On April 15, 2016, Prince made a chilling post on social media: “Just when you thought you were safe.”
Six days later, he was found dead.

Before his sudden death, Prince had been locked in a tense battle with Jay-Z over the rights to his master recordings — the same masters he had once written “slave” on his face to protect. After fighting for decades to win back ownership of his music from Warner Bros., Prince discovered that even fellow artists could become predators in disguise.

In 2015, Prince signed a short-term deal with Tidal, Jay-Z’s streaming platform, to release one album exclusively for 90 days. But soon after, Tidal allegedly began streaming almost his entire catalog without proper authorization. Prince believed he was witnessing the same exploitative industry tactics — only this time, wrapped in the language of artist empowerment.

Behind closed doors, pressure mounted for Prince to hand over his masters. The man who had fought corporate giants was now facing manipulation from someone he once respected. As he investigated Tidal’s structure, Prince realized it wasn’t as artist-friendly as it appeared. He found disturbing parallels between Tidal and the very record labels he had rebelled against.

Those close to Prince say he became increasingly protective and cautious. He tightened security around Paisley Park, reduced his inner circle, and began documenting what he called “dangerous truths” about powerful figures in the music industry. He spoke about secretive events where young artists were allegedly pressured to compromise themselves to advance their careers.

Then, in April 2016, he died unexpectedly — officially from an accidental fentanyl overdose. But the timing raised suspicions. Friends recalled him once saying, “You know what the elevator is, right? The elevator is the devil.” The fact that he was found lifeless in an elevator struck many as more than coincidence.

A month later, Jay-Z released lyrics that referenced Prince’s death:

“Prince left his masters where they are safe and sound. We are never gonna let the elevator take him down.”
Some fans took it as a tribute; others saw it as something darker — a veiled message.

After his death, Prince’s estate became trapped in complex legal battles with Roc Nation and Tidal, draining resources and preventing deeper investigations into what really happened. The lawsuits revealed that Tidal had streamed large parts of Prince’s catalog without proper authorization — exactly what the artist had feared.

Prince had also voiced subtle criticism of Beyoncé years earlier. In an interview, he once mentioned offering to teach her piano, implying surprise that she lacked deeper musical training. Known for his perfectionism and live musicianship, Prince valued true artistry and authenticity. He also condemned the modern overreliance on sampling, calling it a lazy substitute for creativity. Many interpreted these comments as indirect criticism of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who often used heavy sampling in their hits.

Over the years, Beyoncé has faced repeated accusations of plagiarism and uncredited inspiration — from songwriters, choreographers, and visual artists. Singer BC Jean claimed Beyoncé recorded “If I Were a Boy” after hearing her original demo. Others, like Jennifer Armor, alleged Beyoncé’s “Baby Boy” mirrored their own unreleased tracks. Choreographers and dancers have also accused her of copying their routines without acknowledgment.

Even outspoken artists like Azealia Banks publicly accused Beyoncé of stealing choreography and ideas, calling her brand of “female empowerment” a carefully constructed façade.

For many observers, these recurring controversies gave new weight to Prince’s old warnings about imitation, control, and exploitation in the music industry. Whether through business deals or borrowed art, he saw how power could corrupt creativity — even among those who once claimed to stand for freedom.

Prince’s last message — “Just when you thought you were safe” — now sounds eerily prophetic.