Jamaican dancehall stalwarts Buju Banton and Shabba Ranks have joined forces with American rapper Lil Wayne for an extraordinary collaboration titled “Hallelujah Heaven.” Produced by the versatile Jeymes Samuel, the track blends gospel and dancehall elements and is featured on the soundtrack of the upcoming film, “The Book of Clarence.”
In the opening verse, Lil Wayne exclaims, “Hallelujah, holy sh*t, I get high as Buddha/ Put you on a highway to heaven like I’m your Uber/ I manoeuvre through Miami like I was Tua/ Like I was Shuler, King of Diamonds like I’m a jeweller/ Hallelujah, from Hollygrove to Honolulu/ Me, Shabba, Buju, the holy ghosts will probably spook you.”
Co-produced by Jay-Z, “The Book of Clarence” is scheduled to premiere in theatres on January 12, 2024. The film stars LaKeith Stanfield as Clarence, a man in 29 A.D. Jerusalem, attempting to capitalize on the rise of Jesus Christ by claiming to be a new Messiah sent by God to escape debt and pursue a life of glory. The ensemble cast includes Omar Sy, Anna Diop, RJ Cyler, David Oyelowo, Micheal Ward, Alfre Woodard, Teyana Taylor, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Caleb McLaughlin of Stranger Things fame.
Jay-Z, who returned to social media in August to share a teaser for the film, described the movie as one about finding faith through love and the universal desire to impact the world positively. The Roc Nation mogul is expected to contribute new music to the film’s soundtrack alongside Kid Cudi. The complete tracklist is yet to be unveiled. Notably, JAY-Z and Jeymes Samuel previously collaborated on the 2021 Netflix Western, “The Harder They Fall,” featuring an all-Black cast including Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, LaKeith Stanfield, Zazie Beetz, and Regina King.
