Alicia Keys celebrates Swizz Beatz's ex in new song

Alicia Keys is giving thanks to her husband Swizz Beatz's ex-wife Mashonda on her new single Blended Family (What You Do For Love), which is dedicated to her stepson.

The R&B superstar announced the planned release of the A$AP Rocky collaboration online on Thursday night (06Oct16), when she explained the song is an ode to her family and details the love she has for Swizz and Mashonda's boy, Kasseem Dean, Jr., and the respect she has for the kid's mother.

"I'm so excited for you to hear this song. It means so much to me and our whole family," she wrote on Facebook.com. "The understanding, compassion and support we've found is a powerful testament to the healing that comes when we choose love. Especially for the kids... the most important part of our lives. Celebrating Mashonda Tifrere for our commitment to each other with support and true growth."

The track debuted on Friday (07Oct16), and in the heartfelt lyrics, Alicia acknowledges her relationship with the hip-hop producer didn't get off the to best start, as singer Mashonda famously accused Swizz of cheating on her with the No One hitmaker before they officially split in 2008.

On the tune, Alicia sings to Kasseem, now nine, "I know it started with a little drama/I hate that you had to read it in the paper/But everything's alright with me and your mama/Baby, everybody here you know adores ya".

Swizz and Mashonda finalized their divorce in 2010, months before he wed Keys on the French island of Corsica that July (10). Alicia gave birth to their first son, Egypt, in October, 2010, while their second child, another boy named Genesis, was born in December, 2014. Swizz also has two other children from previous relationships.

Hours after releasing Blended Family (What You Do For Love), Alicia returned to social media to further explain the meaning behind the track, which will feature on her new album, Here.

She added, "To me, family has no singular definition and the modern family is made up of all kinds of beautiful people willing to put love first.

"I can't wait for you to hear this whole body of work. Thank you for listening, thank you for loving, and thank you for believing in the power and magic of the music!"

Here, which hits retailers on 4 November (16), will be Alicia's sixth studio album, which she describes as her "most raw and honest creation yet".

Keys released her last album, Girl on Fire, in 2012.