''Rhythms of Zamunda'', released as ''Rhythms of Zamunda (Music Inspired by the Amazon Original Movie: Coming 2 America)'', is a

soundtrack album A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television show. The first such album to be commercially released was Walt Disney's ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' ...

curated by Sipho Dlamini for the film ''

Coming 2 America ''Coming 2 America'' is a 2021 American romantic comedy film that serves as a sequel to the 1988 film ''Coming to America'' starring Eddie Murphy and directed by Craig Brewer, from a screenplay by Kenya Barris, Barry W. Blaustein, and David ...

''. It was released on March 5, 2021, by

Def Jam Recordings Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop. The ...

and Def Jam Africa for

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

. The album features Pan-African artists such as

Nasty C Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo (born 11 February 1997), known professionally as Nasty C, is a South African rapper, songwriter, and record producer. After releasing three mixtapes, one being "Undisputed" and two EPs, Ngcobo released his debu ...

Larry Gaaga Larry Ndianefo, professionally known as Larry Gaaga, is a Nigerian songwriter, recording artist, music producer, and record label executive. He gained fame with the success of ‘Gaaga Shuffle’, a song he performed alongside Innocent ‘2Baba� ...

, Umu Obiligbo, Locko, Tekno,

Tellaman Thelumusa Samuel Owen (born 14 April 1991), better known by his stage name Tellaman is a South African singer, songwriter and record producer. Growing up in a musical background, he is most known for a number one charting single by DJ Speedsta t ...

, Sha Sha, Oxlade, Alpha P, TMXO,

DJ Arafat Ange Didier Houon (26 January 1986 – 12 August 2019), known professionally as DJ Arafat, Arafat Muana and various other stage names, was an Ivorian DJ and singer who made music in the Coupé-Décalé genre. "Jonathan", "202", "Dosabado", "Kp ...

, Prince Kaybee, Msaki,

Tiwa Savage Tiwa Savage (born 5 February 1980) is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and performing artist. Born in Isale Eko, she relocated to London at the age of 11 for her secondary education. Five years later, she began her music career doing backup voc ...

, Th&o.,

Diamond Platnumz Nasibu Abdul Juma Issack (born 2 October 1989), popularly known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz, is a Tanzanian bongo flava recording artist, dancer, philanthropist and a businessman of Ha heritage. He is the founder and CEO of WCB Wasafi R ...

Morgan Heritage Morgan Heritage is a Grammy-winning Jamaican reggae band formed in 1994 by five children of reggae artist Denroy Morgan, namely Peter "Peetah" Morgan, Una Morgan, Roy "Gramps" Morgan, Nakhamyah "Lukes" Morgan, and Memmalatel "Mr. Mojo" Morgan. ...

, Toofan,

Fally Ipupa Fally Ipupa N'simba (born December 14, 1977), known by his stage name Fally Ipupa, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, philanthropist, guitarist and producer. From 1999 until 2006, he was a member of Quartier Latin International, the music ...

, BONJ,

Gemini Major Benn Gilbert Kamoto (born 14 June 1990), better known by his stage name Gemini Major, is a Malawian-born South African record producer and singer-songwriter. He was signed to Family Tree Records, a South African independent record label found b ...

Anatii Anathi Bhongo Mnyango (born 8 January 1993), known professionally as Anatii, is a South African rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer & music video director. Career Anatii began his professional musical journey at the age of 14 when h ...

De Mthuda Mthuthuzeli Gift Khoza, known commonly by his stage name De Mthuda, is a South African record producer and DJ. He is best known for his singles "Shesha Geza" and "John Wick ". Early life and career De Mthuda was born in Vosloorus, Johannesburg. ...

, Njelic, and Ricky Tyler, as well as appearances from

Ari Lennox Courtney Shanade Salter (born March 26, 1991), known professionally as Ari Lennox, is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B singer from Washington, D.C. She is the first female artist to be signed to J. Cole's record label, Dreamville Records. She b ...

Background

On February 12, 2021,

Def Jam Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop. The ...

revealed the CEO of Universal Music South Africa, Sipho Dlamini, as the curator and executive producer of ''Rhythms of Zamunda''. The Pan-African project was inspired by the film, with lead single "Black and White" by

and

. On March 10, 2021,

National Public Radio National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other n ...

released a Tiny Desk show, titled Coming 2 America, Sounds Of Zamunda: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, a live performance from Nasty C, Lennox, Locko, Ricky Tyler, Alpha P, Prince Kaybee, Msaki, and Toofan. The tracklist was revealed through Def Jam's official website on February 12, 2021.

Composition

In February 2021, Sipho Dlamini said, "We wanted to bring our knowledge of the music from the continent that is coming up and affecting the youth globally — it's not just

Afrobeats Afrobeats (not to be confused with Afrobeat or Afroswing), or Afro-pop or Afro-fusion (or Afropop or Afrofusion), is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and ...

. Much like the movie is about America on one side and Africa, we could draw on the African genres you would expect but you also have R&B, hip-hop, house and so forth. 'Black and White' is a great example. It sounds like it could have been made in a studio in the U.S., and it's a collaboration with an American artist, but Nasty C is as African as it gets."

Accolades

Track listing

References

{{reflist Albums produced by Masterkraft (producer) 2021 soundtrack albums Def Jam Recordings albums