Episodes Of Marvel’s Luke Cage Series Will Be Named After Gang Starr Songs

For a run lasting more than 14 years, Gang Starr cast a profound impact on Hip-Hop music. The duo of Guru and DJ Premier released six albums together, along with gold-certified compilation, Full Clip: A Decade Of Gang Starr. The group participated in legendary tours, introduced a host of enduring MCs to the industry, and supported several memorable film soundtracks.

More than 13 years after Gang Starr’s final album, and over six since Guru died from complications of cancer, the group’s impact continues. Upcoming Marvel series “Luke Cage” will reportedly take all of its episode titles from songs from the New York City-based duo.

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Huffington Post reports that at San Diego Comic Con, “Luke Cage” series executive Cheo Hodari Coker (Notorious) confirmed this fact regarding the upcoming Netflix series. The trailer already suggests strong ties to Hip-Hop, as Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” is the soundbed. The show is set in Harlem, New York City—where the title character fights evil in the night. His super-powers include superhuman strength and especially strong skin and muscle tissue.

Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest and Adrian Younge have already been confirmed to handle the series’ score. Perhaps that explains the Wu-Tang Clan inclusion, thanks to Adrian’s strong ties to RZA and Ghostface Killah.

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The comic-book Luke Cage first appeared in 1972. The character was a wrongly imprisoned man, married to fellow comic character “Jessica Jones.” The present series features actor Mike Colter (“The Good Wife”) reprising his role as “Luke Cage,” from appearances in Netflix and Marvel’s Daredevil series. He is signed on to play the role for “The Defenders” as well.

Other confirmed cast members include Mahershalalhashbaz Ali (Free State Of Jones) as “Cornell ‘Cottonmouth’ Stokes,” Alfre Woodard (Crooklyn) as “Mariah Dillard,” and Simone Missick as “Misty Knight.”

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Popular Gang Starr titles that perhaps have overlapping comic themes include “Moment Of Truth,” “Mass Appeal,” “Code Of The Streets,” “Betrayal,” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy.”

“Luke Cage” will premiere September 30, 2016.