Hello again,

Check out my new interview with T.C. Ellis, an in-depth interview where he talks to his recording the album True Confessions, meeting the Jackson 5, founding High School for Recording Arts, how he got his Paisley Park record deal, being asked to present at Oxford University and much, much more:

http://beautifulnightschi...lks-2.html

[Edited 6/8/13 13:02pm]

[Edited 6/8/13 13:02pm]

Interesting interview.

MissEmeraldCity, I felt like a just read an entire book with that interview. I had to take an intermission before reading the rest of it. I love reading your blogs. You do an excellent job with it. One of my favorite parts to the T.C. Ellis interview:

Excerpt from MissEmeraldCity's blog:

Comments from T.C. Ellis:

"...I still say he's (Prince) that baddest MF out here. Nobody can f*** with Prince when it comes to getting on stage and putting it down musically and rocking. He'll f*** up the baddest white boy on the guitar. He's definitely channeling Jimi Hendrix on his latest tour with 3^rd Eye Girl. He's no joke when it comes to playing that guitar."

[Edited 6/9/13 8:12am]

2elijah said:

For 1985, the "Twin City Rap" aint half bad.

MissEmeraldCity said:

2elijah said:

MissEmeraldCity, I felt like a just read an entire book with that interview. I had to take an intermission before reading the rest of it. I love reading your blogs. You do an excellent job with it. One of my favorite parts to the T.C. Ellis interview:

[Edited 6/9/13 8:12am]

Ha ha. Yeah, my stories are long. I guess that's what happens when you don't have space limits like in a newspaper or magazine. My telephone interviews on average are 1 hour and 30 mins long. So, although, the final product is expansive,there are still some things that are cut out. My background as a newspaper reporter was as a features and entertainment writer, so those stories, by nature were always longer and more detailed. I've always enjoyed reading long books and interviews. I always hated having tons of questions at the end. I guess I'm trying to meet that need here. Lol.

Well, you're doing a fantastic job and becoming quite popular around here!

I'm glad T.C. took the time 2 school some folks on what TIME.....it really is.

Nice intereview.

Excellent interview and maybe now TC will get the respect he deserves

Very interesting. Another well-done interview. I learned a lot about him and it's good to see what he's been up to. Particularly interesting to read about his three-record deal! Good for him for getting paid.

Thanks! Great interview.

Efan said:

Very interesting. Another well-done interview. I learned a lot about him and it's good to see what he's been up to. Particularly interesting to read about his three-record deal! Good for him for getting paid.

Guess P did pay him back...lol

Great interview. Thanks.

Another well made piece, thanks very much

Interesting reading too. I agreed with what he said about Prince's approach to hip-hop.

I´ve always said here on the org what a nice person TC is and I´m glad that TC got the chance to tell his version of the story after being ridiculed here on the org for so many years. I never liked his album because I come from a Hip Hop background but this interview kind of explains what went wrong musically and that TC himself is not too fond of his collaborations with Prince, either. I wonder how the album would´ve turned out if TC had produced it on his own or with Miko, as it was initially planned.

TC is very much on point regarding Prince and Hip Hop. But unlike TC I think he never should´ve dabbled in Hip Hop at all. TC is right, the Hip Hop scene has always admired, loved and respected Prince, regardless of what Prince thought of Rap, but I think he should´ve stayed in the background, maybe supported some acts here and there but trying to rap? I don´t know. Then again, it was inevitable since Prince has always soaked up current trends and styles and incorporated them into his own style.

By the way, Prince HAS supported the Twin Cities Hip Hop scene a few times if I recall correctly. I have heard about financial support for some festivities and local rap groups such as Atmosphere talked about this in interviews. I think Prince had the best intentions but he never really "got" rap and he should´ve stayed true to himself instead of faking it. He didn´t really need to rap, he was already respected for what he is and enjoyed massive respect among Hip Hop fans. I remember my first mixtapes from 1985 would always have some Run DMC, Fat Boys and some odd Prince songs on them. DJ Red Alert used to play Pop Life on his radio show.

It´s amazing how much money one can receive despite NOT releasing three planned albums.

It was really interesting, so far nothing was known of how that album came out, really. Interesting to learn how WB made it happen by being interested in T.C before Prince was, and even more interesting that the album wasn't what T.C. had in mind. I always loved this album, I'm so glad I could read all this! THANKS

Another thing is that T.C. says that Girl O' My Dreams and Bambi (Rap) were done right because Prince did them... WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT??? As far as we knew they had been totally rerecorded by Seacer and Prince was only involved in the recording of Miss Thang... I wish we'd know more about this. T.C., are you here?

That's a great interview.

