Just three months after releasing his September 2015 album "HITtnRUN: Phase One," the soul-funk rocker Prince pulled a Beyoncé and dropped a surprise album on the Jay Z's music streaming site Tidal, Rolling Stone reported. The follow-up album was released on Saturday and include two previously released Prince tracks.
The album might be Prince's best work in a decade, according to the Independent. An album four years in the making, "HITnRUN: Phase Two" was recorded at Prince's Minneapolis recording studio and features a 16-piece horn section. Prince's signature funk sound shines through each track.
Previously released songs "Stare," "RockNRoll Love Affair," "Screwdriver" and "Baltimore" make appearances on the 12-song LP, and the latter was penned by the iconic artist as a protest song during the Baltimore riots after the death of Freddie Gray earlier this year, Pitchfork reported. Up-and-coming singer Eryn Allen Kane lent her voice to the track.
Prince, also known as "The Purple One," announced the album's release via Twitter on Saturday, and asked that fans buy the album after streaming it on Tidal. He tweeted again the following day gushing over his release.
"Listening to this version of XTRALOVEABLE on #HITnRUNphaseTWO... I changed my mind. I LOVE hearing @Prince3EG's new take on unreleased gems," Prince wrote on Twitter. He also tweeted the album's artwork.
— Prince3EG (@Prince3EG) December 12, 2015
See below for the album's full track list and the video for "Baltimore."
"HITnRUN: Phase Two" Track List
1. "Baltimore"
2. "RocknRoll Love Affair"
3. "2 Y. 2 D. "
4. "Look at Me, Look at U"
5. "Stare"
6. "Xtraloveable"
7. "Groovy Potential"
8. "When She Comes"
9. "Screwdriver"
10. "Black Muse"
11. "Revelation"
12. "Big City"
