Customer Reviews

Hello Fear

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

NOBODY in gospel music writes like Kirk Franklin! This brother is a gift to the Body of Christ, and this offering from Him to God is truly worth us supporting. I love the fact that His music is appealing to the mind, heart, and spirit. There is revelation for our spirit, information for our mind, and inspiriration for our hearts. From the first track through to the end he really tackles the subject of fear in the mind of the believer and gives us biblical truth to help cast out the spirit of fear! I promise you there is NOT 1 AVERAGE SONG ON THIS CD! My personal favorite is a tie between "Hello Fear," "Before I Die," and "Give Me" featuring Mali Music. An all-star cast of gospel's best are on here! From Mali to Marvin Winans, John P. Kee, Marvin Sapp to Rance Allen and many more. I love that he didn't make the mistake in judgment of having secular artist on this like other gospel artist. (Just my opinion y'all). If you don't like this CD - I will personally refund your money and then pray that God gives you better taste in Gospel music. lol. Support the ministry of "Hello Fear"

Once again Kirk Franklin and crew produces another quality product. Some of my favorite cuts on this CD are Something about that name pt 2 with Rance Allen, Give Me featuring Mali Music talking about how judgement starts first in the House of the Lord, A God Like you, I Smile and Before I die which talks about overcoming fear of reaching your dreams. Overall a great CD for any gospel fan or Kirk Franklin fan.

I bought "Hello Fear" on last Thursday, and listened to it in its entirety while driving home. To my surprise, I enjoyed every track. Kirk Franklin did a great job on this offering. Every track ministered to me, especially Track #10, "At The Altar". Kirk's teaming with Beverly Crawford and Marvin Sapp had tears streaming down my eyes. They took it to church on that one.

I recommend this CD.

KF goes OLD SCHOOL Gospel in this CD. I'm used to his music flowing from one song to the next w/ one theme and message even. Not this time. This is an arrangement of different songs, genres and even ideas/messages, which the exception of one section of three songs that flow and maintain a theme. Overall, it's a good CD. I can see why "Smile" was the single they put out but it's deceptive cuz nothing else on this CD is like that song. In addition, I like what KF got going w/ not singing and he needs to keep it that way. It seems like he's taken lessons and actually sings one whole song pretty much by himself - as the lead singer, that is. It was AAIT... not bad... JUST AAIT (alright). This CD's middle name is "variety." I honestly think this is a production of all the songs he's ever written that didn't fall into the other CDs and landed on this one. Lyrically, the songs are good what was questionable to me was the arrangement of some of the songs. ... if you LOVE KF, like I do.. then you'll give him a pass. Fight Of My Life is still the best KF CD ever and it raised the bar for any of his works... this one doesn't reach that caliber.

I have been a fan of Kirk's music for the last 15 years. This project "Hello Fear" was worth waiting for. It is Kirk at his best. The vocals are fresh, sweet, and articulate in the Kirk Franklin style that we have come to know and love. Every track is special. My favs are "Hello Fear", "Before I Die", "Give Me" featuring Mali Music which is a smash, "Something Bout The Name of Jesus", the callabo between Rance, Isaac, John P and Marvin Winans is spectacular. Oh, and the intro to "I Smile" is sweet as well as the track. The reason I love this project is that Kirk blends the old with the new with his artists and musical arrangements. The project is contemporary yet traditional. Kirk never forgets the root of good gospel music and always incorporates it in his projects. I LOVE THIS PROJECT and it is sure to win a Stellar,Dove and Grammy. Way to go Kirk, signed your little newphew Randy!

Kirk Franklin seems to write albums that are right where I am at in my walk with Christ. This is another terrific album musically and lyrically. If you need hope and you need a pick up- get this album!

Kirk Franklin's 2011 effort Hello Fear finds Franklin continually composing alluring contemporary gospel music. The difference between an effort like Hello Fear and say 1998's lauded, shocking The Nu Nation Project is that Hello Fear never sounds as innovative or `cutting-edge' as that benchmark for the gospel singer/songwriter. That said, Kirk still has some exceptional moments on this solid effort, even when his more `radical,' `secularized-gospel' persona has waned ever so slightly. Take "I Smile," a contemporary gospel cut that like every Kirk Franklin single, finds it way at the bottom half of the Billboard Hot 100. A testament to Kirk's artistry, talents to crossover (just look at his album sales), Hello Fear is another respectable, enjoyable crossover affair with a few minor flaws.

"Hello Fear" is an slow, `break-up' cut with fear (from the perspective of Franklin as its composer), treating the emotion as if it were a significant other. Conceptual and clever, the cut may not be the traditional uptempo cut that opens the most recent Kirk Franklin studio albums ("Revolution," "Looking For You," "Declaration (This Is It")), but change is good and "Hello Fear" is certainly worthwhile. "The Story of Fear" finds Franklin channeling his fear through quasi-rapped/spoken word poetry. It segues into the fine "Before I Die," which again finds the theme of fear and overcoming fear permeating. The choral parts are superb and dynamic and Franklin's lyrics are incredibly memorable: "Right before I die I gotta Live (Live out my dreams/so I can be what he planned for me/not just for me but so they can see/much more of him and less of) right before I die I gotta..." Additionally, the production work (Franklin himself and co-producer Shaun Martin) is brilliant, featuring horns, keyboards, Hammond B3, guitar, etc.

