When Kendrick Lamar debuted his video for “LOVE.” just before Christmas, a few sharp-eyed viewers noted something interesting in the midst of its beach landscapes and intimate bedrooms – a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shot of a film clapper, emblazoned with the words “B. PANTHER / SOUNDTRACK / COMING SOON.”
Well, now it’s official. Per Pitchfork, Lamar and Top Dog Entertainment CEO Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith will producing and curating Black Panther: The Album, a soundtrack collection for Ryan Coogler’s forthcoming (and amazing-looking) Marvel epic. In a press release, Coogler noted, “I am honored to be working with such an incredible artist whose work has been so inspirational, and whose artistic themes align with those we explore in the film. I can’t wait for the world to hear what Kendrick and TDE have in store.”
“Marvel Studios’ Black Panther is amazing, from its cast to its director,” Kendrick noted. “The magnitude of this film showcases a great marriage of art and culture. I’m truly honored to contribute my knowledge of producing sound and writing music alongside Ryan and Marvel’s vision.”
Marvel’s movies usually feature a combination of original scores and catalogue tracks (often with a bit of a wink, as in the Guardians of the Galaxy films); this will mark the first time a soundtrack of original songs has been created for a film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The soundtrack’s release date has not yet been announced, but the film is out February 16, so it shouldn’t be long. To hold us over, Kendrick has released the first single from the record, a collaboration with SZA titled “All the Stars.” Check it out: