Yasuke

The music for the Netflix series Yasuke, created by LeSean Thomas and animated by MAPPA, was composed by Flying Lotus, who also served as an executive producer. The series, which premiered on 29 April 2021, stars Lakeith Stanfield as the titular character, loosely based on the historical African warrior who served under Japanese daimyo Oda Nobunaga during Japan’s Sengoku period.

Flying Lotus crafted a unique soundtrack for Yasuke, departing from traditional hip hop or jazz influences seen in similar series like Samurai Champloo and Cowboy Bebop. Instead, he opted for an organic approach, creating music in chronological order to mirror the protagonist’s journey throughout the story. The soundtrack features a blend of synthesizer-inspired sounds, Japanese and African percussion, and hip-hop elements.

Key tracks include “Black Gold”, performed by Thundercat and produced by Flying Lotus, serving as the series’ opening theme, and “Between Memories”, a collaboration between Flying Lotus, Niki Randa, and Thundercat, used as the ending theme. These tracks are prominently featured across five of the series’ six episodes.

Flying Lotus’s soundtrack has been praised for its immersive and easy-listening hip hop style, resonating with listeners since its release in 2021.