MOVIE: TRAP* *at the time of this writing, M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap hasn't been released yet

ARTIST: Olivia Rodrigo

Trap is one of my most anticipated films to finish out Summer 2024 because of its unique premise of trapping a serial killer in a concert venue. The setting alone necessitates the music being essential, and it must have a great balance of energy, emotion, drama, and a tinge of danger. Right now, one of the biggest names in pop music that checks all those boxes is Olivia Rodrigo. Her raspy tones are a great backdrop for M. Night’s thrilling scripts, and her ability to transition seamlessly from emotional screams to pure calm fits perfectly with Josh Hartnett’s creepy stare we’ve seen up and down those trailers. A pop-punk tracklist that can be played front-to-back at a concert is something I think a Trap soundtrack would greatly benefit from, and Rodrigo is a prime candidate to pull that off. (Author’s note: After watching this, kudos to M. Night for basically giving this to his daughter to curate and showcasing nepotism at its finest).

ALTERNATE: Lady Gaga

POSSIBLE FEATURES: Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter, Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat

MOVIE: GLADIATOR II

ARTIST: Jay-Z 

After all the whining about the music in Gladiator II’s first trailer, this pick is fueled primarily by pure pettiness. First off, there’s never not a good occasion to use the masterful needle drop that is “No Church in the Wild”. Second, Jay-Z has already delivered a terrific album for a Ridley Scott film powered by the epitome of cool that is Denzel Washington (American Gangster). So, when your first clip introducing the world to a legacy sequel is of Denzel laughing and dapping up someone in Roman times, you need music that matches that effortless swag. Jay-Z has been hip-hop royalty for three decades, and not only is he at a stage in life where his rhymes paint intricate pictures as substantial as Scott’s set pieces, but he also has connections to bring in acts, new and old, that hold similar gravitas. That’s the vibe Gladiator II needs. It has the weight of the original on its shoulders, but also must convince younger audiences that the story is worth continuing. Bring in strong production from the likes of Just Blaze, RZA, DJ Premiere, and Pharrell, and Mr. S. Carter could curate an album that lives up to the Gladiator legacy.

ALTERNATE: Tobe Nwigwe

POSSIBLE FEATURES: Frank Ocean, Nas, Rapsody, The Roots, Lil Baby

MOVIE: WICKED

ARTIST: Chappell Roan 

Wicked is all about identity. Glinda (Ariana Grande) wants to remake everyone in her image, and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), not realizing her own self-worth, wants to conform to societal norms so that everyone accepts her. For her part, Chappell Roan epitomizes not giving a fuck what anyone thinks, is unapologetically herself, and has an extravagant pop style that matches the flashiness of any musical. She has tons of girl-power anthems (where she can easily adapt her language for PG-13 audiences) for the witches to rock to and has the range to make emotionally poignant ballads for more dramatic moments. A Wicked soundtrack needs someone who won’t be overshadowed by the film’s musical numbers, and Chappell Roan would be up to that challenge. 

ALTERNATE: Taylor Swift

POSSIBLE FEATURES: Lil Nas X, Renee Rapp, Alanis Morrisette, Florence & The Machine, Sufjan Stevens

MOVIE: MUFASA

ARTISTS: Davido & Tems

I’d like to thank Beyonce for bringing music from the continent into more homes through her curation of 2019’s The Lion King soundtrack, but it’s time to give the reins to actual African artists for Barry Jenkins’ Mufasa. Afrobeats, one of the most popular up-and-coming genres in music today, can deliver that. Led by genre vet Davido and rising sensation Tems, this would be a collaboration of key Aftobeats artists providing jubilant, vibrant, and percussive sounds to the origins of Simba’s father. Davido’s youthful energy brings verve to Mufasa’s younger years, while Tems’ melancholic timbre guides us through the family conflicts we know are coming. Showcasing this exciting genre’s range of styles will easily bring life back to this franchise, which is exactly what Mufasa needs to buck the skepticism generated by its predecessor’s lifeless shadow. 

ALTERNATE: Wizkid

POSSIBLE FEATURES: Burna Boy, Arya Starr, Tyla, Adenkule Gold, Omah Lay

MOVIE: Untitled Ryan Coogler Vampire Thriller

ARTIST: J.I.D

Ryan Coogler is officially an event director, especially when paired with constant collaborator Michael B. Jordan. Their combination of pulse-pounding pace, effective storytelling, emotional resonance, and utter vibes has yet to miss. So, for the unofficial Blade movie that will actually release this decade, I had to go with the best new hip-hop artist out today, J.I.D. His intricate lyricism, ever-changing flow, and rapid-fire cadence will match Coogler’s exciting vampire-killing action sequences, and his soulful singing can slow the vibe for Jordan’s inevitably stirring gut-punches. Bringing on features from his Dreamville Records crew will only add to the grounded nature that will make this film successful. Lastly, full bias on display here, this is the one choice listed here that I really, really, REALLY want to come to fruition.

