Sometimes it’s easier to understand something by learning where it came from. In the case of the remixes of several songs from the already iconic Black Panther film score, context is indispensable.
Black Panther director Ryan Coogler requested Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson to do the score based on their collaboration on two other highly successful projects, Fruitvale Station and Creed. And for Black Panther, there was an additional condition Coogler placed on the composer. To use as many African sounds as possible. Traveling to both West and South Africa, and conducting extensive research to solidify his understanding of the region’s music, the composer was able to achieve something that pays majestic homage to 700 years of music emanating from the continent.
Marvel Music/Hollywood Records recently released Black Panther: Wakanda Remixed EP which features five remixed tracks from the original score. Göransson himself remixed two of the tracks, “Waterfalls” and “Black Panther”. The rest received treatment from some of the best talent in the industry today. DJ Dahi (Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West and Drake) remolded “Wakanda”, WondaGurl (Travis Scott and Big Sean) sprinkled his stardust over “Killmonger”. And “Ancestral Plane” was reimagined by Michael Uzowuru and Jeff Kleinman ( Jorja Smith, Anderson Paak, and Frank Ocean).
Each of the remixes keeps the essence of the original intact while adding variations in color, phrasing and emphasis to add new and varied perspectives. Each is sublime or stunning in its own right. With the addition of the sumptuous and exotic pseudo video that accompanies “Wakanda”, you are also provided a visual guide back to that magic land of possibilities that Black Panther introduced to the world.
