Justin Timberlake wrote an emotional tribute on Instagram to Prince following the legendary musician’s death on Thursday morning.
The pop star posted a photo of Prince’s silhouette, accompanied by a caption remembering the first time he heard the singer’s music. “It was ‘Raspberry Beret.’ I was 4 years old. Yes, 4. I remember that I instantly loved it. ‘Mommy, who is that singing?’ Seems weird but it’s true,’ he wrote.
Timberlake’s post continues, dismissing grief in favor of appreciation for Prince’s talent and influence, calling him a “once in forever artist.”
“We should all turn away from that and HONOR this musician that changed all of our lives, our perspectives, our feeling, our whole being,” he wrote. “From another planet? Probably. Royalty, for sure. Us worthy..? Laughable.”
The post also gives a glimpse into Timberlake’s personal relationship with the artist, whom he’s cited as a major influence throughout his career.
“Some of my greatest, funniest (yes, he was hilarious), and most prolific encounters and conversations about music came from the moments that I spent with him,” he wrote.
“We have lost our greatest living musician. But his music will never die,” Timberlake wrote, ending the tribute with the trending hashtag #RIPPrince.