Maverick City Music And Kirk Franklin Combat Mass Incarceration With ‘KINGDOM Book 1’

GRAMMY award-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 center stage with the release of their collaborative album ‘KINGDOM Book 1,’ out June 17th via Tribl Records and Fo Yo Soul Entertainment / RCA Inspiration. A cornerstone to the thought-provoking collection and the first glimpse into what’s to come, the album’s title track “Kingdom” is available today.

Taking the idea of “prison performance” to another level, the genre-transcending, 11-track project made entirely from the grounds of a Florida prison, features Maverick City Music and Franklin recording the experience alongside more than ninety percent of those who remain incarcerated at the location. 

Joined by men from every walks of life – different gangs, races, and backgrounds – ‘Kingdom Book 1’ evolved from an unfiltered message of love and universal acceptance and became a passionate, powerful movement that embodies the collective’s core beliefs of inspiring and helping others. 

“I think this album is for every fan that loves music, and our hope is that these songs and the stories behind them will serve as a way to raise awareness of the challenges that people face every day – many of which are forgotten about,” Maverick City Music’s Jonathan Jay explains. “For me, the most impactful part of this experience was the prisoners’ reaction to being remembered as humans. It was an overwhelming sense of gratitude and excitement that carried through every day we spent with these men. It was unbelievable, and I think if more people would just become aware of these feelings, they would want to help find a solution for the issues that come with incarceration.”

“We want awareness around the topics that affect the community that we represent, as black and brown people, primarily,” Maverick City Music’s Tony Brown continues. “It’s important that we’re able to not just share our songs, but also share the heart and the lives that these songs are coming from. Most of us, in some way, have been impacted by these issues, and as we mature as artists, the things that matter to us the most need to take precedence. This is one of them.”

“In addition to awareness, I hope this album motivates people to do something about these issues,” says Brown. “It’s being proactive – giving to foundations that help figure out how to stop mass incarceration, volunteering in communities that are grossly affected by it, and acknowledging that this is a real thing. If we can get a small number of people to acknowledge this issue exists, then that’s a huge win for us.”

This year is poised 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 historic televised performance on the show. Nominated across four categories at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, with triple nods in one category, and receiving three 2022 K-Love Awards nominations earlier this week, the group will take the music and the movement behind ‘Kingdom Book 1’ on the road this summer with their headline ‘Kingdom’ Tour alongside Franklin. Set to kick off on June 1 in Miami, the extensive, 37-date trek hits arenas across the nation through the end of July, and fans can purchase tickets to the nearly sold-out tour HERE.

‘Kingdom Book 1‘ Tracklist

1. Kingdom – Feat. Naomi Raine, Chandler Moore

2. Fear Is Not My Future – Feat. Brandon Lake, Chandler Moore

3. Bless Me

4. Jealous – Feat. Chandler Moore, Lizzie Morgan

5. Talkin Bout (Love) – Feat. Chandler Moore, Lizzie Morgan

6. The One You Love – Feat. Brandon Lake, Dante Bowe, Chandler Moore

7. My Life Is In Your Hands – Feat. Chandler Moore

8. Melodies From Heaven – Feat. Chandler Moore, Maryanne George

9. I Smile – Feat. Lizzie Morgan

10. Why We Sing – Feat. Brandon Lake

11. Take Me Back – Feat. Dante Bowe, Chandler Moore, Ryan Ofei

Source: CR8 Agency