It’s common knowledge that Leela James is one of the most soulful R&B singers to emerge in the past 20 years, but who knew she was a movie buff, too? She’s clearly a fan of Black cinema in particular, based on a trio of creative visuals that she released from her last album Thought U Knew that borrowed their storylines from popular Black films. As she rolls out her next project, James keeps it up in the music video for her brand-new single “Right On Time.”
Leela and director Dang Films previously flipped Queen & Slim in the clip for “Right Back In It,” dropped a Set It Off-themed video for “Thought U Knew” and got jiggy with it House Party style in “Satisfied.” This time around, she decides to put her spin on the 1994 flick Jason’s Lyric for “Right On Time.”
Dang Films is once again behind the camera, but the songstress has a new love interest who is the Jason to her Lyric. Her tall and handsome leading man, with enough waves to make the ocean jealous, steps into Allen Payne’s shoes while she plays the Jada Pinkett Smith role. When the visual begins, she’s hard at work in This Is It Soul Food, the actual Houston restaurant featured in the movie, alongside a Lisa Nicole Carson look-alike.
We watch as they meet in the restaurant and see their romance blossom in subsequent scenes plucked from Jason’s Lyric. Leela and her man bring some of the film’s drama to life, which sets up the final scene for him to save her life and the day.
Leela James is on a roll with these music videos inspired by some of our favorite Black movies. While we wait to see what she recreates next, view “Right On Time” right here.
