Every once in a while a film or TV show will be overshadowed by its captivating music score. The signature styles of great music composers like Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, Kitaro, Phillip Glass and good ole’ Quincy Jones are spell-bounding stains of musical genius.
While watching the thought-provoking Netflix documentary Kevin Hart: Don’t F**k This Up, you can’t help but notice the music. Who is behind that soulful jazz sound or fun upbeat funky fusion of instruments, especially those found in episode six of season one? A little research reveals the answer.
Roahn Hylton and Jacob Yoffee collaborated on the music score with comedian Kevin Hart to bring us the musical companion that complements Hart’s transparent journey into his awe-inspiring, and sometimes, tumultuous public life.
“This series takes you into an inside look at his life so we chose an instrument to tie it all together,” Yoffee says in a Behind The Music interview. “We decided Kevin Hart is a trumpet.”
Hylton and Yoffee are successful in their mission. These guys ain’t nothing to play with, either. Yoffee is a Resident Composer for the American Studio Orchestra with a background in modern jazz. He studied orchestration at the Peabody Conservatory, then went on to study film music at New York University.
Reigning from Houston, Texas (what up Htown), Roahn Hylton produced and wrote songs for some of the biggest music stars, including Janelle Monae, Ariana Grande, FloRida, Keyshia Cole, Trey Songz and Nicki Minaj.
The two composers have a thing for talent from Philadelphia, Kevin Hart’s hometown. Hylton and Yoffe previously collaborated on Free Meek, a documentary following Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill’s rise to fame and subsequent journey through the prison system.
The composers are currently working on scoring Robert Downey Jr.’s TV series documentary The Age of A.I. Through the ups and downs of Kevin Hart: Don’t F**k This Up, the award-winning composers add the essential spark to Hart’s heartfelt story. It helps that they are focused and inspiring, as well.
“If you don’t agree to the terms of surrender, it’s not possible to give up,” Hylton said. “There’s no such thing as failure. There’s only lessons learned.”
Check out their Behind The Music interview below.
