Lin-Manuel Miranda, the multi-talented playwright, rapper, singer, and producer responsible for the Broadway mega-smash Hamilton knows the power of the pen better than almost anyone. That’s the theme of the music video for “Wrote My Way Out,” the Hamilton Mixtape cut featuring New York rap legend Nas, Nas’ protege Dave East, and Los Angeles crooner Aloe Blacc.
Filmed in stark black-and-white, the video features views from New York’s iconic rooftops and scenes reflecting the song’s lyrics and the emphasis on education as the launching pad for success. The autobiographical track finds the three gifted MCs detailing their rough-and-tumble beginnings in the big city and contrasting them against the skill that took them from the poor house to the forefront of entertainment. Aloe provides the soulful inspired by a sample from Hamilton‘s show-stopping “Hurricane,” which also features the theme of using writing to escape poverty.
Miranda has been everywhere lately, including Puerto Rico, the land of his heritage, helping out in the wake of the devastating hurricane that left the island country without power last year. He will also be returning to reprise his role as Alexander Hamilton as the show makes its debut for Puerto Rico’s Teatro UPR in San Juan. He will also be producing a television adaptation of The Kingkiller Chronicle for Showtime.
