Breland Celebrates Juneteenth With ‘Rage & Sorrow’

Following the killing of George Floyd and the racial injustice protests that followed, artists from all walks of life found themselves struggling with what to say. But maybe genre-busting rap/country hit maker Breland has found the most natural balance.

Releasing two impassioned tracks under the banner Rage & Sorrow in honor of this year’s Juneteenth — a holiday celebrating the end of slavery and the liberation of African Americans — he outlines the competing emotions many are feeling.

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Many of us have been oscillating between inspiration and desperation over the past few weeks, and I haven’t always known what to do or say about it. Inside me at any given moment lie two distinct emotions: Rage & Sorrow. We focus a lot on the rage because it makes us feel powerful, but without acknowledging the sorrow, sometimes we end up only hurting ourselves. It is okay to feel both of these emotions, and to feel them deeply. The two songs I’m dropping tonight speak to my journey toward this emotional balance, and I hope everyone who listens finds similar peace. Happy Juneteenth.

A post shared by Breland The Pen Point Guard ✍️ (@breland) on Jun 18, 2020 at 2:22pm PDT

“Many of us have been oscillating between inspiration and desperation over the past few weeks, and I haven’t always known what to do or say about it,” Breland writes on social media. “Inside me at any given moment lie two distinct emotions: Rage & Sorrow. We focus a lot on the rage because it makes us feel powerful, but without acknowledging the sorrow, sometimes we end up only hurting ourselves.”

The first track, a one-minute rap filled with aggression titled “A Message,” highlights the rage. Incredulous and fiery, its backed by a bare-knuckle beat and stands as a musical “I told you so,” as well as a call to do better.

Meanwhile, “Real Men Don’t Cry” represents the sorrow. A tender piano ballad featuring falsetto vocals and a powerful theme, its all about the tendency to keep our feelings bottled up inside — instead of using them to effect positive change.

Breland emerged on the country scene earlier this year with the viral hit, “My Truck,” following up with a Sam Hunt remix and more new music. His seven track, self-titled EP debut arrived in May.