Kanye West reportedly offered Kirk Franklin beats anonymously to avoid upsetting Christian community

Franklin said he wasn’t willing to conceal Kanye’s involvement just to make the collaboration more palatable to the Christian community.

Kirk Franklin wasn’t interested in helping Kanye West hide his gifts from the gospel community, even when the rapper offered to contribute music without receiving any public recognition.

During an appearance on HOT 97 with host Nessa on Oct. 29, the Grammy-winning gospel artist recalled an unexpected Thanksgiving visit from West in 2014. Kanye, accompanied by his father and cousin, had driven from Oklahoma to Franklin’s home, where the group spent the day eating Thanksgiving food and talking about gospel music.

According to Franklin, West wasn’t interested in talking about the music industry or his own accomplishments. He wanted to discuss how he could help gospel music.

The rapper even offered Franklin beats without attaching his name or receiving credit for the contributions, explaining that he didn’t want to upset the Christian community.

Franklin, however, wasn’t having it.

“I told him, I said, ‘No, we not doing that,'” Franklin recalled. “Because that sends a message that your gift is good enough, but you’re not. And we ain’t gonna send that message. That ain’t the message we sent.”

The anecdote offers an interesting glimpse into Franklin’s longstanding belief that gospel music shouldn’t be confined by the expectations of traditional audiences. Throughout his career, he has incorporated hip-hop and R&B influences into gospel, occasionally drawing criticism from those who believe the genres should remain separate.

His relationship with West eventually extended beyond that Thanksgiving conversation. Franklin appeared on West’s 2016 song “Ultralight Beam,” from the rapper’s album “The Life of Pablo.”

Franklin is continuing that musical journey with his latest album, “I Am What I Am,” which is out now. The project arrives as the gospel legend continues to challenge expectations about what gospel music can sound like and who gets to participate in it.

For Franklin, the message has remained consistent: You shouldn’t have to hide who you are to share your gifts with the world.