‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ Soundtrack
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“That’s all it is Miles, take a leap of faith” — Peter Parker, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
If you haven’t seen Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse already, this entire read will be a waste of time… Well, not really, but ideally we can assume you’ve seen the movie before reading this. Fortunately, no major spoiler alerts ahead — super annoying when that happens — so let that overwhelming fear go.
Since the movie’s release in December, Spider-Verse fever has been slowly taking over the Control Forever offices—you can read another cool piece here.
It’s hard to decide whether I found the movie or the soundtrack better, which is something I’ve actually never experienced before. Usually, when I see a movie I’ll fall in love with the soundtrack afterward because I heard a few iconic songs that made me want to listen. For example, Black Panther was a soundtrack I delved into after watching the movie, but some of the songs were already gaining enough play throughout the radio to draw in my attention.
This time around, I actually chose to listen to the soundtrack before watching the movie. One of those reasons is because I heard the album included features from Nicki Minaj, Jaden Smith, Lil Wayne and Post Malone. When I finally got around to seeing the movie, it felt like every song made the film even more relatable. The story of Miles Morales delivers a message of “faith” — faith in who you are as a person and in the abilities that you aren’t even sure you have. In the movie, the current Spider-Man that we have grown to love is coming to the end of his time as the beloved hero into another version of him as a new role emerges.
The young Afro-Latino Morales is next in line to take on the responsibility, but he’s a little too overzealous and not tapped into the power he possesses. Throughout the movie we see him meeting other versions of Spider-Man in the Spider-Verse while doubting himself, and then finally taking the “leap of faith” that Peter Parker encourages him to take.
Each song on the soundtrack tells a similar story without being blatantly obvious or super corny. For lack of a better word, the album is just as cool as Morales himself. It shows a different aspect of Spider-Man, just like in the movie, that relates to fans of color.
What sets the movie apart from other animated superhero movies, aside from the phenomenal graphics and storyline (accompanied by solid voice-over acting), is the diversity that’s not just depicted in the soundtrack, but throughout the movie. Shameik Moore stars as Miles Morales in the film accompanied by Mahershala Ali as Miles’ uncle Aaron, Luna Lauren Velez as Miles’ mother Rio, and Brian Tyree Henry as Miles’ father Jefferson. It’s the first Marvel animation that I’ve seen include African American and Latino representation.
The album provides a backdrop to each dynamic scene in the movie, painting a picture mirrored in lyrics about heroism, overcoming obstacles, and combating fears. There are a few tracks off of the album that you must listen to if you are looking for a little inspiration in your own life—to take a leap or to remind you of how awesome the movie was.
“Anyone can wear the mask. You can wear the mask!” — Miles Morales, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
“Sunflower” – Post Malone & Swae Lee
“Way Up” – Jaden Smith
“Familia” – Nicki Minaj & Anuel AA (feat. Santos)
“Invincible” – Aminé
“Save The Day” – Ski Mask The Slump God & Jacquees (feat. Coi Leray and LouGotCash)
“Scared of the Dark” – Lil Wayne & Ty Dolla $ign (feat. Special Guest)
“Elevate” – DJ Khalil (feat. Denzel Curry, YBN Cordae, SwaVay and Trevor Rich)
“Home” – Vince Staples
— Charmaine Griffin