Apple Music enlists H.E.R., Kirk Franklin and more for Juneteenth playlist

Apple Music is enlisting musical acts H.E.R., Kirk Franklin, Chloe x Halle, Black Thought of the Roots and several others to contribute to its Juneteenth playlist.

The 20-song playlist, named “Juneteenth: Freedom Songs,” is set to be released Friday, just two weeks ahead of the day that commemorates the abolishment of slavery on June 19.

The date refers not to the end of legal slavery in the United States, but to the gap in time before everyone heard the news.

“To celebrate Juneteenth, as Black Americans have since the inception of the holiday in 1866, is to acknowledge one of the United States’ ugliest legacies while honoring the resilience of the Black American spirit,” Apple Music wrote, describing what listeners can expect from the playlist.

“Apple Music celebrates Juneteenth 2021 with a collection of exclusively commissioned songs from artists like D Smoke, Willie Jones, Kirk Franklin, Kane Brown, Amaarae, and Tobe Nwigwe, just to name a few,” it wrote.

According to Apple Music, some of the artists featured on the playlist have covered existing songs to honor the Juneteenth holiday.

Chloe x Halle covers TLC’s “Waterfalls,” H.E.R. offers her version of Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler),” and Franklin provides a new twist to “We Shall Overcome” with his song “Overcome 2021,” The Associated Press reported.

Panamanian singer Sech and rappers D Smoke and Saba along with Terrace Martin, Brandee Younger, Maverick City Music, Honey Dijon, Tobe Nwigwe, Amaarae, Willie Jones, Zeal & Ardor, Tems, Jean Dawson and Madison Calley are all highlighted on the playlist.

“Listen to the stories their selections tell as we celebrate Juneteenth and the continued and invaluable contribution of Black artistry to contemporary music,” Apple Music said.