Swizz Beatz is back in the lab, and this time, he’s cooking up heat for the streets and the screen.
The GRAMMY® Award-winning producer and hip-hop architect just unleashed the first single from the upcoming Godfather of Harlem: Season 4 (Original Series Soundtrack). Titled “Pain,” the new drop features the unstoppable energy of Houston’s own Sauce Walka and the raw lyrical firepower of GRAMMY® nominee Tobe Nwigwe.
Produced by Swizz himself, “Pain” carries a gritty cadence and sharp rhythm, laced with a clever sample of DMX’s Ruff Ryders’ Anthem, a nod to Swizz’s legendary 1998 production. Nwigwe and Sauce Walka trade verses detailing their grind from the darkness to the light, delivering a motivational anthem that feels street-certified and larger than life. The beat flips between aggressive drums and haunting melodies, pushing the track to sound both modern and nostalgic.
Swizz Beatz isn’t new to this. He’s true to this.
Serving as the executive music producer for Godfather of Harlem for four straight seasons, Swizz has proven time and time again that he knows how to marry cinematic reels with authentic sounds from the culture. From Busta Rhymes to Jadakiss, Bilal to Wale, every soundtrack Swizz has touched for this series has turned into a streaming juggernaut, pulling in tens of millions of plays across platforms. And the fourth installment is set to raise the bar once again.
Speaking to Billboard, Swizz explained his methodical process: “I give [the artists] a story on what we’re shooting, how we’re shooting it,” he shared. “Some of them, I’ll let them see the scenes that we’re thinking about.”
It’s that attention to detail that keeps the soundtracks not only relevant but groundbreaking.
The full Godfather of Harlem: Season 4 soundtrack officially drops April 18 via Epic Records, just days after the new season premieres on MGM+ on April 13. Expect a star-studded line-up that continues the franchise’s tradition of weaving street narratives with cinematic soundscapes.
Godfather of Harlem, starring Forest Whitaker as the infamous Bumpy Johnson, has built a reputation for gripping storytelling and equally powerful music, thanks to Swizz’s vision.
Stream “Pain” now and stay tuned for the full soundtrack!
