A statement album of unreleased songs by Prince has been released today. Welcome 2 America includes 12 songs taken from studio sessions of a previously announced 2010 album.
Among the once-shelved recordings, sanctioned by Legacy and The Prince Estate, is the title track, a song influenced by Curtis Mayfield (“Born 2 Die”), and “Hot Summer.” All three songs were shared ahead of the Welcome 2 America rollout.
According to a statement, the rediscovered LP tackles the late icon’s “concerns, hopes, and visions for a shifting society, presciently foreshadowing an era of political division, disinformation, and a renewed fight for racial justice.”
Co-produced by New Power Generation keyboardist Morris Hayes, Welcome 2 America features contributions from the band’s singers Shelby J, Live Warfield, and Elisa Fiorillo. It also gets musical support from bassist Tal Wilkenfeld, drummer Chris Coleman, and engineer Jason Agel.
The multi-media release has a concert film attached to it for those interested in the deluxe edition, featuring performances from Prince’s April 2011 show at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Get it here.
Listen to Prince’s Welcome 2 America below.