The lead single on the highly anticipated Kendrick Lamar-produced Black Panther movie soundtrack is less “DNA” or “King Kunta” and more like a poppier “Poetic Justice.”
“All the Stars” gives us another collaboration between Lamar and SZA, labelmates at Top Dawg Entertainment. It’s a pretty good song—the vibe is easy and laid-back. It’s the kind of song that you can imagine at a poolside cookout when the sun is rolling down the horizon.
But it’s in stark contrast with, say, Run the Jewels’ “Legend Has It,” which was featured in the first Black Panther trailer and which went appropriately hard. That trailer sent shivers down my spine upon the first 3,000 views, and the music was a big part of that.
The Root staff, a team of habitual line steppers of the “Knuck if You Buck” variety, were in agreement. They wanted something that would inspire you to, say, low-key commit kidnapping and extortion.
This is the first single off the upcoming soundtrack, so there’s plenty of opportunity yet to get the 2018 “Ante Up” the movie deserves, and there’s no reason to believe Lamar will fail to deliver.
Lamar, for his part, said the movie was “amazing,” according to a statement reported by Pitchfork.
“The magnitude of this film showcases a great marriage of art and culture,” he said. “I’m truly honored to contribute my knowledge of producing sound and writing music alongside Ryan and Marvel’s vision.”
Listen below: