Today (Dec. 7), Usher and H.E.R. teamed up on a soulful new cut titled “Risk It All,” which is taken from the upcoming remake of The Color Purple. Produced by H.E.R. and co-written alongside Jimmy Napes, the piano-driven offering sees the two putting their hearts on their sleeves for a special kind of love.
“Like a condition, like a religion / So easily mistreated, it’s every decision / Sometimes it’s h**l and sometimes it’s heaven / It’s overcomplicated, but, baby / I don’t mind / Feelin’ like I’m ’bout to fall / Close my eyes / Baby, I would risk it all…”
Based on both the 1982 novel and the Broadway musical of the same name, The Color Purple will be the second movie adaptation following the critically acclaimed release from 1985. The older film, which starred Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, earned 11 Academy Award nominations. The Steven Spielberg-directed effort also collected plenty of trophies from the NAACP, the Golden Globes, ASCAP and the Writers Guild of America.
For the 2023 update, Fantasia, Taraji P. Henson, Ciara, Colman Domingo, Halle Bailey, David Alan Grier and Deon Cole lead an impressive ensemble cast. The upcoming film will also serve as a vehicle for H.E.R.’s official acting debut.
“This is insane. I mean, it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do and that I’ve done a little bit here and there, but this is so huge, so major,” the singer told the Hollywood Reporter during the red carpet premiere of the Blitz Bazawule-directed offering. “I’m so grateful that this could be my first premiere I’m going to. It’s really crazy.”
H.E.R. also spoke on her experience in taking on the role of Squeak. “It was so much fun. Honestly, I had to dig deeper in myself,” she explained. “I was in between two tours, you know, and coming to set, it was a crazy year. But I had so much fun, and I learned so much from the cast members.”
Press play on “Risk It All” below. The Color Purple hits American theaters on Christmas Day (Dec. 25).