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What do you remember about when Spike Lee first mentioned this project?
When he first told me what it was about, I said, Man, you better stop drinking.
A black man infiltrates the Klan.
Who came up with that story?
When I finally realized it was true, I said, Okay, we gotta do this.
[For the music,] he didnt tell me what it needed.
He just said, R&B band, and I told him, Electric guitar.
I didnt tell him why, but I wanted to use one because of Jimi Hendrix.
I heard him play the national anthem at Woodstock when I was a kid.
I thought it was very patriotic, actually,
Did John Davids look inspire that at all?
That was my teenage years.
It was as clear as if it was yesterday.
Did you have a sense of how important the movie was going to be?
I knew it was a powerful story but I didnt know how much it would resonate.
What caught them off guard is to think that all of that bigotry and hate that wasback then.
Its a wake-up call when we get to that montage, to Heather Heyers picture.
The last song, Photo Opps, plays over the montage.
What was it like composing that?
You want to write something that says, We all know better, you know what I mean?
This is not who we are as a people.
Its always been one of Spikes favorites, so it just made sense.
Well, you just be honest about how you feel.
I was heartbroken to see that young woman lose her life over something so stupid.
And to see it done in such a cowardly fashion.
Its one of those things where your heart just feels like its ripped open.
I never met her.
I didnt know anything about her prior to that, but I knew she didnt deserve that.
And thats what you use as inspiration.
Im 56 years old and being from the South, Ive been hearing it all my life.
Did you have to restrain yourself from making it sound too angry?
The performances by the actors were great enough.
I didnt feel like trying to push that envelope.
One of the things about Spike is that when you watch what he does, hes a humanitarian.
It seems like a lot of composers or filmmakers could fall into that trap of making it too on-the-nose.
Yeah, theres no need for that.
Its not our first rodeo with this.
Its time for us to step up and be active.
And yes, people are disheartened because 3.5 million votes wasnt enough [in 2016].
A lot of people were complacent and now were feeling the effects of all of that.
So what this film is speaking to is how we need to get off the sidelines.
Do you have a favorite moment from the film that coincides with the music that you wrote?
Not really, because the entire story is the most amazing thing for me.
And he was such a rookie, man, he used his real name!
Which would be cute if it werent for the fact that he couldve couldve lost his life.
And the thing thats really wild about it, when you meet Ron, hes a gentle soul.
This is what makes this guy special.
Did you get to talk to him about the true version of events?
I mean, when Ive talked to him, I didnt want to bother him.
One of the things he said was, Listen, man.
I was young and dumb.
I dont totally buy all of that.
I mean, he may be young and inexperienced, but young and dumb?
Not by any stretch.
He knew what he was doing by making that phone call.
Obviously, youve worked with Denzel Washington a few times.
What is it like getting to work on this with his son?
It made my back hurt.
It makes me feel old!
My knees start creaking and stuff.
Its like, Wait a minute, man.
I remember when you were born!
Hes a talented young actor.
You gotta give him credit for being his own man.
I was watching him inBallersand I go, Man, theres something weird about this kid.
Then I go, Wait, whats that sound coming from his voice?
I know that sound.
Then Im like, Oh man, thats John David?
Then when I saw him Im like, Oh my God.
Look at this grown man.
It blew me away.
What has it been like to be an Oscar nominee so far?
You really dont know what to expect.
Did you get starstruck by anyone?
When you walk by Glenn Close, its kind of hard not to be like, Goddamn!
Then you have Mahershala Ali come over to the table and just say hi to me.
Did you talk to him aboutGreen Book?
Then we talked about basketball.
Hes from Oakland, so he was throwing the Golden State stuff in Spikes and my face.
What are your thoughts on that?
I know that theyve been making an effort to do that.
Hopefully this a sea-change moment.
Its interesting to be there standing next to Regina.
I said, Is this your first nomination?
And its the same thing for Spike.
And Im the second African-American to be nominated for a score since Herbie Hancock in 1986.
Hopefully were moving in the right direction.
