Notes & Personnel Info |  | Original score composed by Ruben Blades. |  | Personnel: Pharrell Williams (vocals, programming); Jon Secada (vocals, background vocals); 702, Jene, Joyce Simpson, Luis Fonsi, Angel Lopez (vocals); Manny L¢pez, Ricky Quinones (guitar); Herman "Teddy" Mulet (trombone); Paquito Hechavarria (piano); Shannon Sanders (keyboards, programming); Havoc (drums, programming); Edwin Bonilla (timbales); Archie Pena (percussion); Randall Barlow, Francis Reyes, Richard Joseph, Chad Hugo (programming); India.Arie, Cheito Quinonez (background vocals). |  | Audio Mixers: Kedar Massenburg; Sheldon Guide; Alvin Speights; Mike T.; Phil Tan; Rich Keller; Richie Perez; Ronnie Torres; Sebasti n Krys; Tony Mardini. |  | Recording information: Crescent Moon Studios, Miami, FL; D.A.R.P. Studios, Atlanta, GA; Drew's Groove, Nashville, TN; EQ's Studios, Miami, FL; Iron Clad Ent. Studios, Blakeslee, PA; Pitch Black Studios, Jersey City, NJ; Playground Recording Studios, Tenafly, NJ; Powerlight Studios, Miami, FL; Realsongs Recording Studios Studio D, Los Angeles, CA; Sony Music Studios, New York, NY; South Beach Studios, Miami, FL; The Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL; The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA. |  | Arrangers: Milton Sesenton; Randall Barlow. |  | Serving as the musical background for this tale of a drug dealer from the South Bronx trying to go legit before getting double-crossed by an investment banker, EMPIRE is a melange of musical styles that leans heavily on elements of hip-hop, R&B, and Latin music. Although cast members Fat Joe and Naughty By Nature's Treach don't contribute any music, there's more than enough hard-core rap to go around. Representing the thuggish elements of this film are the gruff-voiced DMX ("Fame") and Mobb Deep, who crib the Liquid Liquid bass riff best known for its use in a Grandmaster Flash classic and turn it into a semi-sequel to the landmark rap song, called "Beyond White Lines." Lending a softer edge are female vocal trio 702 (the string-laden "I Still Love You"), new-jill vocalist Rachel (a soulful "Best Thing"), and India.Arie (the flamenco-kissed "Slow Down"). Otherwise, Latin artists run the table, whether its Puerto Rican crooner Luis Fonsi warbling a bilingual "Amante," Cuban '90s pop sensation Jon Secada delivering a soaring "My Life (Through The Spirit In Your Eyes"), or salsa queen La India serving up English and Spanish versions of the theme "Welcome To My Empire." | Producer: Randall M. Barlow; Dame Grease; Emilio Estefan; Francis Reyes; Havoc; India.Arie; Angel Lopez; Richard Joseph; Shannon Sanders; Swizz Beatz | Engineer: Chris Theis; Hector Ivan Rosa; Scott Canto; Mario Lucy; Vernon Mungo; Sheldon Guide; Rachel Pagan; Andrew Coleman; Angel Lopez; Ronnie Torres |
|