Album Review: Black Panther Soundtrack

By: Thomas Neira

While the movie industry has been anticipating the release of Black Panther, the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, music fans have equally been excited for its soundtrack. Black Panther: The Album was put together by Kendrick Lamar and his label Top Dawg Entertainment, and features many of Lamar’s fellow artists signed to the label, in addition to many other popular hip-hop and R&B artists.

Black Panther: The Album proves itself to be a versatile hip-hop record with its blend of subgenres. Pop influences can clearly be heard in SZA’s vocals in the chorus of the track “All the Stars”. The fast-paced “King’s Dead” features hard-hitting verses from Jay Rock and Future, while being supported by an earworm of a chorus from Lamar before going off on one of his trademark lyrical rants for the second half of the track. The album then rounds off with the track “Pray For Me”, featuring haunting, echoing vocals from the Weeknd. If for whatever reason you end up somehow not watching Black Panther, do yourself a favor and listen to its soundtrack.