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musing #1

 

holiday ready! 🎄



Estimated Reading Time: 3 min
Since starting this blog back in November (published in December), I have been quietly working on a couple of posts in between staying afloat at work. By the second week of December, I pretty much had to set all of my projects to the side to make room for my work duties, and ensuring everything is in place before my 3-week vacation. 

That said, I am looking forward to working on this surprise album post, but my work is very slow due to my vacation nails. As you can see from the image above, nothing about this set screams "I spend a good chunk of my time tapping keys", so though my work may be slow as a result of beauty, I shall trudge forward! I'll have plenty of time to focus on this project during the flight to visit my belle-famille (I prefer this term to "in-laws") anyway.

The CD booklet pictured is a hint as to the subject of this surprise album post. Recently, I have been going through my parents' basement after their move and stumbling upon a bunch of old treasures from childhood, including this album. Though it is available on streaming platforms, I forgot I ever listened to this album, so I truly haven't heard it since I packed it up some years ago. 

This album disrupts my current discourse as to which I think is —— ———'s best album. I only listened to a specific era of this artist's discography and refer to this period (1993-2007) alone; however, this classic slipped through my memory. 

How easily this album fell out of my memory goes to show just how little I thought of this artist's influence in my life. Truthfully, I grew up on their music and knew their name before I knew that of any other artist. As I grew up, I began exploring other genres, and didn't return until I re-discovered this album at that time. Just like this point in my life, my discovery then made me appreciate what ——— envisioned for the genre and for the culture, and their vision holds strong to this day. 

Therefore, this post is my way of giving ——— their flowers and paying homage to just how much their music shaped me.

I am looking forward to bringing this project into fruition and exploring one of my favorite albums of all time!

--mintyy

June 8, 2026 –

I still haven't written this and truth be told, probably won't anytime soon, but I must make the reveal so that I can repost this entry. The virtual flowers go to Kirk Franklin and the 1NC album with One Nation Crew. Ahead of its time I must say. 

Growing up, my parents almost always played music in the car, no matter the length of the trip. Many journeys were accompanied by melodies from Franklin, Donnie McClurkin (live your truth babe!), Mary Mary, Kurt Carr, Virtue, Trin-i-Tee 5:7, and that's just off the top of my head. That said, there's no other artist whose music I knew more than Franklin's hands down. From Kirk Franklin and the Family Christmas to the Rebirth of Kirk Franklin down to The Nu Nation Project back with Hero. And don't get me started, if you know you know, but his soundtrack for Kingdom Come??? I'm telling you, the album stands on its own without the movie, As far as I am concerned, the movie is just one long music video for the album, it's just that cohesive and well-arranged. 

After Fight of my Life, I didn't follow Franklin's works as closely outside of popular singles, At the same time, his previous works hold up so well, and are tied to nostalgia now, that I don't really care. As long as I have my CDs (about nine of his albums!), I'm happy.

Franklin redefined the gospel genre by blending "secular" sound with an uplifting message to listeners, allowing them to bop to the beat, and open your heart to a greater power. If anything, I believe deeply that that is what ministry looks like. It doesn't have to always be in a pulpit. It is where our talents flourish. 

For me, at this point in my life almost a year and a half later, that message is needed. That I am not alone, that I am loved, and even though I am weathering a storm, it is only a season. Sometimes the spirit needs to hear that, to be reminded that it will all be okay, even if it isn't right now. 

In my most destitute moments, there is someone I can hand that to, I don't have to bear it on my own. Such a message is necessary to keep going sometimes. 


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