12-Year-Old Viral Sensation Keedron Bryant Signs Record Deal

12-Year-Old Viral Sensation Keedron Bryant Signs Record Deal
Instagram

Keedron Bryant

After a video of him singing 'I Just Wanna Live' went viral, Keedron Bryant signed a record deal with Warner Records.

12-year-old Keedron Bryant went viral with his powerful performance of "I Just Wanna Live", a song about being a young black man in today's world. Warner Records took notice of the young singer, and signed him to a record deal. His hit song "I Just Wanna Live" is now being released with the backing of a major label.


"I Just Wanna Live"

Bryant posted his video on May 26 with the emotional lyrics written by his mother. The song's official release today coincides with Juneteenth, the holiday observing the emancipation of slaves in the United States. Keedron Bryant said in an interview with The Associated Press this week:

"It's very exciting because this is what God's called me to do. It's just been an exciting experience to work with my mom."

After watching the video of George Floyd's death, his mother, Johnnetta Bryant said this prayer:

"I needed his wisdom. I went into prayer. He gave me those words so clearly, I shared it with Keedron ... and I told him, '...I want you to take these words and I want you to pray over them. Meditate on them. Whenever you're done with them, come out and we'll record it.' He did just that."

Bryant's anthem has since gone viral with recognition from Barack Obama, LeBron James, Janet Jackson, Lupita Nyong'o and more sharing its importance on social media.

Music producer Dem Jointz saw the video of Bryant, and produced music for the song and contacted the family to share his version. Dem Jointz's version caught the attention of the head of urban marketing at Warner Records, Chris Atlas. Atlas says:

"I was like, 'Wow this is an amazing song.' We should be a part of making sure the world hears this on a larger capacity but then also donate proceeds from the song to the right cause, That's actually giving back and using music as a healing mechanism, which I truly believe it is."

Warner Records is donating 100% of the net profits of the single to the NAACP and for every stream on Amazon Music, the company will donate $1 to the NAACP for the first 24 hours of the song's release, giving up to $50,000.

Bryant gained fame after appearing on the NBC variety series Little Big Shots. Bryant says he looks forward to recording more songs, working with Warner and changing society for the better:

"It's unfair that black people can't go out and enjoy life and live without having fear that something's going to happen to them, so it was kind of sad to sing those lyrics, "But (there's) still hope in the world that we can change the world."

Bryant's song "I Just Wanna Live" is out now.

From our sponsors

From our partners

Top Stories

Danielle Desko

});