laurarichardson said:

Oh Lord, it would be purple mayhem!

laurarichardson said:

Just because someone briefly dated Prince does not make them entitled to a portion of Prince's wealth.

BillieBalloon said:

-- Some of these chicks may feel differently. Any way with no will no chance of any of them getting anything unless their is a baby somewhere.
[Edited 9/28/16 14:04pm]

laurarichardson said:

laurarichardson said:

Wills don't have to be about just the money though. It could be personal items of jewellery, or his clothing, instruments etc. Thinking about it I can see why he didn't bother with a will. I've witnessed first hand family fallouts because one member of the family was left something the other family member wanted. Leaving a will or not leaving one can cause a lot of disharmony between people. Very sad, but it does happen.

clairew1975 said:

That's what I like about Jill. No bs'ing, no sugarcoating, no ass kissing, no appeasing. Stay real Jill.

2elijah said:

Wow. It's disappointing, yet not surprising, to learn that some fans thought that way about Prince.

Prince was not only proud of his Black identity, he also had a deep analysis about the racial, economic and social conditions communities of color face & was very concerned about that.

This is an important aspect of Prince that should never be ignored nor diminished.

2elijah said:

clairew1975 said:

I follow JJ on Instagram and she strikes me as a very direct and upfront person. She doesn't sugarcoat her words at all. I found this interview very insightful but it did make me chuckle when she referenced "plantation mistresses" - I really don't know he managed to control all of these women and it not turn into a cat fight . I agree with her that there are so many trying to place themselves in ranking order of how "close" they were to him. Ive read stories on Twitter & Instagram where they all share similar stories of late night conversations, movie nights, drives in his car, emails. I think some of these women may be a little hurt but they can't confront P so they are bitching over social media!

That's what I like about Jill. No bs'ing, no sugarcoating, no ass kissing, no appeasing. Stay real Jill.

Goddess4Real said:

2elijah said:

clairew1975 said: That's what I like about Jill. No bs'ing, no sugarcoating, no ass kissing, no appeasing. Stay real Jill.

uncut funk

jaawwnn said:

tab32792 said:

don't you know you're not allowed to talk about W&L on here unless it's praise or giving them all the credit? lol anyway, this was a great article. after Prince's death a lot of people on FB groups kept talking about him transcending race and not seeing color whatever the hell that even means. All the while, as years went on Prince affirmed his blackness. i'm proud of him.

I think you're giving a little too much credit to Wendy & Lisa, sure didn't Prince drop them when he was done with them as well? And hasn't Dez always stated that he left because he wanted to?

She was there though, not me

* Dez Dickerson in Purple

After your departure from Prince's band, how did you react to the offhanded way he addressed your departure in the “Extraloveable” outtake? It seemed like it could have been good-natured ribbing or meant as pointedly nasty; since Prince has very rarely let the public in on how his sense of humor is keyed, we may never know. (Speaking as a fan, it seems tacky, particularly since he chose to do so in one of his filthiest songs.)

My departure from the band was discussed and planned — I had the option of re-upping for an additional three years after the 1999 tour, or leaving with the full support of Prince and management to launch the solo career he and I agreed I would pursue at some point. The lyric was, as always, a calculated reference meant to provoke speculation — which it did, and still does.

Having been around during Gayle Chapman's alienation (and later, departure) from Prince's band due to nastiness in the material, did that affect you in your own religious awakening and reaction to the sexual theatre that comprised much of the Dirty Mind, Controversy and 1999 tours?

After having been "raised in the church" but opting out at age 16, I had a profound salvation experience on the Christmas break from the Dirty Mind tour in 1980. Unlike the classic "come to Jesus" testimony of the fallen rocker who finds himself in the gutter, drug-addled and penniless, and surrenders his or her life to Christ, mine was a mountaintop epiphany. I was doing everything I ever wanted to do, but found it hollow and unfulfilling. On Dec. 22, 1980, in the living room of my house on Castle Ave. in North St. Paul, Minn., at about 11:30 p.m., I had what I can only describe as a divine encounter, and, in a moment of time, recognized that it was the relationship with the living God, from Whom I had bolted, that I really needed, not attempting to become a guitar-playing god myself.

