With the upcoming release of the Beat the World soundtrack, I wanted to introduce more of the talented and inspiring artists I had the good fortune of collaborating with.
I learned about British rapper Sway while I was in London recording KNAAN. I was trying to find the most talented and credible local Hip Hop artist to represent England on the record, and Sway fit the bill.
Aside from his talent – obvious on his records and supported by numerous accolades (MOBO, Mercury, BET, Urban Music Awards…), Sway is a very cool and straight ahead guy. He was truly a pleasure to work with. You can hear the results in our song “Infinite Love,” also featuring the modern day Hip Hop icon – Talib Kweli.
You can hardly talk about conscious Hip Hop in America without Talib Kweli’s name coming up in the conversation. His lyrical wizardry combined with his insight and knowledge on social issues have earned him global respect, from both industry insiders and the public. He is also a solid and focused human being, making him a another real pro and an honor to work with.
Talib graced the track for the 2nd verse of “Infinite Love,” helping us to bring together the international Hip Hop communities.
The final verse of the song features a lesser known, but extremely talented Los Angeles-based freestyler – Lowd. Like many talented freestylers, Lowd doesn’t write anything down. He can come up with verse, after verse – all off the top of his head. I asked Lowd how he was able to come up with so many complete ideas on the spot. He said he read and digested any good writing he could get his hands on – from Shakespeare to classic novels. And when he gets on the mic, it all comes out – Lowdstyle.
“Infinite Love” is one of the main dance team themes I wrote for the film. I wrote the hook and recorded the track before we shot the film, so the choreographer could work out the routines. Once the film was shot, I flew to London to record Talib and Sway. The rest is in the music.
