Juneteenth is not only a commemoration, but it's a celebration. This year, several of your favorite artists including H.E.R., Chloe x Halle, Kirk Franklin, D Smoke and more are either breathing new life into a popular song or releasing an original one in collaboration with Apple Music.
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What's being called Juneteenth 2021: Freedom Songs, Ebro Darden (Apple Music Global Head of Hip-Hop and R&B) explained via press release, "Juneteenth 2021: Freedom Songs is an idea born with the desire to make sure new sounds were available for this important day. Many corporations and state governments are acknowledging Juneteenth now, so our idea was to help lift this day higher and create more awareness. Black artists from many genres and from around the world contributed this moment this year, the same way Black creatives and storytellers over centuries shared their talent, soul, joy and pain to create all the music the world enjoys today.’"
The project includes over 20 artists across several genres like Hip-Hop, Gospel, Metal, Jazz, R&B, Country and more. "From joy to pain and from hope to rage, Freedom Songs is a sonic journey through covers from the past and new works of today," the press release revealed.
H.E.R. will be covering Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)." She expressed, "first of all, the bassline—that right there is so moody, it didn’t matter what he was saying, it was gonna get you in that vibe. The simple hook of ‘Make me wanna holler, the way they do my life’—as if my life is of lesser value than somebody else’s. I just thought there was so much power in that message and that it applies to now. It’s one of those songs that we can play and still relate to today."
Chloe X Halle will be covering TLC's "Waterfalls" and stated, "we always say music is therapy to us because the lyrics are healing. There's something about singing these words to yourself—it turns into an encouraging mantra that makes you feel inspired after listening." Amaarae, who will be covering Herbie Hancock's "Butterfly" revealed why he chose this song in particular. "It’s about the sweetness of freedom and the power of transformation and growth," she says. "This symbolizes both the plight and pleasure of the Black experience."
Willie Jones will be honoring Juneteenth with his cover of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song." Jones stated, "'Redemption Song' always spoke to me. This the most stripped-down song Bob Marley has, just simple guitar and vocal, so I just get lost in the message. The lyric that gets me every time is ‘Emancipate yourself from mental slavery/None but ourselves can free our minds.’ That’s one of the most powerful lyrics and truest lyrics ever written and is extremely relevant as we celebrate Juneteenth."
Below, check out the list of original songs and covers. Listen to the complete playlist here.
Original Songs
Black Thought, "Approximately Free"
D Smoke, "Kinfolk"
Hit-Boy, "Back In Traffic"
Maverick City Music, "Breathe"
Tobe Nwigwe, "Passing Through"
Zeal & Ardor, "Calloway"
Sech, "Somos Iguales"
Saba,"Black Astronaut"
Honey Dijon, "Unleash"
Jean Dawson, "Ghost*"
Covers
H.E.R. (Cover of Marvin Gaye's “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)”)
Jimmie Allen (Cover of Charley Pride’s “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin”)
Kirk Franklin (Cover of “We Shall Overcome” called "Overcome 2021")
Madison Calley (Cover of the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice And Sing”)
Willie Jones (Cover of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”)
Amaarae (Cover of Herbie Hancock’s “Butterfly”)
Tems (Cover of John Legend’s “Ordinary People")
Kane Brown (A reimagining of his own song “Worldwide Beautiful”)
Chloe x Halle (Cover of TLC’s “Waterfalls”)
Terrace Martin & Brandee Younger (Cover of H.E.R.'s “Damage”)
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