Judas and the Black Messiah

2.10.21

Judas and the Black Messiah Soundtrack, Release Date: 2.12.21

This Friday, February 12th, Warner Brothers will be releasing the movie Judas and the Black Messiah, in theaters. The film, directed by Shaka King, is a drama and action filled movie based on true events occurring the in the United States around the late 60s. One of the main characters in the film gets in trouble, and is offered a plea deal where he must help the FBI take down the chairman of the Black Panther Party, Fred Hampton. Betrayal, manipulation, and overcoming it all. Seems like exactly what the world needs right now, in order to become more educated, learn and understand. This movie is bound to be another award-winning, massive hit. In addition to the incredible film to come, of course, is an incredible soundtrack to go along with it.

While the events in this movie are home to passed events and people remembered from the city of Chicago, that is clearly represented through the artists on the soundtrack. G. Herbo has two songs on the project; one solo, and one featuring another Chicago native, Bump J. The songs are titled All Black, and Revolutionary. On the trailer of the movie itself, Fred Hampton is pictured speaking to a crowd, calling themselves a revolutionary, over, and over. No doubt here G. Herbo is going to dig deep for these songs. Ever since really opening up on the PTSD album, G. Herbo has hit new heights as an artist, a storyteller, and an educated. He won’t be stopped, now.

Lil Durk and Polo G each have their own tracks on the project, as well. Each are young artists from Chicago, that have had a major impact on music in their city. While they’re both young, they seem to be very well educated of hip-hop’s history, and maybe their city’s history as well. I love seeing them on here with all these legends to the space.

Nas, Black Thought and Rakim all have their own tracks on this project. These are the legends I am talking about. These guys are mandatory for this album to take place. From knowledge to pure bars, these guys have a message and they know exactly how to get it across. Though they come from places outside of Chicago, they have also experienced what the world has to offer, from good too bad, too worst. This project feels extremely powerful, already.

H.E.R. just performed for the whole world to see during the Super Bowl with an incredible performance. If the world was not already on H.E.R, they surely are now. She kicks off the project after the intro, and is bound to leave you tears, either through her content of delivery of her solo track, Fight For You.

I am incredibly excited to hear the collab track between JID and Rapsody. I feel like JID has serious lyrical skills, but being a newer artist of this new generation, it does not always come through in the actual songs he puts out. But every single interview I see, JID freestyles and keeps my interest. Rapsody is a queen in every sense of the world. I think a beautiful message will be delivered here, through a very technical and lyrical song.

I feel like Pooh Shiesty and A$AP Rocky are a bit of the odds one out, but I do not hate it, at all. Pooh Shiesty is dealing with his own legal issues currently, but before that was on a massive flight to stardom, after signing with Gucci Mane. He is on the come-up for sure, whatever he is dealing with right now will pass, man hopefully he’ll remain on the right track. This track could be a very telling moment to see where he takes his music, when given such a serious and important topic.

A$AP Rocky has been quiet for a bit, and there was a bit of trouble in paradise for the Mob, but they seemed to have cleared that up. I think Rocky has the potential be serious and get on board with an important movement, that this movie entails, but I feel like I’m just so used to the ignorant Pretty Flacko, it will be interesting to see what we get from Rocky here.

Now, what everyone is truly ecstatic to see on the tracklist, is Nipsey Hussle, and Jay-Z, on the same track. The track is titled, What It Feels Like, and may just be another tear jerker. Nipsey always told stories in music of horrible things he witnessed happening to his friends because of the situation they were living in, and ultimately fell to the same circumstances. He was inspiration to many, when it came to be an artist, a man of community, and his family. Of course, Jay-Z is also an inspiration to many, especially when it comes to coming up with nothing, to being one of the most successful men in the industry.

While Nipsey was under his own labels and not a member of Roc Nation, him and Jay grew very close. They’ve been seen together on multiple occasions, from the Roc Nation Brunch to PUMA events, REFORM initiatives, and more. As two individuals inspiring to make the world a better place than what they’ve experienced, it just made sense. This is the collaboration we all want and need. This will be the song of the week when the page is updated on Friday, no doubt about that.

Overall, we have a super solid tracklist, that I cannot wait to listen to this Friday. But, who is missing? I will not lie, the first name I looked for while digesting the album, was NoName. Noname is a Chicago native, wonderful artist, who has been a major advocate for educating others on the injustices occurring in the world today, and of times passed. I have come to find out that I was not only the one surprised not to see her name, but so was everyone else involved in creating this project.

The track Plead the .45th includes artists Smino and Saba, whom happen to be a part of NoName’s rap collective, Ghetto Sage. NoName shared with a fan on Twitter that she was actually asked to be a part of the soundtrack album, and was supposed to be on the track with her Ghetto Sage team. NoName ultimately stated that she had turned down the opportunity after watching the movie.

Of course, with a topic as serious as this, we would expect NoName to want to review the movie first, and make sure she was aligned with the perspective and idea of the film she was promoting. It appears she was not aligned with the film, and stated that it undermines the presence and politics of Fred Hampton.

I would have to assume the movie made most of the story line about those whom betrayed Fred Hampton, in order to educate on how evil the system has been in times passed. However, when you merely focus on the negative, you are not able to show all the good that Fred Hampton was attempting to do for his community. I see where she is coming from, and respect the decision. But man would that have been a drop track to have to the project.

I am not sure how I feel about going to a movie theatre at times like this, but I cannot wait to see this film, and am sure I will have the soundtrack on repeat for quite some time. No tracks have been released just yet, but you may watch the trailer for the film on YouTube.