The Sony Pictures Classics coming of age tale, “The Wackness,” is right around the corner, so appropriately enough, the hip-hop heavy soundtrack is coming out on just a short few weeks in advance in June 24 via Jive/Zomba (we also have a first look at the CD artwork).
The film chronicles a troubled teenage drug dealer (the up and coming Josh Peck), who trades therapy sessions for pot with his drug-addled psychiatrist (Sir Ben Kingsley). Their already-weird relationship is complicated when the hip-hop loving dealer falls for the doctor’s daughter (played by 2008’s soon-to-be indie It girl, Olivia Thirlby). The dramedy also features rapper Method Man as a Jamaican drug connection, Mary-Kate Olsen as a fruity hippie and Famke Janssen as Kingsley’s estranged wife. It’s aiming to be this year’s “Juno,” but it still remains to be seen if it can reach those unexpected heights.
The hip-hop centric soundtrack (the film is set in 1994) features Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Method Man, Wu-Tang’s Raekwon, A Tribe Called Quest and more. We’re hoping a separate disc of composer David Torn’s sun-stroked score is released eventually, it’s quite good stuff (Torn also scored, the awesome heavy metal doc “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” and “Lars And The Real Girl“). The Wackness hits theaters on July 3 in limited release and it will presumably grow and build from there. Director Jonathan Levine has already released two Mixwit mixtapes of music inspired from the film and songs he inititally wanted in the film, but just wouldn’t fit. The most recent trailer can be viewed here.
“The Wackness” soundtrack tracklist (all the music featured in the film – which is not almost identical, is here)
01. “The What” – Notorious B.I.G. feat. Method Man
02. “You Used to Love Me” – Faith Evans
03. “Flava in Your Ear” -Craig Mack
04. “Summertime” – Fresh Prince
05. “Can’t Ya See” – Total
06. “I Can’t Wake Up” – KRS-One
07. “The World is Yours” – Nas
08. “Can I Kick It?” -A Tribe Called Quest
09. “Heaven or Hell” – Raekwon
10. “Bump and Grind” – R. Kelly
11. “Just a Friend” – Biz Markie
12. “Tearz” – Wu Tang Clan
13. “Long Shot Kick the Bucket” – The Pioneers
Including bonus tracks edition
14. “All the Young Dudes” – Mott the Hoople
15. “Season of the Witch” – Donovan
Listen: Wu Tang Clan – “Tearz”
