Spiritual

Album: Single release only (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Jay-Z dropped this raw track on July 7, 2016 in response to the successive killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two black men shot dead by white police officers in separate events. Both men, it was claimed, were armed at the time. The track finds Hova wrestling with spirituality in the face of these brutal incidents.
  • The rapper debuted the song on Tidal, his first as a lead artist since the release of his 2013 Magna Carta Holy Grail album. It was accompanied by a statement where Jay-Z explained that the track had been several years in the making. He stated that it dates back to the time another black man, Michael Brown, was murdered by white police officer Darren Wilson on August 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri.

    "I made this song a while ago, I never got to finish it. Punch (from Top Dawg Entertainment) 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. I trust God and know everything that happens is for our greatest good, but man.... it's tough right now. Blessings to all the families that have lost loved ones to police brutality."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Maxi Priest

Maxi PriestSongwriter Interviews

The British reggae legend tells the story of his #1 hit "Close To You," talks about his groundbreaking Shabba Ranks collaboration "Housecall," and discusses his latest project with Robin Trower.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Black Sabbath

Black SabbathFact or Fiction

Dwarfs on stage with an oversize Stonehenge set? Dabbling in Satanism? Find out which Spinal Tap-moments were true for Black Sabbath.