Dimension Films announced today that acclaimed rapper Lil Wayne, one of the stars of the inspirational sports drama "Hurricane Season (formerly entitled, "Patriots") will write and record a song for the film. Entitled, "Tie My Hands," the song will be a duet with acclaimed R&B star Robin Thicke and will be on Lil Wayne's new album which is being released on June 10th. The digital edition of his album will include an exclusive film version of the song featuring an ad lib about the basketball team depicted in the film.
As a veteran rap star, budding entrepreneur, and young scholar studying psychology at the University of Houston, Lil Wayne's experience in the rap game, coupled with his amazing growth as an individual has placed him in a position only a handful of people in this industry reach. As a child, Wayne met brothers and Cash Money CEOs Ronald "Slim" and Bryan "Baby" Williams (Birdman) who would take him under their wings and help mold him into a prolific and profound artist. In 1995 at the age of 12, Wayne made his debut on Cash Money recording artist B.G.'s album, True Story. In 1997, the rap prodigy, along with Juvenile, Young Turk, and B.G. formed the New Orleans' super-group the Hot Boys and dropped their seminal debut CD Get It How You Live. At age sixteen, Lil Wayne launched his solo career with the release of the platinum selling Tha Block Is Hot (1999), where he earned a 1999 Source Award nomination for "Best New Artist." The young prodigy's subsequent albums, Lights Out (2000), 500 Degreez (2002) and 2004's Tha Carter further solidified Lil Wayne's reputation as one of the South's finest lyricists, but it was Tha Carter that finally forced rap fans beyond the South to recognize what die-hard "Weezy" fans knew all along: Lil Wayne was a hip hop force to be reckoned with.
Bob Weinstein, co-chair of The Weinstein Company stated, "We are very excited about "Hurricane Season" and thrilled that the film has now inspired Lil Wayne's powerful song. Today's announcement is a huge addition to this highly anticipated film and will only help broaden the audience appeal. We look forward to continuing to work with Tim Story, Forest Whitaker, Lil Wayne, Raymond Brothers and the rest of the team as we get closer to the Christmas Day release date."
Lil Wayne said: "With all the tragedy that my home has suffered these last few years since Katrina, I was glad to see that someone wanted to show that through everything New Orleans also has some positive things going on. I am also very happy that Hurricane Season is not only my first major part in a motion picture movie, but a movie about where I grew up."
"Hurricane Season" recently began production on location in New Orleans and also stars Forest Whitaker ("The Great Debaters," "The Last King of Scotland"), Isaiah Washington ("Grey's Anatomy," "Bionic Woman"), Taraji Henson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Talk to Me"), Bow Wow ("Like Mike," "Johnson Family Vacation," "Roll Bounce"), JB Smoove ("Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Everybody Hates Chris")Robbie Jones ("One Tree Hill"), Eric Hill ("Law and Order"), Jackie Long ("Soul Men," "The Comebacks," "Idlewild") , Irma Hall ("The Ladykillers," "Collateral," "Soul Food"), Jared Einsohn ("Law and Order") and Chyna McClain ("Daddy's Little Girls"). The film is directed by Tim Story ("Fantastic Four") from a script by Robert Eisele("The Great Debaters") and Greg Howard. Producers are Raymond Brothers and Scott Glassgold of IAM Entertainment and Michael Beugg ("Little Miss Sunshine," "Thank You For Smoking") and Stephanie Allain Bray ("Hustle & Flow," "Black Snake Moan"). The film takes place a year after Hurricane Katrina when Al Collins, a high school basketball coach in Marrero, Louisiana, assembles a team of players who had previously attended five different schools before the disaster and leads them on the path to the state championships. Lil Wayne has been actively involved in the relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. The rapper hails from the now-devastated 17th ward and shot the music video for "Fireman" in both New Orleans and Houston, where many of the displaced survivors of Katrina have relocated.
Throughout their careers, the Weinsteins have worked with a variety of critically acclaimed and commercially successful musicians to create songs for their films including "Never Gonna Break My Faith" performed by Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige for "Bobby," Bono's "The Hands That Built America" for "Gangs of New York" and Elton John's "Peter's Song" for "Finding Neverland."
Since its launch in 1995, Dimension has released more films that debuted at #1 (ten) and more films that grossed over $90 million (nine) than any other independent studio. "Patriots" joins Dimension's diverse upcoming slate which features cutting-edge comedies like "Soul Men" directed by award-winning filmmaker Malcolm Lee ("The Best Man," "Undercover Brother," "Roll Bounce") and starring Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac; groundbreaking adaptations like "Youth in Revolt" starring Michael Cera; horror films like the spine-tingling thriller "Clive Barker Presents: Hellraiser," a remake of Barkers most celebrated and terrifying story.
"Hurricane Season" will be theatrically distributed on Christmas Day by MGM.
