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Nas and Lin-Manuel Miranda are working together on an upcoming album inspired by the classic film The Warriors.
On Thursday, August 1, Miranda and playwright Eisa Davis announced their plans to team up with the Mass Appeal founder and producer Mike Elizondo for a concept Hip-Hop album based on the 1979 film. The movie, which was an adaptation of Sol Yurick’s 1965 novel, follows a street gang in New York who are blamed for the assassination of a known gang leader during their travels from Coney Island to the Bronx. Nas, Miranda and Davis' album, titled Warriors, is set to debut in the fall.
“We’ve spent the past three years musicalizing the Warriors’ journey home, from the South Bronx to Coney Island,” Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis said in a press release. “Along the way we’ve gotten to work with a lot of our favorite artists, and we’ll be announcing their roles on the album in the weeks ahead. We can’t wait to share these songs with you on October 18th.”
Nas will serve as the executive producer for the album, which will feature 26 new songs produced by Elizondo. There aren't a lot of other details about the project available, but it will feature a "star-studded cast of voices" according to its new website. Fans can pre-order the album now before it arrives on October 18.
This is the second time Nas has gotten fans excited about new music. Back in April, the Queensbridge native seemingly alluded to the possibility that his long-awaited joint album with DJ PREMIER could be in the works. While celebrating the 30th anniversary of his debut album Illmatic in April, Nas posted a throwback, black-and-white photo of him and Preemo and a current shot of them together in New York City. His caption got fans hyped after he fueled the rumor about a joint album between both legendary artists.
"Then v.s Now. What if…" Nas wrote.
There's no confirmation (yet) on the anticipated project. For now, fans will have to wait until October 18 for new music by Nas, Miranda, Davis and Elizondo.