Jeymes Samuel’s The Book of Clarence soundtrack has been released. The star-studded offering features contributions from D’Angelo, JAY-Z, Jorja Smith, Doja Cat, Alice Smith and others.
Among the soundtrack’s highlights is D’Angelo and JAY-Z’s nearly 10-minute collaboration, “I Want You Forever.” Produced by Samuel, the lush tune hears D’Angelo yearning for everlasting love.
“All I wanna say is that I love you so much / I don’t wanna be without you / I want you forever,” D’Angelo sings.
JAY-Z appears nearly three minutes into the song with a spoken word verse. “Life don’t taste the same without you / Tears in my champagne ’bout you / Quit playin’ girl, you know I’m crazy ’bout you,” he raps.
“I Want You Forever” is D’Angelo’s first taste of new music since 2019’s “Unshaken,” lifted from The Music of Red Dead Redemption 2 (Original Soundtrack). In the same year, he also appeared on rapper Rapsody’s album Eve on “Ibtihaj” along with GZA.
It’s been nearly 10 years since D’Angelo last released an album. His 2014 effort, Black Messiah, won Best R&B Album at the 58th Grammy Awards. The lead single “Really Love” also won a Grammy for Best R&B Song.
Smith is featured on “Champagne,” where she sings about finding closure after a breakup. “Reconsider those wrongs / As they’re all days gone by / I still know that I love you / But champagne won’t last forever,” she coos in the first verse.
Samuel appears on the bridge, singing, “I was broken, look at me now, I’m fine / You were wrong about us / So why would I fall in a lie? / Two in love are flames / Together, we burn so bright / Now I stand alone / But look at my shine.”
Smith’s placement on The Book of Clarence soundtrack comes less than a month after appearing on The Color Purple soundtrack (“Finally”).
On Sept. 29, 2023, Smith released her second album, falling or flying. The project was among Rated R&B’s 25 Best R&B Albums of 2023 list.
“Falling or flying is a raw and honest meditation on life’s ups, downs, and in-betweens,” wrote Rated R&B’s Keithan Samuels.
Circling back to The Book of Clarence, the soundtrack arrives the same day as the film’s theatrical release.
Written and directed by Samuel, the movie stars LaKeith Stanfield, Omar Sy, Anna Diop, RJ Cyler, David Oyelowo, Micheal Ward, Alfre Woodard, Teyana Taylor, Caleb McLaughlin, Eric Kofi, Abrefa Marianne, Jean-Baptiste, James McAvoy and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Per the logline: “The Book of Clarence is a bold new take on the timeless Hollywood era Biblical epic. Streetwise but struggling, Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) is trying to find a better life for himself and his family, make himself worthy to the woman he loves, and prove that he’s not a nobody.
Captivated by the power and glory of the rising Messiah and His apostles, he risks everything to carve his own path to a divine life, a journey through which he finds redemption and faith, power and knowledge.”
In addition to Samuel, the film was produced by Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, James Lassiter and Tendo Nagenda.
Stream The Book of Clarence (The Motion Picture Soundtrack) below.
