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

Intentionally Atrocious

Intentionally AtrociousSong Writing

A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.