Previously unreleased Prince song Born 2 Die has been released from the upcoming posthumous album ‘Welcome 2 America’.
The track is the second to be lifted from LP, after its title track dropped in April, and was recorded back in 2010.
Prince recorded the track when then-President Obama was just a year into his first term and, according to a press release, the star was “reflecting deeply on the issues affecting the Black community and the role he hoped to play in the social justice movement”.
Morris Hayes of The New Power Generation, who also produced the track, recalled: “We got to Born 2 Die, and Prince said, ‘I’ll tell you how that came about.’
“He had been watching videos of his friend Dr. Cornel West on YouTube, and during one speech Dr. West said, ‘I love my brother Prince, but he’s no Curtis Mayfield.’ So Prince said, ‘Oh really? We will see.'”
Recorded in the late ’00s, ‘Welcome 2 America’ has never seen a commercial release, although a handful of tracks have been performed live by the Purple Rain star over the years.
Prince also embarked on his ‘Welcome 2 America’ Tour in 2011, which culminated with his historic ’21 Nite Stand’ at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The never-before-released concert video from the April 28 2011 gig features on the deluxe edition of ‘Welcome 2 America’.
In addition to his own hits, the concert sees Prince perform a handful of covers, including Bob Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love, Janet Jackson’s What Have You Done for Me Lately?, Eddy Arnold’s Misty Blue, India.Arie’s Brown Skin, Wild Cherry’s Play That Funky Music, and set closer, Roxy Music’s More Than This.
‘Welcome 2 America’ is available to pre-order on CD, standard 2LP Black Vinyl and limited 2LP Clear Vinyl, along with a special Box Set Edition.
