Prince Plots Imminent Release of New Album ‘HitNRun’ on Tidal

In exactly one month, Prince will release his new album HitNRun. The rocker announced his surprise LP Friday as part of an exclusive partnership with Jay Z’s Tidal, which will find the high-quality streaming service hosting HitNRun beginning September 7th.

The album, co-produced by Art Official Age‘s Joshua Welton, will include the previously released first single “Hardrocklover” featuring Prince’s backing band 3rdEyeGirl. HitNRun was first revealed in a BBC interview in late July, with band members saying, “Super hardcore Prince fans that know every song he’s ever recorded – we refer to them as ‘The Purple Collective’ or ‘The Purple Army’ – this album is absolutely for them, because it’s super funky.”

Prince previously teamed with Tidal to premiere his Freddie Gray-inspired protest song “Baltimore” as well as livestream a benefit concert he played in the Maryland city. In a statement, Prince revealed that the album was written and recorded in less than three months. 

“After one meeting, it was obvious that Jay Z and the team he has assembled at Tidal recognize and applaud the effort that real musicians put in2 their craft 2 achieve the very best they can at this pivotal time in the music industry,” Prince said in a statement. “Secondly, Tidal have honored Us with a non-restrictive arrangement that once again allows Us to continue making art in the fashion We’ve grown accustomed 2 and We’re Extremely grateful 4 their generous support. And lastly, in the tech-savvy, real-time world We all live in 2day, everything is faster. From its conception and that one & only meeting, HitNRun took about 90 days 2 prepare its release. If that’s what freedom feels like, HitNRun is what it sounds like.”

In a statement, Jay Z added, “Prince has always been a visionary, a free-thinker. We’re honored to offer his breadth of work, 1999, Purple Rain, etc., music that has inspired so many, on Tidal. We’re also excited to be the home for his new upcoming album, HitNRun. Both Prince and Tidal share the belief that all creatives should have the opportunity to speak directly to those that love and support them. This partnership with Prince represents Tidal’s philosophy in its truest form, a 1 to 1 connection and direct delivery of artistry to the world.”

HitNRun is named after Prince’s recent string of concert dates where he and 3rd Eye Girl would play surprise pop-up shows in select cities – usually the hometowns of the 3rd Eye Girl members, like Louisville, Kentucky and Toronto – without being tethered to a touring itinerary. No details regarding a HitNRun physical release, if any, have been revealed.

HitNRun is also the latest weapon in an ongoing war between the streaming services to acquire exclusive content, and a powerful response to Apple Music’s sole streaming of Dr. Dre’s Compton, which arrived today.