After that, I went back out on the road with a radically changed perspective, although I remained in the group for almost three more years. Eventually, it was the realization that the incongruity of who I needed to be and who I had to be as "the guy with the kamikaze headband" was changing me in ways that made me difficult to live with. Ultimately, when you know it's time to turn the page, nothing else matters but going out and doing what you are, as opposed to continuing to do what you've always done, what makes you famous, etc.

"me difficult to live with." He's talking about a person or persons right there.

iZsaZsa said:

"me difficult to live with." He's talking about a person or persons right there.

dez is referring to himself. he has often said that he was so miserable straddling the fence(with his faith conversion) that it made him a jerk to deal with on tour. alan leeds, jill and lisa have all spoken about dez and his wife being hell on wheels during the last part of the 1999 tour.

wavesofbliss said:

That's what I meant, he was told he was no longer welcome. It was his decision to leave, but he was helped.

I don't need Jill's interview to confirm that Prince felt comfortable with his blackness. He played the Hollywood game to crossover in the 80s though to act like he and his music transcend race. That is a strategy a lot of black celebrities played to crossover. So I got Prince and I really understood what he did even though some black people questioned and ridicule his choices but to some black people's defense in the end they understood and respect him and his sometimes wacky decisions. Prince is a voice and our kingqueen for us gender bendering black queer outcasts because it felt like we were too weird for black people and too black for white people.

And yes I knew despite that Latin American descent article that read about Jill back in the 90s, I knew she was black before she also mentioned years later in 2001.

Latin said:

2elijah said:

True, because some fans over the years, have tried to say he wasn't.

Wow. It's disappointing, yet not surprising, to learn that some fans thought that way about Prince. Prince was not only proud of his Black identity, he also had a deep analysis about the racial, economic and social conditions communities of color face & was very concerned about that. This is an important aspect of Prince that should never be ignored nor diminished.

Yeah some fans think Prince was some colorblind, transcending musician. He played that image just for marketing. Even some of his associates (like Dez) said Prince often played the public in regards to his identities but at the end of the day he is very proud and comfortable with his blackness and he had no problem address racism. He also was a woman rights activist in his own way even though he wasnt perfect when it comes to treatment of women, he still hired them and also respect them and loved being around them. I also believed Prince was a femsexual as he liked to be around people who are feminine regardless of their gender identity.

ladygirl99 said:

I don't get this. One can be "comfortable with their blackness" and still be colorblind. Go to any Prince concert; look at photos of people paying tribute outside PP after his passing; it's clearly evident he trancended race.

laurarichardson said:

LuxLove said:

I don't know what you mean, who is being dismissive?

"Regarding Kim Upsher Dr. Funk says on his latest podcast that Prince only found out she died when the go fund me page was created & he paid for the funeral. "

Did you not type this? Many people going on after he died how he transended race !!, Many people on this board constantly caring on about Wendy and Lisa as if he the sun rises and sets on their exsistence, People not giving Andre, Dez and Mark Brown for making that Revolution show pop and just the general lack of interest when anyone brings up his association with his black peers or friends.

Well I asked because I wondered if you meant I was being dismissive of Kim so just wanted to clarify I'm just saying if JJ says they were close throughout it's odd that Prince discovered her death the way he did. If you meant I was being dismissive I was just pointing out the obvious. Dr. F is just saying what he knows so he wasn't being dismissive either.

I'm confused why your responses to me mention race since I made no mention of it.

rogifan said:

ladygirl99 said:

Yeah some fans think Prince was some colorblind, transcending musician. He played that image just for marketing. Even some of his associates (like Dez) said Prince often played the public in regards to his identities but at the end of the day he is very proud and comfortable with his blackness and he had no problem address racism. He also was a woman rights activist in his own way even though he wasnt perfect when it comes to treatment of women, he still hired them and also respect them and loved being around them. I also believed Prince was a femsexual as he liked to be around people who are feminine regardless of their gender identity.

I don't get this. One can be "comfortable with their blackness" and still be colorblind. Go to any Prince concert; look at photos of people paying tribute outside PP after his passing; it's clearly evident he trancended race.

