Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack album to the 2008 film Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the second instalment in the Madagascar franchise. Released on November 4, 2008 by Interscope Records, the album featured original score composed by Hans Zimmer, who teamed up with American rapper will.i.am to produce the songs and score. will.i.am also wrote five new songs specifically for the film, while other incorporated songs were included in the film's soundtrack. The music received generally favorable critical response.[1]
Hans Zimmer collaborated with American rapper will.i.am to produce the score and songs for Escape 2 Africa.[2] To record for the film, Zimmer and will.i.am, had travelled to Africa (where the film was set) for the musical ideas and collaborated with the African musicians on the album. In the process, they had written four songs together for the film. While writing the track "The Travelling Song", will.i.am felt that "It’s about being stripped away from your home, and not knowing really where you come from. But wherever you are — because of your friends — that is your home now. Those lyrics really sum up my life, a black guy in a Mexican neighborhood, and apl.de.ap’s life, being placed for adoption at 14 and coming to America not knowing English. We made it our home because of our friendship, and that’s what ‘Madagascar’ is about."[3] will.i.am also recorded his cover version of "I Like to Move It" in the end credits.[3]
Filmtracks.com wrote "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa remains the best entry for the infectiously cute main escape theme. In an ideal world, the best score material from all three films would be combined into one rollicking album."[5] Andrew Leahey of AllMusic wrote "The Madagascar series relies heavily on music, often injecting songs directly into the movies' plot lines, and that emphasis helps fine-tune this soundtrack into a lighthearted, pleasant album."[6] In contrast, Jonathan Broxton gave a negative review, calling it as the "worst soundtrack written for any major animated film of recent years".[7]
