TOMMY BUTLER Feat. CARLTON WILLIAMS – PRISON SONG

Songwriter, composer, and theatrical producer Tommy Butler links up with soul vocalist Carlton Williams for the haunting, cinematic masterpiece Prison Song. Originally released as part of the landmark 1976 musical tribute project The “Selma” Album—executive produced by comedy legend Redd Foxx—the track has gained enduring modern fame as the source of the iconic flute sample famously flipped in Future’s multi-platinum trap anthem “Mask Off.”

The sound design of Prison Song is a masterclass in 1970s orchestrated soul and dramatic arrangement. Written and conceived by Tommy Butler with musical direction by Paul Riser, the instrumental is anchored by a hypnotic, eerie, and instantly recognizable flute melody that drifts over rich string sections, deep Fender Rhodes electric piano chords, a steady mid-tempo drum groove, and soul-stirring choral vocal styling. The arrangement builds a heavy, atmospheric tension that blends theatrical grandiosity with raw, gritty soul undertones.

Lyrically, Prison Song moves far beyond physical incarceration, functioning as a profound meditation on societal confinement, systemic oppression, and spiritual liberation. Carlton Williams delivers a powerful, deeply emotive vocal performance, carrying lines that ponder the nature of captivity and suffering while looking toward higher spiritual deliverance with phrases like “Oh my lord, praise him be / Set your poor people free.”

Prison Song stands out as a timeless, culturally significant hidden gem of 1970s soul. For crate-diggers, hip-hop historians, and classic soul aficionados, the track bridges the gap between mid-century civil rights-inspired art and modern hip-hop history, offering an unforgettable sonic journey with immense historical and artistic weight.