The Broadway musical Hamilton  burst upon the scene setting theatre goers on fire with its charismatic story about founding father Alexander Hamilton. For those far removed from Broadway, the idea of being able to watch the musical anytime soon seemed an impossibility. Fans greedily devoured photos, videos and other goodies shared via social media from the musical and the cast.

Recently, the cast recording for  Hamilton was made available to stream in advance of its digital release.  Suffice it to say, fans have been absolutely blown away! While the music is not technically “rap” in the commercial sense, it is musical theatre performed in mostly hip hop and R&B style. With musical nods to the likes of Biggie, Mannie Fresh, Trina and Beyonce, this production continues to garner new admirers who tag themselves with #Hamiltunes on Twitter. Here’s a flashback of Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda debuting what was originally  “Hamilton Mix tapes” at the White House.

Lin-Manuel Miranda Performs at the White House Poetry Jam: (8 of 8)

Writer and star of the Broadway musical In the Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda performs “The Hamilton Mixtape” at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music, and the Spoken Word on May 12, 2009. Accompanied by Alex Lacamoire. (public domain)

The beauty of being able to listen to the recording lies in its ability to transport the listener into the rich tapestry of the story without feeling like something integral has been missed. Who knew Alexander Hamilton was such a complicated and intriguing founding father?  If you have kids in Civics and History, love musical theatre, enjoy various iterations of rap and R&B, or just want to expand your palate for the arts, you really ought to listen to the soundtrack. It’s a fresh take on history in a contemporary musical form with a super diverse cast (as in Aaron Burr is played by a Black man).

We enjoyed every second of the recording! It’s a perfect starter piece if you always thought Broadway wasn’t for you. As an added bonus, The Roots stepped in to help produce the official cast recording. It’s always amazing to see the mighty path Hip Hop has carved through our culture and how its ethos continues to be a major part of the American narrative.

‘Hamilton’ Collaborators Lin-Manuel Miranda, Questlove and Black Thought on the Show’s Hip-Hop Cred

The ‘Hamilton’ creator and Roots members, who are prodcing the cast album, talk about why “hip-hop heads” approve of the show and turning the Founding Fathers into real people. SUBSCRIBE NOW http://bit.ly/BillboardSub for more exclusive performances, interviews and in-depth coverage of the world’s biggest music events.

If you do check it out, let us know your thoughts!  You can purchase it on iTunes, Google Play or Amazon or enjoy the music stream right here!