ALTERNATE: Kendrick Lamar

POSSIBLE FEATURES: J. Cole, Bas, EARTHGANG, Ari Lennox, Lute

MOVIE: BALLERINA

ARTIST: Rina Sawayama

Yes, this is the same Rina Sawayama that played Akira in John Wick: Chapter 4, and yes, her music is just as badass; there’s no better choice as a backdrop for Ana De Armas’ introduction into this world. Sawayama is a multi-genre artist, with the ability to morph into anything from R&B to indie pop, but no matter the genre, everything about her screams rock ‘n’ roll. Ballerina must continue the Wick legacy of big action, big scope, and big world building, and with her powerfully gritty vocals, gnarly guitar-fueled production, and propulsive lyrics, Sawayama has musical presence big enough to hit as intensely as every kick, punch, and stunt performed on screen.

ALTERNATE: Steve Aoki

POSSIBLE FEATURES: DeadMau5, Diplo, Marshmello, The Chainsmokers, Skylar Grey

MOVIE: F1

ARTISTS: Run the Jewels & Zach De La Rocha

When originally looking into artists for the upcoming Joseph Kosinski-directed, Brad Pitt-starring, sports-racing drama F1, I was strictly thinking rock acts. However, once someone mentioned Run the Jewels (RTJ), all other choices went out the window. Yes, RTJ is a hip-hop group, but go to one of their concerts. With El-P’s fire-fueled production and Killer Mike’s booming cadence, if you ever attend one and a mosh pit DOESN’T ensue, you might be in the Twilight Zone. Add in frequent collaborator Rage Against the Machine frontman Zach De La Rocha, and you have the exactly correct adrenaline-filled musical act to match the intensity you know Kosinski is going to generate from inside of a Formula One racecar going 200+ miles per hour. 

ALTERNATE: Foo Fighters

POSSIBLE FEATURES: Danny Brown, Denzel Curry, Travis Barker, Eminem, Red Hot Chili Peppers

MOVIE: GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S FRANKENSTEIN 

ARTIST: Trent Reznor 

Trent Reznor has become a masterful and Oscar-winning movie score composer, but for what’s bound to be an epically eerie retelling of Frankenstein by the masterful Guillermo del Toro, I want to hear those Nine Inch Nails vocals once more. It doesn’t have to be purely his show either since he can also utilize his production skills to feature other rock acts like Queens of the Stone Age or Gojira. Either way, putting his footprint on both the score and soundtrack, combined with GDT’s unique vision, would mark this Frankenstein as something wholly different than the dozens of other retellings. 

ALTERNATE: Evanescence 

POSSIBLE FEATURES: Queens of the Stone Age, Gojira, Greta Van Fleet, Epica, Rob Zombie

MOVIE: THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU

ARTIST: Jack White

In a franchise characterized by iconic scores, composer Ludwig Goransson did what most thought was impossible by creating ANOTHER iconic Star Wars sound with his score to The Mandalorian. It’s a major reason why that western-samurai story can transition into a man-and-his-son folk tale so well. If there’s one man that can take influence from Ludwig’s cool ass instrumentals, fit it into his own style, and collaborate with staples of country and folk music to create the soundtrack to “Mando & Son’s” walkabouts, it’s the brains behind The White Stripes. From his eccentrically chill musical stylings to his collaborations with the likes of Loretta Lynn, not to mention previous work on similarly western-tinged tales (Cold Mountain) and the ability to get gritty when necessary, Jack White is a great bridge of modern and classic folk vibes to bring this film to life. 

ALTERNATE: T-Bone Burnett

POSSIBLE FEATURES: Sturgill Simpson, Mumford & Sons, Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver, James Blake 

MOVIE: THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING

ARTIST: Teddy Swims 

From Jennifer Lawrence’s rendition of “The Hanging Tree” to Rachel Ziegler’s harrowing musical performances as Lucy Gray Baird, The Hunger Games films are just as defined by its beautifully sorrowful music as its exciting action. With announced prequel Sunrise on the Reaping focusing on the rugged District 12 victor Haymitch Abernathy (previously played by the ever-mysterious Woody Harrelson), the musical standout must be someone with the same combination of pain, strength, intrigue, and soul. Enter Teddy Swims. He has the look of a chain-smoking, middle-aged, rock ‘n’ roll-loving biker, but when he opens his mouth, his soulful tone feels like the lost loves of 1000 lifetimes, leaving you staring quietly in awe. Swims will provide Sunrise with an emotive resonance that’s an excellent addition to this franchise’s stacked musical repertoire. 

ALTERNATE: Sam Smith

POSSIBLE FEATURES: Alessia Cara, Justin Timberlake, Anderson.Paak, Erykah Badu, Jasmine Sullivan