandler Moore and Aaron Moses) |
| 3:34 |
| 21. | "Under the Blood" (featuring Brandon Lake and Chandler Moore) |
| 5:14 |
| 22. | "Can't Nobody" (featuring Ryan Ofei and Maryanne J. George) |
| 5:12 |
| Total length: | 132:35 | ||
Charts
Release history
| Region | Date | Version | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | June 17, 2022 | Standard |
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| July 1, 2022 | CD | Provident Label Group | |||
| July 22, 2022 | Deluxe |
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