“The musical world was already created with Season 1…[Season 2] allows us to get deeper into the music, which in turn allows us to get deeper into helping establish the development of the characters,” explained Adrian Younge, co-composter of the Marvel-Netflix series, ‘Luke Cage.’ A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad-the shows other composer added, “We knew we did our job [on Season 1], for Season 2 it was just to go deeper.”
‘Luke Cage’ is one of the most successful superhero series and for good reason. The show weaves a layered narrative, placing race at the epicenter.
Muhammad and Younge’s influence on the show has made the music a character of its own. In the same confidence and coolness of a young Kobe tossing an alley-oop to Shaq in a crowded lane with less than a minute on the clock in Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals, Muhammad and Younge have developed a deep-seeded trust and respect for each other as creatives, which inspires their unique sound.
In between answering questions Younge fastened his custom fingerless leather gloves, adjusted his glasses and three-piece suit. “We aren’t guided by what somebody else thinks is cool. We have an internal compass-it’s our job to determine what we think is dope,” Younge shared.
They are professionals in every sense of the word. Their love for music fuels the symbiotic relationship that results in a catalog of music that represents the world.
Watch the full interview below:
Luke Cage Season 2 is availible now on Netflix