On January 12, this Friday, Jay-Z and D’Angelo are slated to release a new song titled “I Want You Forever.” The collaboration also involves filmmaker and musician Jeymes Samuel and is specifically crafted for the film The Book of Clarence, of which Samuel is the writer and director. Describing the song as “nine minutes and 32 seconds of absolute soulful, biblical bliss,” Samuel offers a glimpse into what listeners can anticipate.
The Book of Clarence, produced by Samuel and Jay-Z, is set to premiere in theaters on the same day. This project marks a continuation of their collaboration, with their previous joint effort being The Harder They Fall.
In a recent press release discussing the film’s “Hallelujah Heaven,” Samuel expressed his long-standing desire to create The Book of Clarence. He stated, “The Book of Clarence is a film that I wanted to make for many years. While I was working on The Harder They Fall and all my other projects, the story and the music for The Book of Clarence was always there percolating in my mind.” Samuel emphasized the seamless integration of the film, its music, and his role as both writer/director and composer. He also highlighted the pleasure of collaborating with artists like Lil Wayne, Buju Banton, and Shabba Ranks on the track “Hallelujah Heaven.”
This release marks D’Angelo’s return to widely available new music since 2019, and it is a notable moment as he has not released a new album since Black Messiah.
