We Speak Entertainment
Kendrick Lamar, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith & Top Dawg Entertainment To Produce Black Panther
Kendrick Lamar, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith And Top Dawg Entertainment To Produce Black Panther: The Album
Internationally-celebrated Grammy Award–winning global superstar Kendrick Lamar and Billboard Magazine’s Executive of the Year, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, are set to curate and produce “Black Panther: The Album.” The album will feature music from and inspired by Marvel Studios’ Black Panther film including the lead single, “All The Stars,” featuring Kendrick Lamar and label mate SZA, produced by Sounwave. “Black Panther” is directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Ryan Coogler and stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira, among others.
Lamar and Tiffith will collaborate with Coogler directly in the creation of music specific to the needs of the film. This will mark the first time that Lamar, whom Rolling Stone dubbed “the greatest rapper alive,” will write, produce, perform and curate for a major motion picture.
This collaboration represents the first time in Marvel Cinematic Universe history that Marvel Studios will integrate multiple original recordings created specifically for the film.
Lamar was hand-picked by Coogler for this first film music collaboration. “I am honored to be working with such an incredible artist whose work has been so inspirational, and whose artistic themes align with those we explore in the film. I can’t wait for the world to hear what Kendrick and TDE have in store,” said Coogler.
Lamar added, “Marvel Studios’ Black Panther is amazing, from its cast to its director. The magnitude of this film showcases a great marriage of art and culture. I’m truly honored to contribute my knowledge of producing sound and writing music alongside Ryan and Marvel’s vision.”
Top Dawg added: “Working on such a powerful movie is a great opportunity. We’re always working on new goals at TDE, so teaming up with Disney, Marvel Studios and the Black Panther film makes perfect sense.”
Kendrick Lamar is one of the most streamed artists in the world with his latest album in excess of two billion combined streams. Fresh off his six wins at the 2017 VMAs, including Video of the Year, Best Hip Hop video, Best Cinematography, Direction, Art Direction and Visual Effects, he is regarded as one of the most important, critically acclaimed and creatively inventive artists globally.
About Kendrick Lamar:
Platinum-selling, Grammy-award winning artist Kendrick Lamar is one of the rare artists who has achieved critical and commercial success while earning the respect and support of those who inspired him. A native of Compton, California, Lamar released his debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city in October 2012 which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and earned him seven Grammy Award nominations. His second album, To Pimp a Butterfly, released in March 2015immediately earned rave reviews and topped the Billboard 200 with sales of 325,000 copies within its first week, despite it coming a week early due to a technical accident. The album garnered Lamar five Grammy nominations with a win for Best Rap Album.
On April 14 2017, Lamar released his fourth studio album, DAMN. which sold 603,300 copies in its first week, the largest first week of his career and any other release that year. The album shot directly to number one on the Billboard 200 where it remained for four consecutive weeks. Complex Magazine claimed it is his “most ambitious album to date”, NPR called it “introspective and unforgiving” and Rolling Stone named him “the most gifted rapper of a generation.”
About The Film:
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.
“Black Panther” stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, with Angela Bassett, with Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis.
The film is directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nate Moore, Jeffrey Chernov and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole wrote the screenplay. Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” hits U.S. theaters on February 16, 2018.
We Speak Actors
Marvel Actor Sebastián Capitán Viveros (‘Capi’) Stars as Series Regular in ‘Fightland’
Sebastián Capitán Viveros, better known as ‘Capi,’ has quietly built an impressive international career, appearing in major productions including Marvel Studios’ ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ and ‘Eternals,’ alongside acclaimed series such as ‘Halo,’ ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth,’ and the thriller ‘9 Bodies in a Mexican Morgue.’ He now stars as series regular Lazaro in the action crime drama ‘Fightland,’ now streaming in the U.S. on STARZ, with a UK release on Sky Atlantic and NOW planned soon. Executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, the series marks another major milestone for one of the industry’s most exciting rising international talents.
Having grown up between Mexico, the United States and Switzerland before establishing himself in the UK after graduating from the prestigious Drama Centre London, Capi brings authenticity, emotional depth and remarkable versatility to every performance. In this exclusive interview, he reflects on his multicultural upbringing, working on blockbuster productions, landing the role he believes he was born to play, and why ‘Fightland’ represents the most exciting chapter of his career so far.
For readers discovering your work for the first time, could you tell us a little about your acting journey? Having grown up between Mexico, the USA and Switzerland before building your career in the UK, how has your multicultural background shaped you both personally and professionally?
The universe chose me to be an actor; there is nothing else that would sit right in my soul than living through the expression of my art. Growing up across different countries and learning several languages allowed me to see both the world and myself from different perspectives. Being away from my home country since I was five years old, theatre became my refuge. It gave me the freedom to discover who I truly was alongside my twin sister and soulmate, Ilse. We both found a sense of security on stage. My first acting coach, Judith Hall, taught me what it truly means to be a professional actor and helped me earn my place at Drama Centre London. That experience shaped me into the man I always dreamed—and knew—I was meant to become.

Throughout your career you’ve appeared in productions including ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home,’ ‘Eternals,’ ‘Halo,’ ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth,’ ‘9 Bodies in a Mexican Morgue’ and now ‘Fightland.’ Looking back, which projects are you most proud of to date, and why?
“I went from serving Malaysian food in Camden Town to standing on a boat with Tom Holland and Zendaya in Venice while filming a Marvel production.”
That was my very first screen role in ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home,’ and it completely changed my life. It connected me to my higher self and made me feel aligned with my destiny. ‘9 Bodies in a Mexican Morgue’ was another unforgettable milestone because it was my first leading role. Filming alongside one of my closest friends from Drama Centre while portraying a Mexican lieutenant inspired by my grandfather—who was an admiral in the Mexican Navy—was incredibly meaningful. But ‘Fightland’ is on another level. The filmmaking, the people, the experience… It was one of the most profound, joyful, and unforgettable experiences of my career.
In ‘Fightland,’ you play Lazaro, a series regular. What attracted you to the role, what can audiences expect from your character without giving too much away, and what was it like working alongside such a talented cast?
The moment I read the audition scenes, I knew I was born to play Lazaro. An actor’s responsibility is to tell the truth, and Lazaro is my truth—apart from the criminal side! He’s a Mexican raised in the United States, and I connected deeply with him. Audiences can expect violence, strength, emotional depth and plenty of authentic Mexican swagger. Working with such an exceptional cast was a gift. Great actors elevate one another, and every scene became an opportunity to feed off each other’s performances. The showrunners, Damione and Raphael, as well as directors Otto and Seb, created an environment where I learned and grew in ways I can’t fully describe.

Your role includes action and physically demanding scenes. How did you prepare for them, and what was the most rewarding or challenging part of bringing Lázaro to life?
The most challenging—and enjoyable—part was training with legendary stunt coordinator Will Mackay. We spent countless hours practising fight choreography, gun handling and knife work.
“Audiences should prepare for intense action that will genuinely keep them on the edge of their seats.”
For me, preparation comes down to repetition. You rehearse until everything becomes instinct. Then, once you’re on set, you let go of all that preparation and simply live truthfully in the moment.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about this next chapter of your career, and what do you hope audiences take away from your performance in ‘Fightland’?
What excites me most is seeing a future where I can continue doing what I love—telling stories through art. I hope ‘Fightland’ introduces audiences to my commitment as an actor and demonstrates my versatility. While I’m proud of my Latino heritage, I don’t want to be defined solely by it. I’m an artist, a human being, ready to play any role—to be vulnerable or strong, funny or serious—and I’m hungry for every life I get the chance to live through acting.
Featured photo credit: Courtesy of STARZ
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