Kirk Franklin is firing back at critics who have scrutinized his recent collab with GloRilla, stating the backlash has been “heartbreaking” to witness.
The 19-time Grammy winner appeared on “Big Boy’s Neighborhood” Tuesday to address the controversy surrounding their latest collaboration, “This Time.”
Since the song’s release, some segments of the religious community have argued that the “Yeah Glo!” rapper is too secular to participate in faith-based music. “It’s been breaking my heart some of the ridicule that some of the religious have given her,” Franklin said during the interview.
He noted that critics have frequently claimed the rapper is not “holy enough or churchy enough” to record alongside a gospel artist. The tension between the traditional gospel world and secular hip-hop is not new for Franklin, who has spent decades blending urban sounds with spiritual messages. However, the singer indicated that the personal nature of the attacks against GloRilla felt particularly egregious given her own background and willingness to share her faith.
Franklin revealed that the rapper shared her discomfort with him regarding the judgment she faced after the song’s debut. Despite the noise from detractors, the duo has already found significant success within the industry. In 2025, they took home the BET Award for Best Gospel/Inspirational for their first joint effort, “Rain Down On Me.”
GloRilla, known for her deep-voiced delivery and gritty anthems, has often spoken about her upbringing in the church. Franklin argued that exclusionary attitudes only serve to alienate people rather than inspire them. The gospel artist has long been a lightning rod for similar criticism himself.
Throughout his career, Franklin has faced pushback from traditionalists for his use of hip-hop beats and collaborations with artists like Kanye West and Chance the Rapper.
Fans of both artists have largely defended the track, praising the message of redemption and resilience that anchors the collaboration.
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