Shaboozey is opening up about his newest project, a song featured on the the upcoming film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk.
At a pre-release screening event on Aug. 26 in Los Angeles, the Virginia-born country artist debuted “Took a Walk,” a track written for the movie’s end credits.
“It was one of the most craziest experiences I’ve had writing a song,” Shaboozey said on the red carpet. “We wanted it to feel positive even though the movie is kind of a little bit of a tragedy, but we wanted that message to be super positive.”
Stephen King was reportedly just a freshman at the University of Maine when he first started writing The Long Walk.
Based on King’s 1979 novel, which he wrote under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, the horror film is set in a dystopian future where teenagers compete in a deadly contest for the prize of a lifetime. Contestants must walk without slowing down, or risk being shot by military escorts. The walk continues until only one person remains.
Shaboozey got emotional talking about writing for the film.
“It’s honestly bringing me to tears, going back to that place, but it’s about enjoying that journey,” he said.
The musician co-wrote the single with Stephen Wilson Jr., Stephen Musselman, Connor Sullivan, Sean Cook and Nevin Sastry.
Lionsgate first reached out to Shaboozey for his track “Last of My Kind” in the trailer, which led to the development of an original song.
Born Collins Obinna Chibueze to Nigerian parents, Shaboozey is known for blending country, hip-hop and rock.
He started getting more attention after his features on Beyoncé’s 2024 Cowboy Carter album and his country-rap hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which tied a record with 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 35 weeks atop the Hot Country Songs chart.
His new song was inspired by the film’s themes, mirroring the characters who cling to hope for a better future despite enduring the extremes of despair as they compete.
“It’s a sad movie but hopefully the song can bring some positivity,” Shaboozey said.
The thriller is directed by Francis Lawrence, known for The Hunger Games franchise, with a screenplay by JT Mollner.
The film stars Cooper Hoffman, Ben Wang, David Jonsson, and Charlie Plummer as some of the contestants, and Mark Hamill as the ruthless major.
“Took a Walk” will be released on all digital platforms Sept. 5.
The Long Walk opens in theaters nationwide on Sept. 12.
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