Stop saying he transended race because it makes it seem like he did not care about race issues at all and that was not the case. You can have a wide fanbase of different ethic groups and still not lose your cultrual identity. He is one of the few black performers who crossed over but never really left his roots. It is quite a accompolishment if you know anything about the entertainment industry in the 80s.

LuxLove said:

laurarichardson said:

"Regarding Kim Upsher Dr. Funk says on his latest podcast that Prince only found out she died when the go fund me page was created & he paid for the funeral. "

Did you not type this? Many people going on after he died how he transended race !!, Many people on this board constantly caring on about Wendy and Lisa as if he the sun rises and sets on their exsistence, People not giving Andre, Dez and Mark Brown for making that Revolution show pop and just the general lack of interest when anyone brings up his association with his black peers or friends.

Well I asked because I wondered if you meant I was being dismissive of Kim so just wanted to clarify I'm just saying if JJ says they were close throughout it's odd that Prince discovered her death the way he did. If you meant I was being dismissive I was just pointing out the obvious. Dr. F is just saying what he knows so he wasn't being dismissive either.

I'm confused why your responses to me mention race since I made no mention of it.

Perhaps I am wrong about your post but it is par for the course for people on this board to be dismissive of P black peers, friends and associates. Just because he did not know about her death does not mean she was not important to him. For all we know she may have decided not to be in contact with him and he just accepted it.

rogifan said:

I think you mean one can be comfortable with their race, accept all races, but not be so ignorant to the point they pretend no racial injustices exists. To be colorblind, is dismissing and disrespecting the value, existence, culture, of those who identify racially different from another, and pretending there is racial harmony, while ignoring/pretending no racial injustices exists.


Remember, Prince got heavily criticized by some fans when he released the Rainbow children, and other songs that were socially conscious/political songs, including those regarding race.

On another note, I believe so many of his Revolution fans got ass-whipped by the Revolution era, that when Prince released himself from the Revolution band, released and his music went towards the direction of R&b/funk, it seems it was hard for some fans to associate 'that kind' of music from their revolutionized, so-to-speak, Prince. Some thought it was a phase or he was trying to keep up with the new generation of rap artists coming on the scene and taking the music industry by storm.

As far as his race, some fans often twisted some of his comments from interviews, to fit what they wanted to believe of him, just to claim Prince was saying he wasn't Black. Especially when it was often said he didn't want to be labeled as just another Black or R&b artist, and by that, some assumed Prince was saying he didn't want to be identified as Black, but apparently it was more about him not wanting to be pigeon-holed by record execs, labeling him as a Black artist who only played r&b, as he had other music skills/interests to share with the world.

laurarichardson said:

rogifan said:

ladygirl99 said: I don't get this. One can be "comfortable with their blackness" and still be colorblind. Go to any Prince concert; look at photos of people paying tribute outside PP after his passing; it's clearly evident he trancended race.

Stop saying he transended race because it makes it seem like he did not care about race issues at all and that was not the case. You can have a wide fanbase of different ethic groups and still not lose your cultrual identity. He is one of the few black performers who crossed over but never really left his roots. It is quite a accompolishment if you know anything about the entertainment industry in the 80s.

It only means that if you don't know the definition of "transcend" - which is to go beyond or rise above the limits of a something. In transcending race - and gender, for that matter - Prince did not lost his cultural or sexual identities, or cease to care about issues regarding same. He just didn't allow them to limit him or the art he created. And thank God for that.

Genesia said:

laurarichardson said:

Stop saying he transended race because it makes it seem like he did not care about race issues at all and that was not the case. You can have a wide fanbase of different ethic groups and still not lose your cultrual identity. He is one of the few black performers who crossed over but never really left his roots. It is quite a accompolishment if you know anything about the entertainment industry in the 80s.