I disagree with TC about Prince and the rap community of the 80's. It was an adversarial relationship on both sides. Prince, believed that rap was a basic, entry level skill set that literally anyone could do and he looked down on it (btw, it is and that's also the key to it's success). Rappers had no ability to sing or play guitar and they talked isht about those who did. LL Cool J called Prince and MJ out on "Rock The Bells". That set the tone and they would be dissed time and again on many more records throughout the 80's and 90's.

Prince's music was soft linn drum beats, fantasy stage attire, effeminate mannerisms...it was the antithesis of all that rap stood for. In fact, according to DMC, of Run DMC, frustration within the black community with acts like Prince literally spawned the rise of hip-hop itself.

Still Prince was on the set of Krush Groove. He was unwelcome to some extent because hip hop was a fragile movement at that point and the artists had concerns that Prince's star power could overshadow and perhaps even kill the whole thing. He wrote rap songs for Sheila E in the 80's. I don't think he missed the movement. I just think he was better at other things.

funksterr said:

That's a great interview.

I disagree with TC about Prince and the rap community of the 80's. It was an adversarial relationship on both sides. Prince, believed that rap was a basic, entry level skill set that literally anyone could do and he looked down on it (btw, it is and that's also the key to it's success). Rappers had no ability to sing or play guitar and they talked isht about those who did. LL Cool J called Prince and MJ out on "Rock The Bells". That set the tone and they would be dissed time and again on many more records throughout the 80's and 90's.

Prince's music was soft linn drum beats, fantasy stage attire, effeminate mannerisms...it was the antithesis of all that rap stood for. In fact, according to DMC, of Run DMC, frustration within the black community with acts like Prince literally spawned the rise of hip-hop itself.

Still Prince was on the set of Krush Groove. He was unwelcome to some extent because hip hop was a fragile movement at that point and the artists had concerns that Prince's star power could overshadow and perhaps even kill the whole thing. He wrote ONE rap song for Sheila E in the 80's. I don't think he missed the movement. I just think he was better at other things.

funksterr said:

rap was a basic, entry level skill set that literally anyone could do

I don't know about that:

databank said:

funksterr said:

That's a great interview.

I disagree with TC about Prince and the rap community of the 80's. It was an adversarial relationship on both sides. Prince, believed that rap was a basic, entry level skill set that literally anyone could do and he looked down on it (btw, it is and that's also the key to it's success). Rappers had no ability to sing or play guitar and they talked isht about those who did. LL Cool J called Prince and MJ out on "Rock The Bells". That set the tone and they would be dissed time and again on many more records throughout the 80's and 90's.

Prince's music was soft linn drum beats, fantasy stage attire, effeminate mannerisms...it was the antithesis of all that rap stood for. In fact, according to DMC, of Run DMC, frustration within the black community with acts like Prince literally spawned the rise of hip-hop itself.

Still Prince was on the set of Krush Groove. He was unwelcome to some extent because hip hop was a fragile movement at that point and the artists had concerns that Prince's star power could overshadow and perhaps even kill the whole thing. He wrote ONE rap song for Sheila E in the 80's. I don't think he missed the movement. I just think he was better at other things.

Holly Rock and Krush Groove... both written by Prince at his commercial and artistic peak, yet clearly revealed he was out of touch with hip hop and that was clearly a good thing. In some ways, it's fair to say, he's too god for rap.

[Edited 6/17/13 19:26pm]

funksterr said:

databank said:

Holly Rock and Krush Groove... both written by Prince at his commercial and artistic peak, yet clearly revealed he was out of touch with hip hop and that was clearly a good thing. In some ways, it's fair to say, he's too god for rap.

[Edited 6/17/13 19:26pm]

Prince had nothing to do with Krush Groovin' (I guess you mean Krush Groovin' not Krush Groove). Prince only wrote Holy Rock on that OST.

Your remarks are good, though, I didn't mean to deny what you were saying, I was just being picky about facts

Just the very notion of Prince bagging groceries at Will's Supervalue makes me chuckle.

These Dyes interviews are great

I didn't know Sue Ann is T.C.'s sister. I was listening to The Original 7 the other day and heard her vocals. T.C.'s early rap before Prince sounded like old school West Coast party rap. Nice to see him help the youth and give back to the community. One of the best things he said was about Prince telling him to get his stuff going up front. The books can be cooked. Lesson!

On to Prince. @ Prince running off from the job bagging groceries. I don't blame him! He said Prince was about his business, even @ a young age. I do see that touch of street in him, the "pimpish" side comes out (body languange, lingo). Yes, I do see it in his shows He pimp walked on out at The Grammy's this year!