The Prince estate has shared a new music video for his 2015 song “Baltimore”, in celebration of what would have been his 62nd birthday, and in solidarity with the ongoing protests across the country over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis, MN police officers.
Originally appearing on his final album, Hit n Run Phase Two, Prince wrote “Baltimore” following the death of Freddie Gray, who—like George Floyd—died while in police custody. Recorded in Paisley Park Studios, Prince’s home in Chanhassen, MN, The Purple One wrote the lyrics and played all of the instruments on the track. While musically upbeat, “Baltimore” puts the issues of racial injustice and police brutality at the forefront with lyrics like “Does anybody hear us pray / For Michael Brown or Freddie Gray? / Peace is more than the absence of war,” and the protest rallying call, “If there ain’t no justice, then there ain’t no peace.”
The song’s music video appropriately compiles footage of nationwide protests and news article clippings of Freddie Gray’s death while Prince’s powerful lyrics glide across the screen. Much like the protests of George Floyd, these protests showed thousands rallying against police brutality, holding signs like “Demilitarize The Police” and “The System Is Broken,” as officers met them in full riot gear.
Along with the “Baltimore” music video, the Prince estate also shared a handwritten note from His Royal Badness: “Nothing more ugly in the whole wide world than intolerance [between] black, white, red, yellow, boy or girl. Intolerance.”
Prince dedicated his life to speaking out against injustice, advocating for black excellence, and spreading the message of “Love 4 One Another.” In this note that he kept in his personal archives, he wrote a message that still resonates today. #Prince #Love4OneAnother pic.twitter.com/thTv9cukBV
— Prince (@prince) June 7, 2020
Watch the “Baltimore” music video below.
Prince – “Baltimore” – [Official Music Video]
[Video: Prince]
In other Prince news, his estate, and Legacy Recordings, recently released the Up All Nite collection, which includes his Live at the Alladin DVD, a re-release of his One Nite Alone, One Nite Alone…Live!, and One Nite Alone: The Aftershow albums. Head to his website to purchase and for more information.