Jay Z releases song in response to US police shooting of two black men

Jay Z has released a new song in response to the police shooting of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.

Sterling died on Tuesday after being pinned down by two white police officers. A day later, a Minnesota officer shot Philando Castile as he sat his in car with his partner and four-year-old child.

The rapper said he wrote the song 'Spiritual' after the shooting of Michael Brown in 2014, but never finished it.

Mr Brown, 18, was shot dead by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014, sparking mass protests and rioting.

The death of Michael Brown in 2014 sparked national protests and demonstrations. Credit: PA

Jay Z uploaded the song on to his streaming site Tidal on Friday morning, along with a statement condemning police brutality.

He said the co-president of record label TDE, Terrence Henderson, "told me I should drop it when Mike Brown died, sadly I told him, 'this issue will always be relevant'. I'm hurt that I knew his death wouldn't be the last.

"I'm saddened and disappointed in THIS America - we should be further along. WE ARE NOT.

"I trust God and know everything that happens is for our greatest good, but man.... it's tough right now."

Meanwhile his wife, Beyonce, held a minute's silence during her concert in Glasgow on Thursday evening.

She was joined by will.i.am, T-Raww and Kelly Rowland in showing support to the black victims of police brutality.