The opening action scene of the Netflix animated series Bass X Machina features an alternate version of Kendrick Lamar’s “The Blacker The Berry.”
In a video shared on Netflix’s Strong Black Lead X account, gunfire erupts inside a train car before Bass Reeves, voiced by Brian Tyree Henry, asks, “Anybody wanna reconsider? You got until I finish reloading this gun.”
“Time’s up,” Reeves declares, leading into “The Blacker The Berry” remix.
Launched on Nov. 3, Bass X Machina is a sci-fi steampunk Western adult animated series created by LeSean Thomas, and features voice work from Henry, Currie Graham, Cree Summer, and Janelle Monáe.
“In a steampunk West overrun by outlaws, machines and supernatural forces, a father is forced to become judge, jury and executioner to protect his family,” the description on its Netflix page reads.
Bass X Machina has been well-received on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 100 percent critics’ score and 92 percent audience score.
For those unfamiliar with Kendrick’s anime game, Mustard said in an interview with GRAMMY.com last year that Lamar told him the beat for "Hey Now" made the rapper feel like Goku.
"I had heard 'Hey Now' during the 'Not Like Us' video shoot; he played me a snippet. I asked him, 'Man, what made you do that?' And he said, 'When I heard the beat, I just felt like Goku or something'," said Mustard. "I was like, 'What?' And he explained, 'Yeah, when I hear certain shit on your beats, it brings out something else in me, so I just did whatever I felt.' I was like, 'Wow, that's crazy.'"
