Amazon.co.uk Review
For a man who puts his trust in God, Kirk Franklin certainly seems defensive on the opening "interlude" of Nu Nation Project, which depicts criticism of his controversial hip-hop-tinged gospel as a court trial complete with urgent reporters outside the courthouse. The message, fortunately, quickly moves from Franklin's own problems to those of the world--which, notably, the star refuses to ignore while praising Jesus' name. Whether the Almighty is really impressed by the It's Showtime at the Apollo!-ready oversinging and clichéd R&B production is another question, but if you are, The Nu Nation Project is another helping of what's made Franklin a platinum seller. --Rickey Wright
"The Verdict," the introduction to The Nu Nation Project, clearly suggests success has wedged Kirk Franklin tightly between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, last year's multi-format mega-hit "Stomp" revived hopes that in-your-face Christian music can find a place on the general market charts and make inroads to urban radio. On the other hand, Franklin was accused of spiritual compromise and getting "too close to the world" by forging partnerships with general market artists. The new project's remaining 16 tracks indicate Franklin isn't going to back down to his critics. He is convinced he can at once make church music viable on the streets and put the experience of the streets back into church music. On the whole, Franklin's fifth major release succeeds.The Nu Nation Project breaks little ground musically, but the terrain covered seems to come alive in these songs. Franklin's latest ensemble, The Nu Nation, provides the writer/producer/arranger with a huge sound, effectively combining disciplined choral work with guttural, sensual, heavenly improvisations.
A weakness on Nu Nation is, ironically, Franklin himself. While as a composer/ arranger he is unmatched, as a singer (on only one song, the Book of Job-inspired "I Can"), he immediately demonstrates why he has surrounded himself with other, better singers (guests like Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond and others).
Disappointing, too, is the lack of a clear radio winner like "Stomp." Yes, the staccato shout-out rap of "Revolution" is electrifying. "My Desire" simmers into full boil. "If You've Been Delivered" makes the church stand, dance and testify, and the slippery grooves of "Riverside" are infectious and fun. But nothing is so arresting as "Stomp." Indeed, for too much of the disc Franklin keeps the tempo, and the temperature, way down.
Not that Franklin's balladeering is without merit. The more worshipful songs on Nu Nation ring true, mostly because they are far better compositions than most of what passes as R&B/gospel in both Christian and general markets. Further, there are moments of real musical and spiritual inspiration here, including some surprising and soulful guitar work and the stellar singing of The Family, God's Property and Nu Nation.
Songs that reflect his faith--rather than outright demonstrate it--allow The Nu Nation Project to finds its urgency, resonating most deeply with the hope of the gospel. Several of the tracks find Franklin forcing the church to face the streets outside, confronting its declarations with the grit and trials of real life and insisting that true faith endures hardship, rather than escapes it.
This is best demonstrated in the disc's first single, "Lean On Me," a top-notch R&B power ballad that features Crystal Lewis rubbing shoulders with Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly and U2's Bono. The singers give hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck raising performances (especially Blige and Lewis, whose vocals are raw, sensual, heavenly silk). "Lean On Me" is a pop song that finds its relevance in having the courage to talk aloud about our culture's perception of the absence of God--and the failings of Christians that make unbelief possible.
In an era when evangelism is too often confused with platitudes about Jesus and righteous indignation at the ungodliness of the ungodly, Franklin's four minutes of radio airtime with "Lean On Me" compel all listeners to remember that the heart of Christianity is incarnation (identification with and putting on weakness), mercy (not getting what we deserve) and grace (getting what we don't deserve). -- W. Dwight Ozard (c) 1998 CCM Communications, Inc.
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