The genre-defying Atlanta-area teenage prodigy Raury showed tremendous promise on last year’s folk/soul/hip-hop conglomerate Indigo Child, and his latest single absolutely cashes in on that promise. “Fly,” a collaboration with Malik Shakur, was written right after Raury found out Darren Wilson would not be indicted for killing Michael Brown. It’s a soaring acoustic ballad, heartbroken but hopeful, alternately gentle and hellaciously urgent as Raury imagines a better future for his own son someday. The spare, solemn verses and the world-conquering swells of the chorus are both captivating, but what really knocked me in the gut was the spoken-word outro, where Raury spouts phrases like “I hope my son dreams to be mountains” and “I hope he never becomes a hashtag” and “I hope he knows it’s OK to love.” It’s one of the most powerful responses yet to the heartrending turn of events in Ferguson. Listen to it.

Raury tweeted extensively about “Fly” yesterday:

I wrote Fly right after hearing that Darren Wilson was not being indicted for murdering Mike Brown. I wrote it instantly…

— indigo Child (@Raury) January 13, 2015

The words and music didn't even feel like mine. I knew that this track belonged to the universe. #Fly

— indigo Child (@Raury) January 13, 2015

#Fly is a reset button on the revolution.

— indigo Child (@Raury) January 13, 2015

I know it's a new year but we can't forget what happened and that they have been Killing our people, your people, my people. #Fly

— indigo Child (@Raury) January 13, 2015

I wear the scars and mourn the deaths and also look on the bright side to help us find peace in the fact that they fly in heaven now. #Fly

— indigo Child (@Raury) January 13, 2015

Featuring my best friend @lovemalikshakur he also felt the need to express his hope for the future and the growth of black excellence. #Fly

— indigo Child (@Raury) January 13, 2015

Fellow #indigoChild @lovemalikshakur also looks to walk along with me in the healing of the world through love and high frequency music #Fly

— indigo Child (@Raury) January 13, 2015

In LA @lovemalikshakur recorded with me in the midst of America trying to Capture his Aunt #AssataShakur #Fly

— indigo Child (@Raury) January 13, 2015

Deep in my heart I know everything is going to be alright.

— indigo Child (@Raury) January 13, 2015