In this episode of Rhythm Lab Radio, we featured music from the soundtrack to the film "Queen & Slim" including new songs from Blood Orange, Megan Thee Stallion, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Burna Boy and more.
We also talked to the President of Motown records Ethiopia Habtemariam and VP of A&R Lindsey Lanier about the making of the soundtrack who produced the soundtrack along with the film's writer Lena Waithe and director Melina Matsoukas.
Plus, we featured new music from DJ Shadow, FKA Twigs, Ama Lou, Atmosphere, Rosalia, TNGHT, and more.
On Nov. 27, the film "Queen & Slim" will hit theaters across the country. Directed by Melina Matsoukas, the film tells the story of a black man played by Daniel Kaluuya and a black woman played by Jodie Turner-Smith. The two are later pulled over for minor traffic infraction. The situation escalates, with sudden and tragic results, when the man kills the police officer in self-defense. Terrified and in fear for their lives, the man, a retail employee, and the woman, a criminal defense lawyer, are forced to go on the run. But the incident is captured on video and goes viral, and the couple unwittingly becomes a symbol of trauma, terror, grief, and pain for people across the country.
Matsoukas is also known for directing music videos for Rihanna, Solange, Beyonce including for the song "Formation."
One of the integral parts of the film is the soundtrack. Matsoukas tasked Ethiopia and Lindsey with showcasing the historical evolution of Black music from its roots in blues and soul to modern, bounce, hip hop and R&B.
I talked to Ethiopia and Lindsey about the process of producing a soundtrack, how they got Ms. Lauryn Hill to contribute a song to the soundtrack and more.
Listen to the interview and the full show below and check out the full playlist.
HOUR 1
Mourning Blkstar - “Harlem River Drive OG” Blood Orange, Ian Isiah & Jason Arce - “Runnin’ Away” Dessa and the Minnesota Orchestra - “Dixon’s Girl” The Midnight Hour - “Ravens” Free Nationals - “On Sight” feat. JID, Kadhja Bonet & MIKNNA Megan Thee Stallion & VickeeLo - “Ride or Die” Roy Ayers - “Searching” Ms. Lauryn Hill - “Guarding the Gate” Ama Lou - “Better” Amerigo Gazaway & Xiomara - “That Old Alarm” FKA Twigs - “sad day” Chaia - “Control”HOUR 2
Morgan Zarate - “Sticks & Stones” feat. Eska & Ghostface Killah
Atmosphere - “Bde Maka Ska”
SebastiAn - “Time to Talk” feat. Sunni Colon
Fade Black - “Sane” feat. Leo Law
DJ Shadow - “Kings & Queens” feat. Run The Jewels
Burna Boy - “My Money, My Baby”
Zebra Katz - “IN IN IN”
TNGHT - “First Body”
ROSALIA - “A Pale”
Inka Upendo - “Waterworld”
Aaliyah Esprit - “Mind Control”
Lazy H - “Far Away”
Haleek Maul - “Halo” feat. Mick Jenkins
Prince - “Don’t Let Him Fool Ya”
Vince Staples, 6LACK & Mereba - “Yo Love”
