✦ Welcome 2 America – Album: Jul 2021

Prince’s long‑shelved 2010 studio album finally emerges — a bold, prophetic commentary on race, politics, technology and the future of America

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✦ SUMMARY

Released on 30 July 2021 by NPG Records and Legacy Recordings (Sony Music Entertainment), Welcome 2 America presents Prince’s complete, previously unreleased 2010 studio album — a project mysteriously archived shortly after completion. The album captures Prince at his most socially conscious, addressing political division, racial injustice, surveillance culture, misinformation and the fragility of democracy with striking clarity.

Featuring collaborations with bassist Tal Wilkenfeld, drummer Chris Coleman, engineer Jason Agel, and New Power Generation vocalists Shelby J., Liv Warfield and Elisa Fiorillo, the album blends funk, spoken word, soul, rock and atmospheric R&B. Keyboardist Morris Hayes co‑produced several tracks, helping shape the album’s futuristic, minimalist sound.

Shelby J. later reflected: “I think he knew this album needed to wait. He knew we’d need it later.”

The 2021 release proved her right.

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✦ HIGHLIGHTS

• Released 30 July 2021 (worldwide)

• Recorded in 2010, archived for over a decade

• Prince’s most overtly political studio album

• Features Tal Wilkenfeld, Chris Coleman, Morris Hayes, Shelby J., Liv Warfield, Elisa Fiorillo

• Deluxe Edition includes full 2011 Forum concert on Blu‑ray

• Themes: racial justice, misinformation, surveillance, inequality, hope

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✦ TRACKLISTING

CD / Standard Vinyl

Welcome 2 America — 5:23

Running Game (Son of a Slave Master) — 4:05

Born 2 Die — 5:03

1000 Light Years from Here — 5:46

Hot Summer — 3:32

Stand Up and B Strong — 5:18

Check the Record — 3:28

Same Page, Different Book — 4:41

When She Comes — 4:46

1010 (Rin Tin Tin) — 4:42

Yes — 2:56

One Day We Will All B Free — 4:41

Vinyl Layout

Side A: A1–A4

Side B: B1–B4

Side C: C1–C4

Side D: Etching

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✦ BLU‑RAY — LIVE AT THE FORUM, INGLEWOOD, CA (28 APRIL 2011)

Included in the Deluxe 2LP + CD + Blu‑ray edition and Japanese CD + Blu‑ray edition.

Full concert in 1080p HD with stereo, 5.1 and Dolby Atmos mixes.

Setlist includes:

Joy in Repetition

17 Days

Shhh

Controversy

Partyman

Make You Feel My Love

Let’s Go Crazy

Delirious

1999

Little Red Corvette

Purple Rain

The Bird

Jungle Love

A Love Bizarre

Kiss

Play That Funky Music

Hollywood Swingin’

Fantastic Voyage

More Than This

…and more

This performance captures the explosive spontaneity of Prince’s “21 Nite Stand” residency — a masterclass in musicianship, showmanship and joy.

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✦ PRODUCTION & CONTEXT

Recorded in 2010 at Paisley Park.

Co‑produced by Prince and Morris Hayes.

Features Tal Wilkenfeld (bass), Chris Coleman (drums), Jason Agel (engineering), and NPG vocalists Shelby J., Liv Warfield and Elisa Fiorillo.

Welcome 2 America was completed, sequenced and then shelved without explanation. Prince instead launched the Welcome 2 America tour — a multi‑city residency model culminating in the legendary 21 Nite Stand at The Forum.

The album’s themes — political division, racial injustice, media manipulation, digital surveillance — feel uncannily prescient, making its 2021 release both timely and necessary.

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✦ LEGACY

Welcome 2 America stands as one of Prince’s most important posthumous releases — a socially charged, forward‑thinking statement that resonates even more strongly today than when it was recorded. Its blend of funk, spoken word, satire and spiritual uplift reveals a side of Prince that was often overshadowed by his more romantic or experimental work.

The Deluxe Edition’s Forum concert further cements the era as a creative high point, showcasing a powerhouse NPG lineup at full strength.

