Swizz Beatz on the Present’s Hip-Hop Soundtrack

Photograph by Amy Sussman/Getty Pictures

With Godfather of Harlem season 3 just lately dropping, Swizz Beatz spoke with us about why hip-hop is so integral to the sequence. 

Having dropped final month, Godfather of Harlem season 3 continues to showcase the historic connection of Harlem and Black those that’s been central to the present since its starting. All through the sequence it has introduced numerous Black real-life figures to life on the small display: Mary Wells, Muhammad Ali, Sam Cooke, Malcolm X and, in fact, Bumpy Johnson (brilliantly performed by Forest Whitaker).

Heading into season three, the top is nearing for one among Harlem’s most harmful residents. Opening with the 1964 Harlem Riots, the season has the Italian mob heavy on Johnson’s heels after his heroin cargo was set on fireplace. Johnson’s frustration is at an all-time excessive as he seeks assist to maintain Harlem in his fingers — even when it means taking from his personal neighborhood. 

In Whitaker’s fingers, Johnson isn’t solely a infamous crime boss. He’s a person who’s additionally making an attempt to do proper by his household and neighborhood, whether or not that be affectionately confronting his relationship together with his daughter/granddaughter Margaret (Demi Singleton), or combating police brutality and collaborating in Black activism. And accompanying all these sides of Johnson is Swizz Beatz, the present’s music producer and artistic director who’s chargeable for the sounds that assist make the sequence what it’s.

Beatz is not any stranger to producing the music behind a few of TV’s standard exhibits. Previous to Godfather of Harlem, he additionally contributed to ABC’s Queens and FOX’s Empire. To mirror the gritty streets of New York, Beatz recruited high-level hip-hop artists for Godfather of Harlem, assembling a staff of MCs together with Busta Rhymes, Dave East, and Jadakiss to assist him create a contemporary soundtrack on a darkish previous.

Talking with Okayplayer, Beatz detailed how he fastidiously selected music that displays the ability of hip-hop, Whitaker’s musical involvement, and why he stated sure to composing some of the difficult eras in Black historical past. 

Okayplayer: Inform me why it was essential so that you can say “Sure” to musically doc this particular time interval that mirrored a tough time for Black folks?

Swizz Beatz: After I obtained the cellphone name immediately from Forrest to do a heavy academic piece, I instantly stated “Sure.” What I really like most about this present is that it reveals relationships I by no means knew, comparable to Malcolm X and Bumpy Johnson coping with the Italians and Cubans on the streets I grew up in, in Harlem and the Bronx. To see the opposite facet of the story you by no means find out about by Godfather of Harlem has been wonderful, to the purpose the place I don’t even watch the present till it is available in on TV. Even after I’m making the music for it.

Forest Whitaker (as Bumpy Johnson) in Godfather of Harlem Season 3, Episode 301: The Negro In White America. Photograph by: Liz Isenberg

What was it wish to work alongside Forest Whitaker within the studio?

He’s an enormous fan of music. Once we began the primary season, everyone was attending to know one another and getting used to being round one another for weeks. We had studio events with artists, together with Forest Whitaker and present creators Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein. All of them simply got here to the studio to hang around. Artists floated round and it was like one massive household. There wasn’t any worry simply because the executives have been current within the course of. We have been beneath one roof, permitting everybody to have a say. It began as one night time, and it morphed into an entire season of studio session events.

How did you choose the artists for Godfather of Harlem?

The method of it has been nice as a result of it was mainly having the liberty to do what I really feel, and never having strain to solely have hit songs on it. Creatively, I didn’t need to solely put songs from that point interval as a result of it might’ve put me in a field, which in flip places the present in a field. I used to be allowed to make use of new artists, old skool power, information, and neighborhood. That freedom has been wonderful. As soon as I began making the music, changing into the voice inside Forest’s head allowed the music to be a part of the character. It grew to become extra fascinating for me as a result of I’m basing the music off of Forrest now. A music like “Hustle, Repeat” is the right instance, as a result of [Bumpy] simply misplaced the whole lot. So, now you must get cash, hustle, and repeat.

There are lots of genres that would have been included on this program. Why was it essential for hip-hop to be within the forefront?

I feel the straightforward reply is as a result of hip-hop displays what Bumpy goes by within the streets, and that’s what hip-hop represents — the streets. It’s a rebellious expression that wasn’t accepted at first, and but right here we’re celebrating it 50 years later. We made it. It’s not a very long time, however longer than what folks thought we might be. 

What concerning the inclusion of different types of music?

Whenever you hearken to the present the inspiration is hip-hop, however I am going all over the place musically. I hearken to a lot music however for those who take my cellphone, the emphasis will all the time be hip-hop. I all the time return to it as a result of my exploration sharpens me up. I can step away and are available again and have the liberty to create new concepts and never imitate what’s already out from listening to it an excessive amount of. Generally, you must get away from it. 

Talking of celebrating hip-hop, it’s the fiftieth anniversary and the celebration started on the Grammys. What was it wish to be on that stage waving the Ruff Ryders flag, representing some of the essential labels in hip-hop historical past? 

Being on stage holding a Ruff Ryder flag within the air together with the Lox after so a few years of them being allowed on that stage — with out it being a function — was the perfect half for me. They have been on stage doing their very own songs. They’re used to being with Mariah or an artist that made them look secure. However that night time they did what they do greatest, and that’s hip-hop. I raised the flag for everyone — [DMX] and everybody on our staff that ought to’ve been on that stage with us.