Mufasa: The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Lebo M team up for the soundtrack to Barry Jenkins's prequel film Mufasa: The Lion King, released December 13, 2024 on Walt Disney Records. The album packs seven original songs into just over 16 minutes, a tight but emotionally charged set that blends Miranda's signature rhythmic wordplay with the African choral traditions Lebo M brought to the original 1994 classic. Miranda wrote the lyrics and music directly from the film's script, with the line 'I always wanted a brother' becoming the foundation for the lead track.

The songwriting process pushed Miranda into new territory. 'Milele,' a soaring ballad, he called his most challenging song to write. 'Brother Betrayed' draws comparisons to The Phantom of the Opera, according to performer Kelvin Harrison Jr., while 'Ngomso' opens the album with Lebo M's unmistakable vocals in Xhosa and Zulu. The standard edition clocks in at 16 minutes and 21 seconds; a Deluxe Edition adds Dave Metzger's original score, bringing the total to over 67 minutes.

'I Always Wanted a Brother,' performed by Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Braelyn Rankins, and Theo Somolu, became the album's breakout track, charting at number 34 on the UK Singles Chart and number 84 in Ireland. 'Tell Me It's You' was shortlisted for Best Original Song at the 97th Academy Awards. The soundtrack also earned a Black Reel Award nomination for Outstanding Soundtrack in February 2025. [edit]