The spiralling intro track “Black Panther” feels like a musical tug of war. Light piano chords get pulled into thumping bongo drums with distorted guitar chords. Kendrick introduces us to T’Challa, and the contrast in sounds feels like a celebration while foreshadowing the king struggle’s to come. At the end of the song the lighter sounds seem to take over, and the pretty saxophone notes transition into the next song “All The Stars”. SZA lightens things up with one of the more upbeat pop-oriented sounding songs.

With its charging sample, accompanied by SZA’s pretty vocals, and the screwed hook with lighter lyrics “let’s talk about love”. The third song “X” is a fun West-Coast-Hiphop banger featuring School Boy Q and Saudi. Kendrick’s performs his catchiest hook on the album: “Are you on ten yet? I live on ten!” The song “Opps” featuring Vince Staples and South African rapper Yugen Blakrok has an EDM feel to the beat accompanied by some African drums. The song “I am” by Jorja Smith slows things down with heavy electric guitar chords, a screwed Travis Scott sample, and of course Jorja’s beautiful vocals, slowly riding to the drums. And even though the Bay-Area inspired “Paramedic” says at the start “I am Killmonger” Black Panther’s nemeses. The sound of the song, as much as I like it, takes me away from the themes of Black Panther.

I get the same feeling on the climactic song “Kings Dead”. As significant as the song’s title is, and as good as Kendrick and Jay rock’s verses are. Future’s vocal’s and lyric’s take away from the theme of the song. The song “Redemption” seems like Kendrick’s take on a dance hall More Life type of song, but the song “Seasons” is one of the more epic songs with its beautiful raw vocal sample accompanied by Sjava’s singing for the hook. Also rappers Reason and Mozzy hold their own with great verses. The song “Big Shot” feels like Kendrick’s take on a Migos song, and “Pray for Me” featuring The Weeknd just feels like a forced anthem.

TDE did a pretty good job with this soundtrack. It’s versatile and well produced. Though some songs didn’t seem to follow the theme, and some are just not as epic as others.

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6 out of 10! – @therealmatthewshow

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