The Broadway musical Hamilton burst upon the scene setting theatre goers on fire with its charismatic story about founding father Alexander Hamilton. For those far removed from Broadway, the idea of being able to watch the musical anytime soon seemed an impossibility. Fans greedily devoured photos, videos and other goodies shared via social media from the musical and the cast.
Recently, the cast recording for Hamilton was made available to stream in advance of its digital release. Suffice it to say, fans have been absolutely blown away! While the music is not technically “rap” in the commercial sense, it is musical theatre performed in mostly hip hop and R&B style. With musical nods to the likes of Biggie, Mannie Fresh, Trina and Beyonce, this production continues to garner new admirers who tag themselves with #Hamiltunes on Twitter. Here’s a flashback of Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda debuting what was originally “Hamilton Mix tapes” at the White House.
The beauty of being able to listen to the recording lies in its ability to transport the listener into the rich tapestry of the story without feeling like something integral has been missed. Who knew Alexander Hamilton was such a complicated and intriguing founding father? If you have kids in Civics and History, love musical theatre, enjoy various iterations of rap and R&B, or just want to expand your palate for the arts, you really ought to listen to the soundtrack. It’s a fresh take on history in a contemporary musical form with a super diverse cast (as in Aaron Burr is played by a Black man).
We enjoyed every second of the recording! It’s a perfect starter piece if you always thought Broadway wasn’t for you. As an added bonus, The Roots stepped in to help produce the official cast recording. It’s always amazing to see the mighty path Hip Hop has carved through our culture and how its ethos continues to be a major part of the American narrative.
If you do check it out, let us know your thoughts! You can purchase it on iTunes, Google Play or Amazon or enjoy the music stream right here!
