Urban Gospel Playlist

Check out these urban-influenced Gospel singers.

Urban Gospel Music - Lift Every Voice guests like Kirk Franklin and May Mary make music that sounds like typical R&B, but there's no doubt what their message is all about. Let's take a look at some singers who draw on secular music to spread God's word to a new generation and provide an uplifting alternative to mainstream music. We'll even suggest a few of their stand-out songs to add to your Contemporary Urban Gospel playlist.

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Urban Gospel Music - Lift Every Voice guests like Kirk Franklin and May Mary make music that sounds like typical R&B, but there's no doubt what their message is all about. Let's take a look at some singers who draw on secular music to spread God's word to a new generation and provide an uplifting alternative to mainstream music. We'll even suggest a few of their stand-out songs to add to your Contemporary Urban Gospel playlist.

BeBe and CeCe Winans - After years of success as solo artists the sibling duo reunited in 2009 to release Still, their first album together in 15 years. The album won a Grammy for Best R&B Gospel Album. Stand-out tracks:1. "Close to You"2. "Addictive Love"3. "I Found Love"(Photo by Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

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BeBe and CeCe Winans - After years of success as solo artists the sibling duo reunited in 2009 to release Still, their first album together in 15 years. The album won a Grammy for Best R&B Gospel Album. Stand-out tracks:1. "Close to You"2. "Addictive Love"3. "I Found Love"(Photo by Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

Deitrick Haddon - Deitrick Haddon isn't afraid of using unconventional methods, from appearing on Soul Train to working with contemporary R&B producers. It’s no wonder this forward thinker is taking it to another level on his latest release, Church on the Moon. Stand-out tracks:1. “Love Him Like I Do”2. “Show Stopper”3. “Sinner’s Prayer”(Photo by TELEVISION-IMAGEAWARDS)

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Deitrick Haddon - Deitrick Haddon isn't afraid of using unconventional methods, from appearing on Soul Train to working with contemporary R&B producers. It’s no wonder this forward thinker is taking it to another level on his latest release, Church on the Moon. Stand-out tracks:1. “Love Him Like I Do”2. “Show Stopper”3. “Sinner’s Prayer”(Photo by TELEVISION-IMAGEAWARDS)

"The 14th" - The R&B diva celebrates loving her man with this heartfelt ballad. "He can melt me with one kiss," the singer belts out.  (Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

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Kelly Price - With three R&B albums already on her resume, this well-established artist decided to release her first gospel album on her own label in 2006. Stand-out tracks:\r\r1. “Healing”\r2. “God’s Gift”\r3. “Just As I Am”\r(Photo by Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

Kierra “Kiki” Sheard - As the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard of the Clark Sisters, “Kiki” pretty much grew up in the Gospel music industry. She reaches the younger generation with a "beat they can associate with." Stand-out tracks:1. “Why Me?”2. “Love Like Crazy”3. “You Don’t Know”(Photo by Aaron Crisler / Retna Ltd.)

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Kierra “Kiki” Sheard - As the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard of the Clark Sisters, “Kiki” pretty much grew up in the Gospel music industry. She reaches the younger generation with a "beat they can associate with." Stand-out tracks:1. “Why Me?”2. “Love Like Crazy”3. “You Don’t Know”(Photo by Aaron Crisler / Retna Ltd.)

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Kirk Franklin - When you think of urban gospel, you usually think of Kirk Franklin. In the '90s his distinctive sound penetrated into the mainstream with heavy rotation on urban radio and music video channels. Stand-out tracks:\r\r1. “I Smile”\r2. “Imagine Me”\r3. “Declaration (This is It)”\r(Photo by Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

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Kirk Franklin - When you think of urban gospel, you usually think of Kirk Franklin. In the '90s his distinctive sound penetrated into the mainstream with heavy rotation on urban radio and music video channels. Stand-out tracks:\r\r1. “I Smile”\r2. “Imagine Me”\r3. “Declaration (This is It)”\r(Photo by Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

Photo By Phil McCarten/PictureGroup

Mary Mary  - Grammy Award-winning duo Mary Mary has etched its name in music history with groundbreaking music that has delighted and inspired. We first met the sister act in 2000, when their debut single “Shackles” stormed the Billboard charts and offered listeners a new and unique brand of gospel. Since then, they’ve released game changing gospel hits such as “God in Me” and “Get Up” and have six studio albums that have blessed millions of believers across the globe.(Photo: Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

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Mary Mary - This sibling duo had a crossover hit with their very first single, “Shackles (Praise You)”. Their booming voices and smoothly produced melodies will make you want to get up and dance. Stand-out tracks:\r\r1. “Walking”\r2. “God in Me”\r3. “Yesterday”\r(Photo by Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

Michelle Williams - Michelle Williams was the first member of the massive R&B girl group Desitiny's Child to release a solo album, and a gospel album at that. Since then Michelle has made the jump to acting, having starred in several plays, including The Color Purple, Aida and David E. Talbert's What My Husband Doesn't Know. Stand-out tracks:\r\r1. "Heard A Word"\r2. "Do You Know"\r3. "Gospel Medley"\r(Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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Michelle Williams - Michelle Williams was the first member of the massive R&B girl group Desitiny's Child to release a solo album, and a gospel album at that. Since then Michelle has made the jump to acting, having starred in several plays, including The Color Purple, Aida and David E. Talbert's What My Husband Doesn't Know. Stand-out tracks:\r\r1. "Heard A Word"\r2. "Do You Know"\r3. "Gospel Medley"\r(Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

Trin-i-tee 5:7 - The group debuted in the late '90s as an alternative to R&B girl groups. Since then, they've become the first gospel trio to have a Platinum-selling album with T57. Stand-out tracks:\r\r1. "Listen"\r2. "My Body"\r3. "God's Grace"\r(Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images for Verizon Wireless)

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Trin-i-tee 5:7 - The group debuted in the late '90s as an alternative to R&B girl groups. Since then, they've become the first gospel trio to have a Platinum-selling album with T57. Stand-out tracks:\r\r1. "Listen"\r2. "My Body"\r3. "God's Grace"\r(Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images for Verizon Wireless)

Tye Tribbett - Tye's albums tend to mix a little bit of the traditional and a lot of the contemporary. He can effortlessly transition from soulful praise to upbeat dance rhythms. Stand-out tracks:\r\r1. "Good"\r2. "Victory"\r3. "No Way"\r(Photo by Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

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Tye Tribbett - Tye's albums tend to mix a little bit of the traditional and a lot of the contemporary. He can effortlessly transition from soulful praise to upbeat dance rhythms. Stand-out tracks:\r\r1. "Good"\r2. "Victory"\r3. "No Way"\r(Photo by Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

Photo By Photo by Phil McCarten/PictureGroup

Yolanda Adams - Although her roots were in traditional Gospel music, Yolanda Adams' album Mountain High...Valley Low introduced an R&B element into her music that brought her further acclaim. Stand-out tracks:\r\r1. "Hold On"\r2. "Open My Heart"\r3. "Be Still"\r(Photo by Jeff Snyder/PictureGroup)

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Yolanda Adams - Although her roots were in traditional Gospel music, Yolanda Adams' album Mountain High...Valley Low introduced an R&B element into her music that brought her further acclaim. Stand-out tracks:\r\r1. "Hold On"\r2. "Open My Heart"\r3. "Be Still"\r(Photo by Jeff Snyder/PictureGroup)