Jay Z Releases Song Following Police Shootings of Black Men

Jay Z performing

Jay Z has released an emotional new song in response to this week’s fatal police shootings of two black men in Minnesota and Louisiana.

On ‘‘spiritual,’’ Jay Z raps, ‘‘Got my hands in the air, in despair, don’t shoot, I just want to do good.’’

In a statement accompanying the song’s release, the rapper says he began working on it ‘‘a while ago.’’ He says someone encouraged him to release it following the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, but he says he knew Brown’s death ‘‘wouldn’t be the last.’’ He says he’s ‘‘saddened and disappointed in THIS America — we should be further along,’’ He adds, ‘‘WE ARE NOT.’’

The song is available on Tidal, the subscription-based streaming music service that Jay Z owns.

Source: Associated Press