Black pride is everything. Period. In line with the Juneteenth 2021, Apple Music drafted the finest Black artists in today’s music to curate a celebratory playlist of 20 original songs and covers.
H.E.R. and Chloe x Halle represented team R&B on Juneteenth 2021: Freedom Songs. The Grammy and Oscar-winning artist redid Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler),” while the incredible sister duo remade “Waterfalls” by TLC.
Tems, a Nigerian singer-songwriter, appears on the inspiring compilation with a rendition of John Legend’s breakthrough single “Ordinary People.”
There are also guest spots from Kirk Franklin, Hit-Boy, Tobe Nwigwe, Kane Brown, Saba, Madison Calley, Honey Dijon, and Willie Jones, to name a few.
“2021 marks an important moment in Black history with Juneteenth finally being recognized as a holiday by cities and states across America. Until now, many people were not taught about the importance of June 19th in public schools and corporations and state governments weren’t giving time off. This is a very important moment in history that the mainstream is embracing and acknowledging the day enslaved Black Africans were set free from physical bondage by the U.S. government—a painful part of American history that can no longer be a side-note,” said Ebro Darden, Apple Music’s global head of Hip-Hop and R&B.
On a related note, H.E.R. is dropping her debut album Back of My Mind this Friday, June 18. It includes previously shared tracks “Come Through” and “We Made It.” See the stacked tracklisting here.
Chloe x Halle is headed to the 2021 BET Awards with four nominations, tied with Chris Brown for the most.
Listen to Apple Music’s Juneteenth 2021: Freedom Songs below.