This Random 'Book of Boba Fett' Character is a Musical Genius in Real Life

If The Book of Boba Fett viewers had any lingering questions about Boba Fett's story from Season 2 of The Mandalorian—namely, how he linked up with master assassin Fennec Shand—they were answered in Episode 4, titled "The Gathering Storm." The episode finds Boba (we think) completing the flashback, gap-filling portion of this story, showing us what happened after he found the Tusken Raiders dead, and wandering the desert.

Turns out, he found a near-death Fennec (as first teased in Season 1 of The Mandalorian) and saved her life by bringing her to a space mechanic/tattoo artist hybrid to replace her insides with some robot parts. And that space mechanic/tattoo artist hybrid just happened to be played by Thundercat, a very awesome musician who has worked with superstars like Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, and Childish Gambino, while also releasing his own critically-acclaimed solo records.

The Disney+ Star Wars world has not been shy about fitting famous cameos into just about every episode of both The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. But usually these cameos tend to be either people from the world of comedy (like Jason Sudeikis or Amy Sedaris) or random fun character actors (like Danny Trejo or Stephen Root). Thundercat is easily the biggest major music star to appear yet, and his appearance is quite a fun one.

Thundercat made a surprising cameo in The Book of Boba Fett.

Credited as Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner, Thundercat showed up in the first act of Episode 4, "The Gathering Storm," as a hybrid of a space mechanic and tattoo artist who saved Fennec Shand's life with machine parts when Boba Fett brought her in. The show did a nice job last week of reminding us that in the world of Star Wars, humans can be saved and made just as new with machine parts replacing vital organs; last week's episode found a group of youths who make "upgrades" to themselves on purpose. This, of course, has long been Star Wars canon—remember Luke's mechanical hand after Darth Vader cut it off in The Empire Strikes Back. It's also said that General Greivous was once human, but replaced pieces of himself little-by-little... to the point where all that remained of his original body, famously, was those weird lungs that Obi-Wan eventually took out.

Thundercat's character marks the first time we've gotten a real look at a sort of seedy place where an upgrade or procedure like this might occur. And he got a great line at the end of his appearance; when Boba Fett asked if he would close Fennec up, he responded promptly and with pride for his work: "And cover all that beautiful machinery?"

It's the kind of badass cyberpunk moment that Star Wars hasn't leaned into much—but should do far more often.

Thundercat has worked with superstars like Kendrick Lamar, Haim, and Childish Gambino, while also building his own thriving solo career.

Thundercat has an incredibly impressive resume in the modern landscape of music. He's won two Grammys—one for Best Progressive R&B Album for his 2021 release It Is What It Is, and another for his 2016 collaboration song with Kendrick Lamar, "These Walls," off the rapper's masterful To Pimp a Butterfly. (He was also nominated with Lamar for TPAB in the Album of the Year category).

Bruner has been playing bass since he was only 15 (he's 37 now), and in addition to his four solo albums so far, he's also been a frequent collaborator of major artists and has worked as a session musician.

In addition to To Pimp a Butterfly with Lamar (where he was said to be "at the creative epicenter), Thundercat has also worked in recent years with artists like H.E.R., Haim, and Childish Gambino.

Thundercat was also a frequent collaborator with the late rapper Mac Miller; his Book of Boba Fett appearance aired on what would have been Miller's 30th birthday, a fact that Thundercat paid tribute to on his Twitter.

Based on his Twitter, Thundercat appears to have been a Star Wars fan for a while.

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