Coming 2 America' From Amazon Prime Video Brings Zamunda to 2021-Onscreen and Via Soundtrack

In the 1988 film Coming to America, actors Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall sent audiences into fits of laughter as unlikely Queens transplant Prince Akeem of Zamunda and his trusted confidante Semmi. The two men, used to the life of royalty, travel to America from their fictional African country to find Akeem a bride-and learn how to get by in New York City in the process. This weekend, Amazon Prime Video is debuting a much-anticipated modern-day sequel, Coming 2 America. After a 33-year hiatus, the movie, which celebrates Black culture, family, and love with a comedic touch, is sure to bring a glimpse of nostalgia-but also provide something brand new-for modern viewers.

In honor of the occasion, Spotify put together exclusive character playlists enhanced with videos from actors Jermaine Fowler, Arsenio Hall, Nomzamo Mbatha, and Kiki Layne, as well as the Coming 2 America Official Playlist, which also features tracks inspired by the Rhythms of Zamunda.

Music plays an important-though distinct-role in both films. Fans will notice that the jazz and funk songs of the original soundtrack give way to the hip-hop and Afrobeat-inspired sounds in the new film, but that's not the only nod to changing music styles. The creators also included a notable moment via Spotify, hinting at the reality of contemporary music listening-and the beauty of being able to access a song for any moment wherever, whenever.

I'm A King The musical centerpiece of the new film's original soundtrack is I'm A King, an Afrobeats-inspired song made to speak to the ascendance of a Queens-based prince. The vibes needed to feel royal, creator Bobby Sessions explained to For the Record. It needed to feel regal and it needed to be a sonic beat that made room for someone to go from one level to the next, like a prince becoming king, so to speak.

The single had a journey of its own separate from the movie. After writing the initial verses and hook, Bobby sent the song off to Amazon Prime Video to be used in the movie. The next thing he knew, he had a text from collaborator Megan Thee Stallion saying that she was listening to the record and vibing with it. Then she sent Bobby her verse for the track, complete with her own resonant and repetitive chorus of I'm a queen.

I was like, oh, this is crazy, said Bobby about the new verse. You can't have a kingdom with just the king. You need the queen. So Megan was able to complete that kingdom. And it was great to hear her in that space.

Music in the moment Another focal point of the movie is a scene in which Prince Lavelle, who was raised far away from Zamunda in Queens, shows his father, King Akeem Joffer (Eddie Murphy) and others in Zamunda how he can play music on his phone, via Spotify. The song he plays? None other than I'm A King.

https://storage.googleapis.com/pr-newsroom-wp/1/2021/03/C2A_Integration.mp4

LINK:	https://newsroom.spotify.com/2021-03-05/coming-2-america-from-amazon-p...
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