NPR Music's Tiny Desk series has dedicated four weeks to celebrating Black History Month by featuring a diverse range of Black artists in intimate concert settings. One of the highlighted performances was by Kirk Franklin, who, accompanied by his band and choir, delivered a spirited performance from Uncle Jessie's Kitchen. Franklin's proclamation that "Jesus loves you in your draws" livened up the atmosphere in the Arlington, Texas studio, adorned with a powerful photo from the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike.

Kirk Franklin, born on January 26, 1970, is a prominent American gospel artist, choir director, record producer, and rapper. His musical journey has seen him leading various gospel and Christian R&B ensembles like The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew, earning him 20 Grammy Awards and the title of the "Reigning King of Urban Gospel" by Variety. Franklin's Tiny Desk concert not only showcased his musical talent but also paid tribute to the enduring significance of gospel music in the Black community.

The performance highlighted the fusion of jubilant energy and historical resonance, encapsulating the importance of gospel music in Black culture. Kirk Franklin's contribution to urban contemporary gospel and Christian R&B has solidified his place as a trailblazing figure in the music industry, earning him recognition as one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.