Singer Prince has released his highly anticipated protest song "Baltimore," an anthem calling for an end to the unrest and violence plaguing the city in the wake of Freddie Gray's death.
The song features lyrics about the deaths of both Gray and slain teen Michael Brown. Its lyrics express the notion that peace will only come with justice, not just the absence of violence.
He unveiled the anthem, currently available for listen on SoundCloud, on the eve of his Rally 4 Peace concert, which is set to take place tonight at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore.
The singer will be joined onstage in Baltimore by his funk-rock group 3RDEYEGIRL, and a portion of the proceeds from the concert will be donated to local youth charities in the city.
Concertgoers have been encouraged to wear gray to honor the life of Freddie Gray, whose death was officially ruled a homicide earlier this month. The show will air for free on Jay Z's recently launched streaming service Tidal.
"I am honored to join Prince in his mission to inspire through the uniting power of music and be able to offer a platform where this moment can be shared globally," Jay Z said in a statement released by Tidal. "We invite all to experience the music and contribute in their own way to promote peace, tolerance and understanding. Our prayers go out to Freddie Gray's family and every family affected by brutality and senseless violence."