But that didnt make sense if the rest of the world hadnt yetheardthose songs.
But he soon changed course.
It really hit her hard, he says.
I may never write a song that good again, he says.
Finding a singer who could keep the tension between the melody and rhythm was crucial.
Ushers vocals are just incredible, Miranda says.
He really makes the song his own.
While he might resurrect that piece forThe Hamilton MixtapeVol.
(Sia contributes the characters sung parts.)
I said [to Latifah], You are one of my favorite MCs, full stop.
Angelica exists because you were a voice in my ear growing up, Miranda recalls.
I wanted to hear her rapping againsobadly!
Dear Theodosia Regina Spektor featuring Ben Folds and Dear Theodosia (Reprise) Chance the Rapper feat.
producer Ahmir Questlove Thompson recalls.
But when both artists submitted remarkably distinct tracks, the team made an unorthodox choice.
I said, Well, this is a mixtape.
There isnt a rule against what we can do with it, says Thompson.
We decided to keep both.
I was just happy to be there.
I would have been the water boy if she wanted me to…
But I was glad I didnt have rap.
One such demo is Valley Forge, a haunting song about the long winter Washingtons army spent in 1777-8.
I took the best lines from it and put them in a different song called Stay Alive.
Everything on that track is my voice.
Its me getting my Bobby McFerrin on!
I was a complete mess, but I was like, Its beautiful.
Ill try and do it, but I cant promise you I can get through the dang thing.
He breaks into excited giggles at the memory.
(He also happens to be Mirandas third cousin).
I said, What if we do something around [that dialogue]?
Its such a highlight of our show.
It gets a response every time from the audience.
The pro-immigrant message is increasingly relevant postelection.
It has become more potent, Knaan says.
Its more of a fight song.
I got my fantasy of going full vintage, he says.
My albums dont personally give me the space to do my version of Getting Better.
So this allowed me at least a four-minute moment to say What would Ringo do?
What would George Martin do?
That was probably the most fun we had.
You might as well just have them do it.
When they agreed, Thompson says, I was happy as hell.
It kind of flew out because the music is so goodit takes you on a journey by itself.
When I listened to it, it seemed a little slinky.
It seemed aggressive and sexy and strong.
[Maria] is not a loser.
Shes offering him the best thing hell ever get in life!
She has the Angelica skillset: Shes an incredible singerandan incredible rapper, Miranda says.
I was actually obsessed with Alexander Hamilton in school, she says.
Even before the show came out, I was like, You know what?
The guys a dirtbag.
I totally wrestled with this rap battle and spentmonthswriting it, Miranda says.
Nothing really happened on slavery until the Civil War a hundred years later.
I was like, Thats the one, he says.
Go and bring it back!
That totally blew me away, he says.
Thats when I realized, This can go anywhere.
It gets very dusty in the room if I talk about it.
