Photo: Press
Currently the talk of the town, Baz Luhrmann’s new series, The Get Down, is Netflix’s new original series. Revisiting the birth of hip-hop culture while shining a light on its four key elements - rap, breakin’, graffiti, and DJing - the show also looks at the death of disco, gang culture, and the poverty-stricken lifestyles many - especially those in the black community - were forced to live through during the late 70s.
Accompanying the critically acclaimed show is a very narrative-driven soundtrack. Featuring original content as well as a few throwback records, Baz Luhrmann once again proves that soundtracks are still important to TV and film. With a great track record that includes Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby, he can now add The Get Down to that list of incredible soundtracks.
With 24 tracks on the Deluxe Edition listeners are kept busy. Including the occasional soundbite from the series itself, four of the main cast also get their own moments on the soundtrack. Herizen F. Guardiola (as her character Mylene) sings her way through the songs ‘Be That As It May’ and ‘Set Me Free’ (with Nile Rodgers), while Justice Smith (Ezekiel) poetically delivers ‘This Ain’t No Fairytale’ and the incredibly heartfelt ‘Zeke’s Poem (I Am the One)’. Jaden Smith (Dizzee) also gets his chance to shine with album stand out ‘Losing Your Mind’. Alongside Raury, the Fresh Prince’s son paints a picture of an enquiring mind while the psychedelic hook echoes like someone lost in their own headspace. It creates an image of an early hip-hop throw down, but in slow motion.
Taking it back to the days of disco and funk, C.J. & Co.'s hi-hat happy 'Devil's Gun' and Donna Summer's fun and frolicking 'Bad Girls’ add a reminiscent quality to the album. Fatback Band's '(Are You Ready) Do the Bus Stop' blends into Sarah Ruba's 'Suga', but it's the inclusion of Garland Jeffreys' rock-tinged 'Wild in the Streets' that sets the soundtrack on fire. Originally written after hearing about a child rape and murder in The Bronx, the passionate despair heard on the 1973 song fits the struggle and strife that The Get Down portrays in its ongoing narrative.
With other original songs by the likes of Miguel (‘Cadillac’), Christina Aguilera and Nile Rodgers ('Telepathy'), and ZAYN, Teddy Pendergrass and Grandmaster Flash ('You Can't Hide/ You Can't Hide From Yourself’) offering yet more freshness to the project, it’s Michael Kiwanuka’s 'Rule the World (I Came From the City)' and 'Black Man in a White World (Ghetto Gettysburg Address)’ that really grips you. Borrowed from his new album, Love and Hate, both tracks have been remixed with added guest vocals from Nas. Sounding so painfully real thanks to the marriage between the soulful instrumentation and powerful words, these are two moments not to miss.
Doing what he does best, Baz Luhrmann - with help from Nas and a handful of others - has put together a solid soundtrack with a great balance of original content and previously released music. Telling The Get Down’s story through music is hypnotic, and with memorable melodies, thought-provoking lyrical content and addictive hooks you're left with a clear idea of how hip hop was conceived.