It only means that if you don't know the definition of "transcend" - which is to go beyond or rise above the limits of a something. In transcending race - and gender, for that matter - Prince did not lose his cultural or sexual identities, or cease to care about issues regarding same. He just didn't allow them to limit him or the art he created. And thank God for that.

looks like class is in session

2elijah said:

Hmm...it seems to me other fans are twisting things to believe what they want to believe. I've never said I believe Prince was trying to deny or ignore his blackness.

laurarichardson said:

Definition of transcend: be or go beyond the range or limits of (something abstract, typically a conceptual field or division)

Like I said, go to a Prince concert and you'd see an incredibly diverse audience. It wasn't just black people who bought his records and went to his concerts. And the last band he had was made up of three white chicks. I've never said Prince tried to reject his blackness or didn't care about the black community. That's not what transcending race means.

rogifan said:

Definition of transcend: be or go beyond the range or limits of (something abstract, typically a conceptual field or division) Like I said, go to a Prince concert and you'd see an incredibly diverse audience. It wasn't just black people who bought his records and went to his concerts. And the last band he had was made up of three white chicks. I've never said Prince tried to reject his blackness or didn't care about the black community. That's not what transcending race means.

Agreed.

laurarichardson said:

LuxLove said:

Well I asked because I wondered if you meant I was being dismissive of Kim so just wanted to clarify I'm just saying if JJ says they were close throughout it's odd that Prince discovered her death the way he did. If you meant I was being dismissive I was just pointing out the obvious. Dr. F is just saying what he knows so he wasn't being dismissive either.

I'm confused why your responses to me mention race since I made no mention of it.

Perhaps I am wrong about your post but it is par for the course for people on this board to be dismissive of P black peers, friends and associates. Just because he did not know about her death does not mean she was not important to him. For all we know she may have decided not to be in contact with him and he just accepted it.

Oh yeah I know the org mostly can't deal with blackness but I know better than to talk race here because it can never be an intelligent conversation & it'll piss me off. Sometimes people seem pissed if they're reminded he's black. You should listen to dr. funk podcast if you haven't already because he had Dave back on & he explained why it's important to acknowledge Prince as a black artist. Everyone needs to hear that podcast. It's like yeah he transcended race but he was a free black man which is huge but I guess not everyone will get that which is understandable because if people only know their experience then they won't get why it's a big deal. There is much to be said about the importance of him in relation to race but I really don't think it will ever be a conversation that can take place on this board without desending into chaos from what I've seen before.

I've no doubt Kim was important to him but it still sucks that he learned of her death that way.

rogifan said:

ladygirl99 said:

Yeah some fans think Prince was some colorblind, transcending musician. He played that image just for marketing. Even some of his associates (like Dez) said Prince often played the public in regards to his identities but at the end of the day he is very proud and comfortable with his blackness and he had no problem address racism. He also was a woman rights activist in his own way even though he wasnt perfect when it comes to treatment of women, he still hired them and also respect them and loved being around them. I also believed Prince was a femsexual as he liked to be around people who are feminine regardless of their gender identity.

I don't get this. One can be "comfortable with their blackness" and still be colorblind. Go to any Prince concert; look at photos of people paying tribute outside PP after his passing; it's clearly evident he trancended race.

True, I agree with you but...

the transcending race thing I think is a bit sensitive because I think for some it's like why can't it just be acknowledged that he's a black artist who was insanely popular, why does it have to be he "transcended race" because that suggests he was an acceptable form of black. I dunno I'm not explaining well & am reluctant to go further but I'm honestly just guessing & offering a possible explanation why people get annoyed by the T word.

rogifan said:

Didn't mean you, I was talking about Prince's stance on not allowing anyone to pigeon-hole him into limiting or classifying him, as just another Black artist who only plays r&b, because his creative music skills/knowledge went beyond that category. Some fans took that as Prince not wanting to be classified as Black, when that wasn't the case. Prince, of course, succeeded in becoming an internationally-known artist, and his music still touches so many.

There were many musicians before him whose music crossed over to a racially-mixed audience. I see Jill's point though. about near the last few years of his life where he worked with a lot of new Black, female artists, and promoting their music, and his interests/concerns for the Black community.

LuxLove said:

Yes unfortunately the topic of Prince's racial identity has been difficult at times to discuss on this site. Often times those threads get shut down. But I'll take Jill's words regarding Prince embracing who he was as a Black man, as she was, among others, had a personal relationship/friendship with him. Prince will always be one of the best and most creative, Black American artist/musician of all time. He is greatly missed by so many.
[Edited 9/29/16 9:18am]

Interesting concept

almost reminds me of the part in PR the movie where he didn't want Apollonia in his life musically so he could continue to be romantic with her