A prop was written into the show just to get his attention.

Marvel and Netflix’s latest hit, Luke Cage, has already included many hip-hop icons on its soundtrack, its creative team and its cast, but there was one collaborator they tried harder than any to land.

Showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker revealed his dream cameo for the show was Prince and he even included a key story element of the show solely as a way to court his attention. The singer passed away before he ever got the chance.

The "Swear Jar" was for Prince. I was going to show him the first two episodes and convince him to play in episode 13.

— Cheo Hodari Coker (@cheo_coker) October 5, 2016

The “Swear Jar” he refers to is a recurring prop in Pop’s barbershop that later gains an important emotional attachment for the show’s hero. It’s also a reference to Prince’s longstanding distaste for vulgar language and the famous “swear jar” policy he enforced at his Paisley Park complex.

Whether the swear jar will live on once Paisley Park is opened to the public remains to be seen.