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✦ PRINCE 2010–2011 MINI‑TIMELINE — THE WELCOME 2 ERA

✦ Early 2010

Prince records Welcome 2 America with a new studio ensemble and NPG vocalists.

✦ Late 2010

Prince launches the Welcome 2 America tour, introducing the residency‑style format.

✦ April–May 2011

Prince performs 21 nights at The Forum in Inglewood — one of the most celebrated runs of his career.

✦ 2010–2011

Despite completing the album, Prince shelves it without explanation.

✦ 2021

The album is finally released, revealing a prophetic, politically charged masterpiece.

This era captures Prince as a cultural observer — sharp, critical, humorous and spiritually grounded.

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✦ GLAM FLASHBACK — WELCOME 2 AMERICA (2010) VS. PRINCE’S EARLY POLITICAL WORK

✦ Welcome 2 America (2010/2021)

• Direct commentary on race, inequality, surveillance and misinformation

• Spoken‑word passages and minimalist funk

• Collaborative ensemble sound

• Prince as social critic and futurist

✦ Early Political Work (e.g., Sign O’ The Times, Race, Baltimore)

• Broader social storytelling

• More melodic, pop‑leaning structures

• Themes of violence, poverty, identity and justice

• Prince as reporter of the world around him

Together, they show Prince’s evolution from observer to prophet — a voice warning of the world to come.

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✦ SOURCES

Personal archive knowledge

Prince Vault

Discogs

AllMusic

Rate Your Music

Wikipedia

BBC Official Charts Company

Prince Estate official announcements

FULL TRACK LISTINGS

CD

Welcome 2 America (5:23)

Running Game (Son Of A Slave Master) (4:05)

Born 2 Die (5:03)

1000 Light Years From Here (5:46)

Hot Summer (3:32)

Stand Up And B Strong (5:18) 1

Check The Record (3:28)

Same Page, Different Book (4:41) 2

When She Comes (4:46)

1010 (Rin Tin Tin) (4:42)

Yes (2:56)

One Day We Will All B Free (4:41)

Vinyl LP

Welcome 2 America (5:23)

Running Game (Son Of A Slave Master) (4:05)

Born 2 Die (5:03)

1000 Light Years From Here (5:46)

Hot Summer (3:32)

Stand Up And B Strong (5:18) 1

Check The Record (3:28)

Same Page, Different Book (4:41) 2

When She Comes (4:46)

1010 (Rin Tin Tin) (4:42)

Yes (2:56)

One Day We Will All B Free (4:41)

Side A:

A1 Welcome 2 America (5:23)

A2 Running Game (Son Of A Slave Master) (4:05)

A3 Born 2 Die (5:03)

A4 1000 Light Years From Here (5:46)

Side B:

B1 Hot Summer (3:32)

B2 Stand Up And B Strong (5:18) 1

B3 Check The Record (3:28)

B4 Same Page, Different Book (4:41)

Side C:

C1 When She Comes (4:46)

C2 1010 (Rin Tin Tin) (4:42)

C3 Yes (2:56)

C4 One Day We Will All B Free (4:41)

Side D: Etching

Blu-ray: Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011 - available on Deluxe (2LP + 1CD + Blu-ray) set and a Japanese edition (1CD + Blu-ray) only

Joy In Repetition (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011)

Brown Skin (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 3

17 Days (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 4 (contains unlisted lyrics from Lovergirl 5)

Shhh (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011)

Controversy (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011)

Theme From "Which Way Is Up" (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 6

What Have You Done For Me Lately (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 7

Partyman (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011)

It’s Alright (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 8

Make You Feel My Love (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 9

Misty Blue (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 10

Let’s Go Crazy (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011)

Delirious (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011)

1999 (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011)

Little Red Corvette (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011)

Purple Rain (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011)

The Bird (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 11

Jungle Love (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 11

A Love Bizarre (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 12

Kiss (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011)

Play That Funky Music (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 13

Hollywood Swingin’ (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 14

Fantastic Voyage (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 15

More Than This (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA, April 28, 2011) 16