“They Were There for the Singer’s Kids”: The Secret Behind Prince’s Vault of Thousands of Unreleased Songs
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Nearly a decade after his passing, Prince’s legendary vault—the mysterious archive said to contain thousands of unreleased songs—continues to fascinate fans, historians, and music industry insiders alike. But according to one of his closest collaborators, the late icon’s private musical treasure wasn’t meant for the world at all.
Prince, it turns out, had left a specific instruction for his longtime keyboardist Morris Hayes: the songs in his vault were not meant for record labels, radio airplay, or even posthumous fame. They were there “for his kids.”
The Vault: A Secret Empire of Sound
Prince’s vault is one of modern music’s great enigmas—an underground chamber of recorded history that holds an estimated 100 albums’ worth of unreleased material. When he died in April 2016, reports indicated that much of the collection was stored deep within his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota, where the artist lived and recorded for decades.
As a perfectionist and prolific creator, Prince was known to record constantly. He often completed songs only to move on from them, stashing away entire projects that never saw release. Author John McKie, who investigated the archive for a recent biography, explained that the scale of the collection dwarfs anything fans have heard:
“Prince released about 40 studio albums, but there is probably a minimum of 100 albums in the vault unreleased—not including live shows,” McKie told The Mirror.
According to McKie, Morris Hayes revealed that Prince once told him:
“There is stuff in [the vault] that’s better than Purple Rain.”
But when Hayes asked if the public would ever get to hear it, Prince’s response was unequivocal:
“They’re there for my kids.”
A Father’s Private Gift
The revelation reframes the purpose of the vault—not as an archive for commercial release, but as a personal inheritance, a musical time capsule intended for his children.
While Prince’s career was defined by artistic independence and innovation, he was also famously protective of his work and image. His decision to keep much of his material private was in keeping with his lifelong commitment to creative control.
Still, some close to the star, including his sister Tyka Nelson, believe he wanted fans to hear at least a portion of the music eventually.
In a 2017 interview, Nelson told The Sun:
“It was always Prince’s plan to release those songs. I want what Prince wants… So as soon as we can release it, don’t worry – we sure will.”
Her words reflected both familial devotion and the weight of responsibility in handling one of the most significant music legacies in history.
The Unveiling Begins: Welcome 2 America and Beyond
Fans finally got a glimpse into the vault in 2021, when the posthumous album Welcome 2 America—originally recorded in 2010—was released. The project showcased Prince’s political insight and musical experimentation, confirming the extraordinary depth of material still unreleased.
At the time, Tyka Nelson reaffirmed her mission in an interview with Rolling Stone:
“I won’t get off this planet until he gets every single solitary thing he worked so hard for and preserved for all of the world to hear.”
Since then, several vault projects have surfaced, but experts suggest the majority—potentially thousands of songs—remains unheard.
The Legacy of the Vault
The vault’s contents remain one of music’s most tantalizing mysteries. From funk and soul to jazz experiments and symphonic compositions, its rumored range mirrors Prince’s relentless curiosity and genre-defying genius.
Yet beyond the myth lies a more intimate truth. The vault, according to Prince’s own words, wasn’t built to feed an industry or preserve an image—it was built for family.
It’s a reminder that even for a superstar who revolutionized music, ownership, and artistry, the most precious legacy wasn’t fame—it was the love and inheritance of his children.
And so, in the heart of Los Angeles, where the collection was relocated in 2017 for safekeeping, Prince’s songs still wait—not just as unreleased recordings, but as living echoes of a father’s final gift.
