The rap-heavy version of Aladdin’s “Friend Like Me” by Will Smith and DJ Khaled is now available; listen to it here.
On Friday, May 24, Guy Ritchie’s live-action adaptation of Smith’s beloved 1992 animated picture, Genie, will formally debut in theatres. The late Robin Williams, who portrayed the Genie in the original 1992 movie, is taking on a part that helped bring him fame.
The new movie includes the song “Friend Like Me,” which features Smith’s rendition of the well-known song composed by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. The new soundtrack for Aladdin now includes both that rendition of “Friend Like Me” and a special version with Khaled in the “End Title.”
The Khaled-less version of “Friend Like Me” is the first one you can hear below.
Smith stated in a press release that he really wаnted to tinker with the song to see if he could add something to it when he initially entered the studio to record the Khaled-featuring version of “Friend Like Me.” After spending exactly thirty minutes in the studio, the song and the 94/96 BPM range were played. Hip hop from the old school is in that BPM range.
I then had them place the breakbeat underneath “Impeach Your President” by The Honey Drippers. I experimented with that. Additionally, I played around with “I Know You Got Soul” by Erik B. & Rakim under “Friend Like Me.” And I thought to myself, “Oh my god, I’m home.” I began experimenting with the hip-hop flavor, and the music is truly where the Genie originated in my head.
Meanwhile, Khaled released his highly anticipated new album, “Father of Asahd,” last week.