Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami sees documentarian Billy Corben return to the story of Miami’s infamous drug kingpins, but what is the Netflix hit’s theme song and who performs the track? Released in 2006, the documentary Cocaine Cowboys offered an insight into the Miami drug wars from the perspectives of dealers, police officers, smugglers, and journalists alike. The Billy Corben-directed movie was a hit with critics and viewers alike, and a pair of sequels followed.

Now, Netflix has released a six-part docuseries from Corben that continues the story of the eponymous cocaine cowboys who ruled Miami during the ‘80s and ‘90s. Depicting the rise and fall of Willy Falcon and Sal Magluta, Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami is another true crime hit for the streaming service. The series has garnered critical acclaim for its twisty narrative, although some reviewers have criticized The Kings of Miami for allegedly glamorizing its subjects.

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It is hard to deny the series makes Falcon and Magluta’s lives seem glamorous on occasion, and this is not helped by the soundtrack for Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami. As befits any crime story set in the erstwhile cocaine capital of America, the docuseries features a soundtrack crammed with bumping club anthems, many about the titular drug. The theme song of the series is “Blood Sport” by Miami rapper Pitbull and, unlike many themes of Netflix productions such as The Politician, the song seems at first listen to be an original track written for the show. However, as Corben himself explained, this isn’t quite true.

According to an interview with BusinessInsiderIndia, Corben originally obtained the track from Pitbull for use in the second sequel, 2014’s Cocaine Cowboys: Reloaded. The director wanted a hip-hop soundtrack for this follow-up, which consisted of footage that didn’t fit the first two outings. However, when Corben sent a series of instrumentals to local rap acts who voiced their support for the movie, it was only Pitbull who responded with a finished track. This was not a problem for Corben, who raved about “Blood Sport”’s clever lyrics which see the rapper anthropomorphize cocaine itself and sing from the drug’s point of view.

Per Corben, “I thought the song was brilliant. It’s all from the perspective of cocaine.”  Unlike more serious series like The Business of Drugs, The Kings of Miami offers a sensational portrayal of the empire created by its subjects and their spectacular downfall. As such, a theme that focuses on the unhinged highs and crushing lows of cocaine use is a fitting choice thematically and aesthetically for the series, and Pitbull’s typically braggadocios lyrics see the rapper play the part of the infamous stimulant to a tee. Thus, “Blood Sport” is not only the theme song of Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami but also a perfect encapsulation of the docuseries’ love-hate relationship with its amoral but alluring subject.

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Cathal Gunning
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Cathal Gunning has been writing about movies and TV online since 2020. His obsessions include The Simpsons, Stephen King, the Scream series, and the horror genre in general. He has spent more time thinking about Stranger Things than the writers of Stranger Things, and he has never seen a Star War.

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