Following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two black men who were shot and killed in their respective cities of Baton Rouge, La. and St. Paul, Minn., Jay Z has released a new song, titled “Spiritual” that addresses police brutality.
In a note released alongside the song on TIDAL to both members and non-subscribers, Jay Z notes that the song was written previously.
“I made this song a while ago, I never got to finish it. Punch (TDE) told me I should drop it when Mike Brown died, sadly I told him, ‘this issue will always be relevant.’ I’m hurt that I knew his death wouldn’t be the last…… I’m saddened and disappointed in THIS America – we should be further along. WE ARE NOT.”
Hov references Brown on the track as well, rapping the line, “Got My Hands in the air, in despair/Don’t shoot, I just wanna do good” — alluding to the phrase, “Hands up, don’t shoot,” associated with Brown’s fatal shooting by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo. in 2014.
An outpouring of grief has followed the deaths of Sterling and Castile at the hands of police. On Friday, Americans were also mourning the deaths of five police officers shot in Dallas late Thursday.
This is the first track the rapper has released as a solo artist since his 2013 album, Magna Carta Holy Grail.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Write to Cady Lang at cady.lang@timemagazine.com