I started writing this review a lot earlier in the week, but I decided that it might be beneficial to see the movie before finishing/publishing it. That was a good decision. Granted, only three of the fourteen songs from the album actually made it to the big screen. But after seeing the movie, I not only have a better understanding and appreciation for the entire record thematically, but also sonically. Kendrick has essentially turned the film into a concept album. The album doesn't tell a chronological story from beginning to end, but every song on the album ties in with the film in some way.
The album begins with the title track, "Black Panther," where we are first introduced to King T'Challa. The instrumentation and dynamics on this song are fantastic. While the song begins with a simple, warm piano melody that I absolutely adore, it eventually climaxes into an intense collision of strings and African-style drums that change the dynamic completely. Lyrically, Kendrick explores the concept of kingship. What I find to be interesting is how Kendrick relates the kingship of T'Challa to the "kingship" he feels he has in his own life. This track feels like it can be interpreted from the perspective of T'Challa or Kendrick himself. On other songs in the album, namely "King's Dead," Kendrick relates himself to and speaks from the perspective of Erik Killmonger - the film's antagonist. I think Kendrick relates himself to both of these characters to emphasize the duality of his own character, which was a fundamental theme in his latest solo LP, DAMN. While this album is centered around Black Panther, Kendrick still makes it feel personal. That's a noteworthy accomplishment.
The lead single from the album, "All the Stars," is likely one of my favorite pop tracks of 2018. SZA's vocal performance on this song is excellent, and she delivers one of the catchiest hooks on the entire album. The silvery vocals, bright synth, swelling strings, and heavy percussion all work in perfect harmony, making for a grandiose production. "Opps," "X," and "Paramedic!" are all high-energy tracks that seem to be tailored for action sequences. I loved the production on "Opps," which revolves around a heavy, pulsating beat and buzzy sub-bass lines. It almost seems to draw inspiration from EDM/club music."X" is just insanely fun and catchy. Kendrick's hook is great. ScHoolboy delivers an amusing, braggadocios verse. "Not even Kendrick can humble me," he boasts. "Paramedic!" pleasantly surprised me, considering I had never even heard anything from SOB X RBE before. While it's probably the least relevant track on the album thematically, it's still very fun and boisterous. SOB X RBE brings a great "bay area" sound to the table—creating a piece that feels like the perfect anthem for Erik Killmonger.
Ab-Soul's contribution on "Bloody Waters" is likely one of my favorite lyrical moments on the record. He uses a lot of clever word play, but never sacrifices the sentiment of the song. He begins his verse, "Blood on my hands, I'ma need hot agua / You gon' meet Jamaica, I won't say it in Patois." I absolutely (no pun intended) loved that bar. I also really liked the line, "It's warfare, is war fair? (no) / You understand? It's probably better that you don't." This is one of the best verses I've heard from Ab-Soul in a while. And, of course, you can't really go wrong with an Anderson .Paak feature.
The talent featured on Black Panther The Album goes far beyond the borders of the States. South African emcee Yugen Blakrok delivers an impressive set of bars on "Opps," possibly outshining Vince Staples on his own track. The talented UK singer Jorja Smith delivers some pretty, modulated vocals on the unhurried ballad, "I Am." There are a handful of South African artists featured on this album as well. This is only fitting, considering the story of Black Panther takes place in the fictional African city of Wakanda. Babes Wodumo joins Zacari on the African-influenced track, "Redemption"—an upbeat track that feels festive and celebratory. One of my favorite songs on the album is "Seasons." Accompanied by South African artists Sjava and Reason, Mozzy uses this track to promote and celebrate the idea of unity and peace.
This soundtrack is impressive and it honestly transcended my expectations. As I stated at the beginning, it's thematic, cohesive, and fun. It's a significant celebration of black excellence that is well-suited for a movie like Black Panther. But, putting my biases aside, I realize that it's not perfect. As much as I'd like to believe it could, I don't think this album will stand the test of time as well as Kendrick's solo work has. Frankly, there are moments on the album that fall flat of their potential. Kendrick does play it pretty safe, and he doesn't take nearly as many risks as he normally does. The album doesn't feel revolutionary. But that's a lot to ask for from a movie soundtrack, anyways. I still believe Kendrick has gone above and beyond the call of duty, and Marvel couldn't have picked a better man for the job.
Comments
Post a Comment