Jay-Z, fresh from his nomination to join the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, shares his powerful collaboration with the late Los Angeles rapper Nipsey Hussle. “What It Feels Like” comes bundled with the “Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album” soundtrack, a 22-track musical companion piece for the film.
Nip’s posthumous lyrics kick off the first verse: “Look, the only reason I survive ’cause a nigga is special, first/You get successful, then it get stressful, thirst/Niggas gon’ test you, see what your texture’s worth/Diamonds and pipes, wonder when pressure burst.” Hov touches on one of the main characters in the film, Fred Hampton. Hampton was the chairperson of the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s. And was assassinated on Dec. 4, 1969—the day Jay-Z was born—during an FBI raid.
What it Feels Like. Nipsey Hussle & JAY-Z https://t.co/tT8Kf0o5t2 pic.twitter.com/icu8HXUnvh
— Roc Nation (@RocNation) February 12, 2021
In addition to Jay-Z, the Fred Hampton biopic features a handful of legacy rappers such as Nas (with “EPMD”), Rakim (“Black Messiah”). The Roots’ Black Thought (“Welcome to America”), as well as Lil Durk, G Herbo, Polo G and A$AP Rocky. Executive produced by Hit-Boy (who appears on the new album with “Broad Day”), director-writer Ryan Coogler, Interscope’s VP of A&R Dash Sherrod and RCA Records SVP of marketing Archie Davis.
Stream Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album below.