AMG Review of Higher Learning

Stephen Cook
All Music Guide

Reflecting the mixed musical tastes of the film's university population, the soundtrack to John Singleton's #Higher Learning features a broad sampling of rap, modern folk, indie, and R&B music. The majority of these sides were cut especially for the soundtrack, with standouts including tracks by Ice Cube, Outkast, Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Liz Phair, and Rage Against the Machine. Some club soul comes courtesy of the Brand New Heavies and Raphael Saadiq of Tony! Toni! Toné! fame, while Eve's Plum adds some power-chord pop, and bassist Stanley Clarke updates his fusion funk sound on the collection's lone instrumental. There's also Tori Amos chipping in with her own "Butterfly" and a cover of R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" (While Amos fans are sure to be ecstatic, those a bit weary of the singer's particular brand of melodrama will find no relief). Minor squabbles aside, this is a fine soundtrack.