It’s hard to think of a better pairing than Black Panther and Kendrick Lamar, who curated and appears frequently on the Marvel superhero film’s stellar new soundtrack, out today. One week out from its release date, Black Panther is the best-reviewed superhero film since The Dark Knight, and it boasted a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score until two buzzkills had to ruin the fun for everybody. Still, the overwhelming majority of early critics have lauded Black Panther as a socially conscious, action-packed and irresistibly fun film that pushes the boundaries of its genre and celebrates black excellence.
It stands to reason that its soundtrack would do the same.
That Lamar has elevated the Black Panther soundtrack beyond typical superhero jock jam fodder and crafted the first magnificent hip-hop/R&B album of 2018 should come as no surprise. He’s maintained his winning streak for the better part of this decade, rocketing three consecutive albums to the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart and scoring his first Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper with “HUMBLE.” off last year’s DAMN. — which was unforgivably snubbed for Album of the Year at the Grammys just two weeks ago. What’s more remarkable is the way Lamar and Top Dawg Entertainment CEO Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith have engendered a spirit of effortless teamwork and camaraderie across the album, offering Lamar another avenue through which to assert his creative and commercial dominance even when he’s not releasing his own solo projects.
Rappers have long treated Lamar features as precious currency, and with good reason: The Compton MC can typically transform a perfunctory track into a bonafide classic in 16 bars or less. But on the Black Panther soundtrack, Lamar happily cedes the spotlight to other artists in service of the songs. He previously did so on lead single “All the Stars,” a sultry R&B anthem that reinforces SZA’s vocal dynamism and proves why she’s become arguably Top Dawg’s second-biggest star in the past year. On “X,” Lamar dutifully backs up Schoolboy Q, who spits with the snark and vitriol of his best solo tracks, and makes way for a remarkably nimble 2 Chainz verse. On the rumbling electro-rap crossover “Opps,” Lamar and Vince Staples replicate the brilliance of Staples’ own Big Fish Theory, while “Redemption” proves Zacari’s versatility by slapping his airy vocals atop a percussive, uptempo beat — a refreshing change of pace from his “LOVE.” feature.
Lamar is only listed on five of Black Panther’s 14 tracks, with occasional uncredited vocals popping up elsewhere — yet even when his presence isn’t heard, it’s always felt. Lamar is a genuine album artist, and his blockbuster sense of scope lends the soundtrack a sense of cohesion. At times, Black Panther recalls the thrilling high points of Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music compilation album, Cruel Summer, and proves Lamar’s skill as a curator and producer. What the younger rapper lacks in hilarious self-aggrandizement, he makes up for in consistency, which ultimately makes Black Panther the more rewarding listen.
The Black Panther soundtrack promptly shot to the top of the U.S. iTunes sales chart hours after its release, signaling a huge debut frame and foreshadowing the film’s impending box office domination. Several Black Panther characters have already been confirmed for May’s Avengers: Infinity War, but the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe seems poised to stand on its own as a masterclass in superhero filmmaking. Similarly, the soundtrack stands up to Lamar’s solo discography while also succeeding as a Top Dawg compilation album , highlighting each artist’s unique skills and personality traits. In other words, they’re the musical equivalent of Marvel’s own band of heroes, whose films have drawn critical acclaim and raked in billions of dollars.
Critically and commercially, Marvel’s latest film and its soundtrack are shaping up to be a match made in heaven. Black Panther is the superhero film fans have wanted for years, and Kendrick Lamar is the superhero rapper that will stick around for years to come.
