Justin Timberlake is feeling "overwhelming grief" over the death of Prince.
Justin Timberlake
The 'SexyBack' hitmaker paid an emotional tribute to the late singer - who was found dead at his Paisley Park estate on Thursday (21.04.16) - but urged fans to "honour" the "once in forever" artist rather than just mourn him.
He wrote on Instagram: "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.
"More than a "once in a lifetime" artist... Just a ONCE IN FOREVER ARTIST.
"I'm still in shock as I write this and I feel this overwhelming grief. But, we should all turn away from that and HONOR this musician that changed all of our lives, our perspectives, our feeling, our whole being.
"From another planet? Probably. Royalty, for sure. Us worthy..? Laughable. (sic)"
The 35-year-old singer was fortunate to have met Prince and always enjoyed their conversations.
He continued: "They say don't meet your idols... That they let you down. But, 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."
And the former 'NSync singer admitted the 'Diamonds and Pearls' hitmaker is "somewhere within" every song he has written.
He concluded: "It would be silly to say that he has inspired our music... It's beyond that. He's somewhere within every song I've ever written. I am sad, but I will smile when I think of every second that I had the fortune of being in his company. We have lost our greatest living musician. But his music will never die. Prince, NOTHING COMPARES... #RIPPrince (sic)"
Justin's lengthy Instagram tribute came after he admitted on Twitter the news had left him "numb".
He posted: "Numb. Stunned. This can't be real.(sic)"
Tagged in Justin Timberlake Prince