Kanye West & Jay-Z Song Used in ‘Gladiator II’ Trailer: Fan Reactions

The long-awaited Gladiator sequel is lastly on the best way, and the Ridley Scott-directed movie launched the primary trailer for the Roman Empire blockbuster on Tuesday (July 9) that includes Ye (previously Kanye West) and Jay-Z’s “No Church within the Wild.”

Ye’s bars didn’t make the reduce, however vocals from Jay and Frank Ocean’s soothing refrain are heard at numerous factors of the bloodthirsty teaser. Some viewers had been confused by the Watch the Throne reference, however a deeper look into the lyrics used make extra sense as a match for the movie’s themes.

“Tears on the mausoleum ground/ Bloodstains the Colosseum doorways,” Hov raps whereas seemingly referencing the various reactions to deaths from reverse sectors of society. Colosseum battles are additionally a part of the Gladiator lore. Ocean sings concerning the totally different ranges of social hierarchy: “Human beings in a mob/ What’s a mob to a king/ What’s a king to a God.”

Ye and Jay have sampled Gladiator with their music prior to now. Vultures reduce “Burn” finds West utilizing the traditional “Are you not entertained?” line. Hov sampled the identical on The Black Album‘s “What Extra Can I Say.”

Nonetheless, there have been combined reactions from followers listening to the Frank Ocean-assisted Watch the Throne monitor used within the sequel’s trailer.

“This jogged my memory: 1. Gladiator is without doubt one of the greatest motion pictures I’ve ever seen and we want extra 2. Watch The Throne is without doubt one of the most essential rap albums of all time and has actual endurance 3. I actually shouldn’t watch dope film trailers this near mattress time,” one fan wrote to X.

On the opposite aspect of the fence, one particular person blasted the choice: “The advertising and marketing staff slapping Jay-Z & Kanye West’s No Church In The Wild on the trailer are so f—ing out of their factor or the film actually is gonna be simply that dangerous.”

Gladiator II hits theaters Nov. 22. The sequel to the 2000 traditional stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, Connie Nielson and extra.

“No Church within the Wild” served as a standout on the Billboard 200-topping Watch the Throne, which arrived in 2011. The platinum monitor reached No. 72 on the Billboard Sizzling 100.

Discover extra reactions to “No Church within the Wild” soundtracking the Gladiator II trailer beneath.