Lil Wayne, Buju Banton Conjure High Praise on New Song With ‘Book of Clarence’ Filmmaker

Filmmaker and musician Jeymes Samuel has linked up with Lil Wayne, Buju Banton, and Shabba Ranks for “Hallelujah Heaven,” the first offering from the soundtrack for Samuel’s upcoming movie, The Book of Clarence.

Samuel served as director, writer, producer, and composer on The Book of Clarence, and in a statement, he noted “the story and music” for the film was “always there percolating in my mind” as he worked on other projects (like his 2021 feature The Harder They Fall).

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“There was never a question as to whether I would compose the score and write and perform on the soundtrack, as well as write and direct the movie — it was all one amazing journey where one depended on the other,” Samuel said. “But I also worked with the most awesome artists on our track ‘Hallelujah Heaven.’ Collaborating with Lil Wayne, Buju Banton, and Shabba Ranks was so dope, I loved getting them all on the same track.”

Accompanying “Hallelujah Heaven” is a new trailer for The Book of Clarence, which is scheduled to hit theaters in January 2024. The movie stars LaKeith Stanfield as the titular Clarence, a regular guy living in Jerusalem in 33 AD who crosses paths with Jesus Christ and decides to become a messiah himself.

The film also stars Omar Sy, RJ Cyler, Alfre Woodard, David Oyelowo, Teyana Taylor, Anna Diop, James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Michael Ward.

And as “Hallelujah Heaven” hints, the film’s soundtrack will be similarly stacked. Full details haven’t been released yet, but it will feature new music from Jay-Z (who also serves as a producer on the movie), Kid Cudi, Jorge Ben Jor, Adekunle Gold, Jorja Smith, Yemi Alade, and more.

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