Vans and Record Store Day Link for Albums With Tracks From 6LACK, Freddie Gibbs, Pop Smoke and More

Vans and Record Store Day are spotlighting and supporting Black-owned record stores with the release of two albums, Songs for You, Vols. 1 & 2.

The upcoming projects will include a total of 19 tracks from 6LACK, Black Thought, Cautious Clay, Common, Duckwrth, Lupe Fiasco, Roberta Flack, Nubya Garcia, Freddie Gibbs, H.E.R., Amber Mark, Curtis Mayfield, Keb’ Mo’, Otis Redding, the late Pop Smoke, Esperanza Spalding, Tank and The Bangas and Summer Walker, and features artwork from award-winning artist Aamba Chavis. Proceeds will be reinvested from the albums into Black-owned record stores across the United States.

Roberta Flack, who will offer an uplifting rendition of and pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” commented, “Black-owned record stores have historically served as places where our community has gathered to learn, listen and celebrate. They have been places of political activism, where we find our voices through the music we hear. Marvin’s song that I include in this project is sadly as relevant today as it was when it was released 50 years ago.”

Record Store Day co-founder Michael Kurtz added, “Black-owned record stores have always represented something more than just a place to buy music in their communities. These businesses have been hubs for social and political activism, self-expression, culture and belonging. They are at the heart and soul of the music industry and the impact they have had on their communities to push for important social and political progress is immeasurable.”

The limited edition vinyl releases of Songs for You, Vols. 1 & 2 will be available at independent record stores on June 12, Record Store Day 2021.

Elsewhere in music, Solange released a remastered director’s cut of her art film When I Get Home in celebration of its second anniversary.