From Ella Fitzgerald and The Pharcyde to Gabriels, Justice, and Johnny Mathis. We explore the music of *The Gentlemen*, Guy Ritchie’s series whose soundtrack transforms crime, luxury, and dark humor into a musical experience.
There are TV shows you remember for their characters.
Others, for their dialogue.
And some have such a distinctive soundtrack that you only need to listen for a few seconds to recognize their world.
*The Gentlemen* belongs to this last category.
Guy Ritchie‘s series, starring Theo James and Kaya Scodelario, has developed a musical identity that blends classic jazz, hip-hop, electronic music, soul, and orchestral compositions.
A seemingly impossible mix that works because it fits perfectly with its story of British aristocrats, criminal enterprises, and unpredictable violence.
With both seasons now available on Netflix, we take a look at the songs featured in *The Gentlemen*, who composed the original score, and which tracks are worth adding to your playlist.
Who composed the soundtrack for *The Gentlemen*?
Christopher Benstead, a British composer and frequent collaborator with Guy Ritchie, composed the original score for *The Gentlemen *.
Benstead has also worked with the director on films such as *The Covenant*, *Wrath of Man*, and *The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare*.
His work on the series blends orchestral arrangements, haunting melodies, and a musical elegance that contrasts with the chaos of its characters.
The first season features theatrical and, at times, deliberately exaggerated music.
The second season introduces a significant change.
As the composer himself explained, Ritchie wanted a darker, more reflective atmosphere that would complement Eddie Horniman’s transformation.
The result stays true to the series’ character but makes greater use of restraint, tension, and emotional nuances.
Because Eddie is no longer the bewildered aristocrat we met at the beginning of the story.
And his music can’t exactly stay the same either.
“The Gentlemen” and the Songs from Season 1
The first season premiered in March 2024 and surprised viewers with a musical selection that jumps between eras and genres without asking permission.
Here are the standout songs, organized by episode.
Episode 1
- Ella Fitzgerald — “Old MacDonald”
Episode 2
- Delilah Bon — “I Wish a Bitch Would”
- The Pharcyde — “Oh Shit”
Episode 3
- Zae — “Baddest MF”
Episode 5
- HI-LO & Eli Brown — “Ride or Die (Hard Mix)”
- Lazy Habits — “Starting Fires”
Episode 7
- Gabriels — “Innocence”
- Kojey Radical — “Woohaa”
- The Handsome Family — “The Lost Soul”
Episode 8
- clipping. — “Nothing Is Safe”
These are the songs included in the season’s main song lists. Other music databases identify additional tracks, so this list should not be interpreted as an exhaustive list of all the music heard on screen.
The Best Songs from Season 1
Among all the tracks selected for the series, there are a few that particularly well capture Guy Ritchie’s musical personality.
“Old MacDonald” — Ella Fitzgerald
A choice as elegant as it is unexpected. Fitzgerald’s interpretation shows how a seemingly innocent song can take on a completely different meaning when placed in the right context.
“Oh Shit” — The Pharcyde
1990s American hip-hop that brings a sense of audacity and a very different energy to the solemnity of English mansions.
“Innocence” — Gabriels
The group led by Jacob Lusk offers one of the most exciting selections on the album, with a blend of contemporary soul and classical sensibility.
“Nothing Is Safe” — clipping.
The experimental hip-hop group creates a much more unsettling atmosphere. Their sound fits perfectly with the darker, more unpredictable side of the story.
Four very different songs that have one thing in common: none of them is there simply to fill a silence.
The Gentlemen Season 2 and All the Songs by Episode
The second season, which premiered on September 3, 2026, continues to showcase Guy Ritchie’s penchant for unexpected musical choices.
This time, the soundtrack ranges from Irish folk to classic soul, Latin hip-hop, and alternative rock.
Episode 1
- John Francis Flynn — “My Son Tim”
Episode 2
- Sad Night Dynamite — “Krunk”
Episode 3
- Gabriels — “One and Only”
Episode 4
- Aaron Neville — “How Could I Help But Love You”
Episode 5
- Delinquent Habits — “Return of the Tres”
- Ron Gallo — “Young Lady, You’re Scaring Me”
Episode 6
- Eva Eva Eva — “Vivo Sarai (Staying Alive)”
- Johnny Mathis — “It’s Not for Me to Say”
- Otello Profazio — “Amuri Amuri”
Episode 7
- No additional commercial songs were identified in the listings reviewed. This does not mean that the episode lacks original music.
Episode 8
- Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens — “What Have You Done”
This selection highlights one of the series’ greatest musical strengths: it can transition from a delicate song to a track of immense intensity without losing its identity.
Five songs from Season 2 that are worth listening to
1. “Krunk” — Sad Night Dynamite
This track by the British duo fits particularly well with the more unpredictable and contemporary side of *The Gentlemen*.
2. “One and Only” — Gabriels
Gabriels’ return to the series’ soundtrack confirms his affinity for Ritchie’s universe. His blend of soul, gospel, and modern sensibility creates a very appealing contrast.
3. “Return of the Tres” — Delinquent Habits
A dose of Latin hip-hop that introduces another musical style to the season.
4. “Young Lady, You’re Scaring Me” — Ron Gallo
Guitars, irony, and an energy that connects with the show’s most rebellious spirit.
5. “What Have You Done” — Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens
Soul and gospel with an emotional intensity that demonstrates how the right musical choice can transform the mood of a scene.
The original music from *The Gentlemen* can also be listened to separately
In addition to songs by other artists, both seasons feature official instrumental albums composed by Christopher Benstead.
The original soundtrack for the first season was released in 2024 and includes tracks such as “The Gentlemen Titles,” “Halstead Manor,” “Susie Glass,” and “The Fight.”
The second season features a new album, released digitally on September 4, 2026.
It includes 35 compositions, among them:
- “The Road to Kingdom”
- “Marco Moretti”
- “The Food Chain”
- “Susie in Italy”
- “Stately Gun Battle”
- “Someone’s Got to Die”
These albums allow you to discover a different dimension of the series.
Without dialogue or visuals, Benstead’s music reveals just how much the tension, humor, and personalities of the characters are also shaped by sound.
Why the music in *The Gentlemen* works so well
Guy Ritchie has been proving for decades that a soundtrack can tell a story just as effectively as a scene.
In *Snatch* and *Lock & Stock*, songs were already an integral part of his approach to filmmaking.
In *The Gentlemen*, that philosophy finds a new setting.
The key lies in the contrast.
A jazz song can accompany an absurd situation. A hip-hop track can shatter the solemnity of a mansion. An orchestral melody can make a criminal seem like an aristocrat.
And vice versa.
Benstead himself has explained that Ritchie looks for music with rhythm and personality, but that also knows when to take a back seat when the dialogue or performances need to take center stage.
That balance explains why the series has such a recognizable sound identity.
It’s not about choosing famous songs.
It’s about finding the right music for a world where nothing is exactly what it seems.
Where to Listen to the Soundtrack for *The Gentlemen*
Christopher Benstead’s instrumental albums are available on major digital music platforms.
The songs featured in the episodes belong to their respective artists and are not necessarily included on those official albums.
So, if you’re looking for a specific song you heard during the series, your best bet is to check the track list for each episode.
And if you want to recapture the atmosphere of *The Gentlemen*, Benstead’s original compositions are the best place to start.
Because in Guy Ritchie’s universe, even criminals have good taste in music.
And few current TV shows know how to make the most of it as well as *The Gentlemen*.
