Alicia Keys Rises Up on New Single 'Underdog'

Alicia Keys rises up.

Ahead of her new album this spring, the R&B powerhouse returns with a new single and video for “Underdog.” The uplifting anthem was co-written with Ed Sheeran and co-produced by Johnny McDaid (Sheeran, P!nk).

“This goes out to the underdog / Keep on keeping at what you love,” sings Keys. “You’ll find that someday soon enough / You’re gonna rise up, rise up, yeah.”

In the accompanying video, directed by Wendy Morgan, Keys–donning her signature braids–stands up for underdogs everywhere, including a street peddler and a young girl in a hijab headed to prom with her friends.

“Some people may think of the word underdog as a negative word but I see it as a powerful word representing people who may be underestimated and yet still rise to the challenge and exceed expectations,” said Alicia. “I love this song so much because it’s about real life and real people and our experiences. We’ve all been in a place in our lives where we’ve had to defy the odds. It’s never easy. One of my favorite lyrics in the song is, ‘They say I would never make it but I was built to break the mold.’ I don’t think there’s a person on the planet that hasn’t felt that way.”

“Underdog” is the latest offering from ALICIA, Keys’ upcoming seventh studio album, which has already spawned singles including “Time Machine” and the Miguel-assisted duet “Show Me Love.”

Alicia has a big year ahead. On Jan. 26, the 15-time Grammy winner will return to host the Grammy Awards for the second consecutive year. Her memoir More Myself: A Journey hits bookstores on March 31 via Flatiron Books.