Tyler Perry’s Netflix drama Doing Life premiered on October 2, 2026, with Naomi Baker and Jay Reeves in the lead roles. Tamberla Perry, Karen Obilom, Jasmine Sargent and Danielle Moné Truitt appear in supporting parts.
The story follows a single mother and an incarcerated man who build an unlikely bond through heartfelt letters.
The music comes from Meshell Ndegeocello, the singer, songwriter, bassist and composer. Netflix Music released the 21-track soundtrack album on the same day the film arrived.
This guide covers the composer, the official tracklist, the standout cues and where you can listen.
Doing Life Soundtrack Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Film | Doing Life |
| Director | Tyler Perry |
| Studios | Tyler Perry Studios, Netflix Studios |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Film Release Date | October 2, 2026 |
| Composer | Meshell Ndegeocello |
| Label | Netflix Music |
| Album Release Date | October 2, 2026 |
| Total Tracks | 21 |
| Album Runtime | About 33 minutes (33:10) |
| Film Runtime | 1 hour 48 minutes |
Doing Life Soundtrack Overview
The official album collects the film’s original music, all written by Meshell Ndegeocello. Netflix Music put it out on premiere day, so viewers could stream the score right after watching.
Most cues are short. Twelve of the 21 tracks run under a minute, which suits a drama built from quiet, character-driven scenes.
The track titles read like story beats: letters, a porch, a funeral, a ride. That makes the album easy to follow as a companion to the film.
Who Composed Doing Life?
Meshell Ndegeocello is the composer of Doing Life. She is a singer-songwriter, rapper, bassist and composer who was born on August 29, 1968, in Berlin, Germany, and raised in Washington, D.C.
She adopted the surname Ndegeocello as a teenager. It reportedly means “free like a bird.” Her music blends funk, soul, hip-hop, reggae, rock and jazz.
Her representatives describe her as a back-to-back Grammy winner in the alt-jazz category. She was also the first woman to appear on the cover of Bass Player magazine.
Early in her career, she played bass on Madonna’s “I’d Rather Be Your Lover.”
On screen, her scoring credits include Queen Sugar, BMF (Black Mafia Family), Our Kind of People, Lackawanna Blues and Disappearing Acts.
Tyler Perry’s 2024 film The Six Triple Eight was scored by Aaron Zigman, so this project brings a different musical voice to a Perry drama.
Doing Life Official Tracklist
- Main Title (0:41)
- First Letter (2:09)
- Prison Correspondence (6:10)
- Where Does the Time Go (0:29)
- It’s Me, Carousel (0:41)
- Your Eyes (0:51)
- Straight Out the Gate (1:00)
- Going to the Movies (0:56)
- My First Date (1:08)
- I Should Go (0:56)
- You Lied (0:45)
- Carousel Watches Niia (0:44)
- Fear In Your Eyes (0:35)
- Get Off My Porch (0:53)
- Convict Is Your Name (1:11)
- Let Me Help You (3:18)
- Something to Tell (1:02)
- Mother Daughter (5:16)
- Funeral (0:47)
- Go for a Ride (0:59)
- Doing Life Score Suite (2:39)
Doing Life Score Highlights
Prison Correspondence (6:10) is the longest track on the album by a wide margin. Judging by the title, it likely connects to the letter-writing at the heart of the story.
Mother Daughter (5:16) is the second-longest cue. The title suggests a family-centered moment, though the exact scene is not confirmed.
Let Me Help You (3:18) is the only other cue to pass the three-minute mark, so it likely carries a bigger emotional beat.
First Letter (2:09) arrives early in the sequence and appears to set up the letter-driven romance.
Doing Life Score Suite (2:39) closes the album as a condensed overview of the score. It is also a good first listen if you want a quick taste.
Meshell Ndegeocello Filmography
| Title | Credit |
|---|---|
| Doing Life (2026) | Composer |
| Diamondback | Composer |
| Queen Sugar | Score credit |
| BMF (Black Mafia Family) | Score credit |
| Our Kind of People | Score credit |
| Lackawanna Blues | Score credit |
| Disappearing Acts | Score credit |
| We the People (Netflix) | Theme music |
| Really Love | Song |
Where to Listen to Doing Life Soundtrack?
The Doing Life soundtrack is available now from Netflix Music on Amazon and most other major digital music services. You can stream or download all 21 tracks, including the Doing Life Score Suite. The film itself is streaming globally on Netflix, where you can hear the score in context.
Doing Life Soundtrack FAQs
Is Doing Life a movie or a series?
Doing Life is a feature film, not a series. It runs about 1 hour and 48 minutes and streams on Netflix.
Who composed the Doing Life soundtrack?
Meshell Ndegeocello composed the original music for Doing Life.
How many tracks are on the Doing Life soundtrack?
The official album has 21 tracks and runs about 33 minutes.
When was the Doing Life soundtrack released?
Netflix Music released the album on October 2, 2026, the same day the film premiered on Netflix.
Where can I stream the Doing Life soundtrack?
You can stream or download it on Amazon and most other major digital music services.
What is the longest track on the album?
Prison Correspondence is the longest, at 6:10.
What is the final track on the Doing Life soundtrack?
The album ends with Doing Life Score Suite (2:39).
Related reading: Netflix Soundtracks, Movie Soundtracks hub, and A Different World Soundtrack (2026).