Judas and the Black Messiah is the soundtrack to the identically named 2021 biographical crime-drama film. Two soundtracks — Judas and the Black Messiah (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), consisting of film score composed by Mark Isham and Craig Harris, and Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album, consisting of incorporated film songs, were released by WaterTower Music and RCA Records on February 12, 2021, the same day as the film's theatrical and premium video-on-demand release on HBO Max.[1] The soundtrack and score received positive critical acclaim.[2] The original song "Fight for You", which was featured in the film score album, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 93rd Academy Awards.
| Judas and the Black Messiah (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
|---|---|
| Film score by Mark Isham and Craig Harris | |
| Released | February 12, 2021 |
| Recorded | 2020–2021 |
| Length | 31:33 |
| Label | WaterTower Music |
The film's score was composed by Mark Isham and Craig Harris.[3] It features an original song titled "Fight for You" performed by H.E.R., who also co-wrote it with D'Mile and Tiara Thomas.[4] The Inflated Tear is a Roland Kirk track from 1968.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Inflated Tear – Opening" | Mark Isham | 0:45 |
| 2. | "News Reels" | Quelle Chris and Chris Keys | 0:38 |
| 3. | "FBI" | Mark Isham | 0:59 |
| 4. | "The Inflated Tear – The Car, the Club" | Mark Isham | 1:14 |
| 5. | "Crowns Creeping" | Mark Isham | 1:15 |
| 6. | "We Got a Rat" (alternate version) | Mark Isham and Craig Harris | 1:39 |
| 7. | "How Much Money Do You Make?" | Mark Isham | 0:47 |
| 8. | "Fred Visits the Crowns Church" | Quelle Chris and Chris Keys | 0:38 |
| 9. | "Bill Is Recognized" | Mark Isham and Craig Harris | 2:38 |
| 10. | "The Inflated Tear – Judy Has Questions" | Mark Isham | 3:02 |
| 11. | "We Got a Rat" | Mark Isham and Craig Harris | 1:17 |
| 12. | "We Got a Snitch" | Mark Isham | 1:24 |
| 13. | "Prison Life" | Mark Isham | 2:01 |
| 14. | "Jimmy Enters Store" | Mark Isham, Craig Harris, Quelle Chris, and Chris Keys | 0:58 |
| 15. | "Rooftop" | Mark Isham, Quelle Chris, and Chris Keys | 4:14 |
| 16. | "Rebuilding" | Craig Harris | 0:51 |
| 17. | "Jake Wants Answers" | Mark Isham, Quelle Chris, and Chris Keys | 0:35 |
| 18. | "Gun Battle" | Mark Isham, Quelle Chris, and Chris Keys | 3:02 |
| 19. | "I’m Out" | Mark Isham | 0:33 |
| 20. | "The Inflated Tear – Bill's Past Comes Back" | Mark Isham | 0:37 |
| 21. | "The Inflated Tear – Fred Hampton Funeral" | Mark Isham | 2:03 |
| Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Various artists | |
| Released | February 12, 2021 |
| Length | 65:11 |
| Label | RCA |
| Producer |
|
| Singles from Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album | |
| |
An accompanying 22-track music album titled Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album came out on the day of the film's digital release, with songs from many prominent rappers, such as Jay-Z, ASAP Rocky and Nas, as well as a posthumous appearance by Nipsey Hussle.[6] The Inspired Album, was later released through double vinyl by Waxwork Records on April 2, 2021.[7]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cointelpro/Dec 4" (performed by Fred Hampton Jr.) |
| D. Brooks Exclusive | 3:20 |
| 2. | "Fight for You" (performed by Gabriella Wilson) |
| D'Mile | 4:30 |
| 3. | "EPMD" (performed by Nasir Jones) |
| Hit-Boy | 2:33 |
| 4. | "Welcome to America" (performed by Tariq Trotter featuring C.S. Armstrong and Angela Hunte) |
| Sean C | 3:40 |
| 5. | "What It Feels Like" (performed by Ermias Asghedom and Shawn Carter) |
|
| 4:35 |
| 6. | "Broad Day" (performed by Chauncey Hollis Jr.) |
|
| 2:58 |
| 7. | "Plead the .45th" (performed by Chris Smith Jr. and Tahj Chandler Jr.) |
|
| 2:20 |
| 8. | "Somethin' Ain't Right" (performed by Micah Davis featuring Destin Route and Marlanna Evans) |
|
| 3:22 |
| 9. | "Letter 2 U" (performed by Bryan Sledge) |
|
| 3:05 |
| 10. | "On Your Mind" (performed by Durk Banks) |
|
| 2:43 |
| 11. | "Appraise" (performed by White Dave) |
| Hit-Boy | 3:05 |
| 12. | "All Black" (performed by Herbert Wright III) |
|
| 2:52 |
| 13. | "I Declare War" (performed by Nardo Wick) |
| Cardo | 2:31 |
| 14. | "No Profanity" (performed by Lontrell Williams Jr.) |
| Skywalker Og | 2:10 |
| 15. | "Last Man Standing" (performed by Taurus Bartlett) |
|
| 2:08 |
| 16. | "Respect My Mind" (performed by Dominic Hunn) |
| Mike & Keys | 3:44 |
| 17. | "Revolutionary" (performed by G Herbo featuring Terrence Boykin) |
|
| 3:14 |
| 18. | "Teach Me" (performed by Sir Darryl Francis) |
|
| 3:11 |
| 19. | "Contagious" (performed by Saif Musaad and Kiana Brown) |
| Trackside | 3:39 |
| 20. | "Rich Nigga Problems" (performed by Rakim Mayers) |
|
| 3:37 |
| 21. | "Outro" (performed by Judas and the Black Messiah) | Hollis | Hit-Boy | 1:08 |
| 22. | "Black Messiah" (performed by William Griffin Jr.) |
| Rakim | 4:09 |
| Total length: | 65:11 | |||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 70/100[8] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 9/10[9] |
| HipHopDX | 3.6/5[10] |
| Pitchfork | 5.5/10[11] |
From the critical reviews for the soundtrack, Metacritic assigned a score of 70/100.[8] Clash, gave 9/10 to the soundtrack, stating a verdict: "An emphatic show of force that frequently taps into outright brilliance. As an album it's not without fault, but as a cultural event it's largely without peer."[9] HiphopDX gave a mixed review saying "The Inspired Album could’ve benefited from more carefully curated content instead of some of the tone-deaf material that wound up on the project".[10] Pitchfork stated "It’s hard to believe that the bulk of the project was inspired by anything that Hampton said. Instead, it exploits his image to peddle liberation-lite Billboard hits over anything remotely revolutionary. It’s not all terrible."[11]
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
| Award | Date | Category | Recipients | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | April 25, 2021 | Best Original Song | "Fight for You" (H.E.R., Dernst Emile II and Tiara Thomas) | Won | [16] |
| Black Reel Awards | April 11, 2021 | Outstanding Original Song | Nominated | [17] | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | March 7, 2021 | Best Song | Nominated | [18] | |
| Golden Globe Awards | February 28, 2021 | Best Original Song | Nominated | [19] | |
| Grammy Awards | April 3, 2022 | Song of the Year | Nominated | [20] | |
| Best Traditional R&B Performance | Won | ||||
| Best Song Written for Visual Media | Nominated | ||||
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | January 27, 2021 | Best Original Song in a Feature Film | Nominated | [21] | |
| NAACP Image Awards | February 26, 2022 | Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album | Judas and the Black Messiah Soundtrack (Mark Isham and Craig Harris) | Nominated | [22] |
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