Kingdom Book One is a collaborative live album by Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin. The album was released on June 17, 2022, via Tribl Records, Fo Yo Soul Entertainment and RCA Inspiration. The album features appearances by Naomi Raine, Chandler Moore, Brandon Lake, Lizzie Morgan, Dante Bowe (in his last appearance before his dismissal from the group later that year), Maryanne J. George, and Ryan Ofei. The album serves to raise awareness on the injustice of mass incarceration. The deluxe edition of the album was released on July 22, 2022.
The album was supported by the release of "Kingdom" and "Bless Me" as promotional singles. "Kingdom" peaked at number 17 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart, and number six on the Hot Gospel Songs chart. "Bless Me" peaked at number 19 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, and number eight on the Hot Gospel Songs chart. To promote the album, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin will embark on the Kingdom Tour, which is set to span cities across the United States.
Kingdom Book One debuted at number two on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart and the Top Gospel Albums chart in the United States, and at number five on the Official Charts' Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart in the United Kingdom. The album received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
Background
In March 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin announced that they will be embarking on the Kingdom Tour, with a collaboration album titled Kingdom initially set to be released by the artists following the conclusion of the tour. On May 20, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin announced that they will release a collaborative album titled Kingdom Book One on June 17, 2022.
The artists recorded the album at the Everglades Correctional Institution in Miami-Dade, Florida, with 1,300 inmates participating in the recording of the album. The recording serves to spotlight the injustices around mass incarceration. Maverick City Music founder Tony Brown asserted that this is an issue which primarily affects black and brown people and that issues affecting these communities would take precedence in their music as the group matures in their artistry. Brown shared that he hoped the album would encourage people to proactively address it in ways such as donating to organizations fighting mass incarceration and volunteering in adversely affected communities.
On July 18, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin announced that they will be releasing the deluxe edition of Kingdom Book One on July 22. The deluxe edition of the album features nine new songs that were recorded while they were on tour.
Release and promotion
Promotional singles
On May 20, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin released "Kingdom" featuring Naomi Raine and Chandler Moore as the first promotional single from the album, accompanied with its music video, while concurrently availing the album for digital pre-order. "Kingdom" peaked at number 17 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart, and number six on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.
On June 3, 2022, "Bless Me" was released by Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin as the second promotional single from the album, accompanied with its music video. "Bless Me" peaked at number 19 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, and number eight on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.
On July 15, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin released "Exodus" and "The Name" featuring Brandon Lake and Maryanne J. George as promotional singles from Kingdom Book One (Deluxe), concurrently availing the album for digital pre-order.
Other songs
On June 17, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin released the music video of "Fear Is Not My Future" featuring Brandon Lake and Chandler Moore, filmed at Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The music video's release is in remembrance of the Charleston church shooting which occurred at the church seven years prior on June 17, 2015. "Fear Is Not My Future" peaked at number 26 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, and number 11 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.
On June 29, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin released the music video of "The One You Love" featuring Brandon Lake, Dante Bowe and Chandler Moore, filmed at Everglades Correctional Institution in Miami-Dade, Florida.
On July 12, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin released the music video of "Why We Sing" featuring Brandon Lake, filmed at Everglades Correctional Institution in Miami-Dade, Florida.