"I Am" is reverent, rousing, and inspirational all in one package. The opening is beautiful with the chorus "ooh-ing" accompanied by swirling B3 organ in the background. The songwriting is spiritually driven and inspiration in tone, finding Franklin and his chorus noting their imperfectness but thanking God for his grace: "I am so far from perfect/I thought life is worthless/until you showed me who I am/not here by mistake/no luck only grace/I'm on the way to/who I am/I am, I am, I am/Thank God I am/I am, I am.." "But The Blood" is lovely, though a shade less enjoyable than "I Am." The use of solo cello towards the end of the cut (performed by Matt Butler) accompanying Franklin's spoken words is a great touch. "Everybody Hurts," a third slower, more reverent cut in a row, is as lovely as anything else, but a bit sleepy, threatening to make the entire album turn into a big ballad. At this point, the album needs a much need boost in energy. Smartly, it is only a track away!

"I Smile" is the strongest point of Hello Fear, sampling two unique songs and adding more of a groove after the slow "Everybody Hurts." The optimism of "I Smile" is apparent and rubs off on the listener from a cursory listen. The songwriting is some of Franklin's best work with lines like "Today's a new day, and there is no sunshine/nothing but clouds, and it's dark in my heart..." or the heartfelt chorus "I smile, even though I'm hurt see I smile..." "Give Me," featuring Mali Music continues a more `spirited' pace about the effort that one usually hears sooner in a Kirk Franklin effort. One of the most innovative cuts, "Give Me" is well crafted. "Never Alone Interlude" follows, featuring the beautiful voices of the Texas Boys Choir. This appropriate precedes the traditional gospel-styled cut "The Altar," which features spirited performances by both Marvin Sapp and Beverly Crawford. The choir's sung lyrics are incredibly uplifting in this slow, churning gospel cut: "At the altar/you can tell /Jesus all about it/At the altar/You can tell what your heart has to say//You can tell him how you need, how you thank him, and how you love him/at the altar when you kneel to pray..."

"Something About the Name Jesus, Pt. 2" features Rance Allen, Marvin Winans, John P. Kee & Isaac Carree in this pseudo-remix of the cut from Kirk's 1998 The Nu Nation Project. "Something" may be the last truly consistent cut prior to closing cut "A God Like You." "Today," is enjoyable, but not exceptional like "Hello Fear," "Before I Die," or "I Smile" per say. While both "The Moment #1" and "The Moment #2" have their lovely, dynamic moments, both cuts suffer from being overwrought in length and lacking enough direction to make them even more powerful gospel cuts. Closing cut "A God Like You" rebuilds some of the efforts lost momentum, but does not rival top cuts from the effort.

Overall, Hello Fear is another solid Kirk Franklin album, though it is not without it's flaws. The best moments are the more overt moments for the most part, as Franklin has always been noted for being `more contemporary' than not. Enjoyable? Yes. His very best effort? No. Recommended? Yes, it is another blessing from an incredibly talented gospel artist/songwriter.

Kirk Franklin never fails to minister to the broken and the whole. For anyone who has allowed fear to hold them back from living a full life, this CD will speak loud and clear. The songs are encouraging and easy to listen to. They, as most of Kirk's songs do, linger in your mind long after the CD is over. I bought this CD because "Smile" was on it and was pleasantly surprised that I like many of the other songs also. Bonus!
Everyone might not get the fear message because it may not be what you struggle with but, it can certainly be used to encourage anyone to move into a 'brighter' place. I would definitely reccommend this CD to a friend. 'Cause you look so much better when you Smile.

After listening to the little samples of each song, I was really discouraged. But then I chose to go ahead and support Kirk and buy the CD and I was not dissappointed! I <3 Hello Fear. I had been so upset with other artists that I usually bought and the albums have been full of auto tune and less Jesus sadly. But Kirk, kept it totally Jesus. I can't help buy say Praise God on this CD. Thank you Kirk for keeping it 100 about the Lord and what he has brought you from. I can totally relate to this man and how Jesus keeps shining his Grace on me! :-)

This album is wonderful from beginning to end. Basically look Fear in the face and say good bye. This album definintely will not disappoint you. You will be satisfied. It is absolutely worth every penny. If you are a die hard Kirk Franklin fan then you will def enjoy this ablum.

My Favorites
7) I Smile
8) Give Me
10) The Altar
11) Something About The Name Jesus Pt. 2
13) The Moment #1
14) The Moment #2

But I love the entire ablum.