{{{There's a Prince song on Kip Blackshire's upcoming album, although
apparently it was due to be released in September 2002.
http://www.soixante-trois.com/kip.asp


"I am Kip Blackshire, a native of Pine Bluff, AR. At age 26, am the
youngest of three boys who all sang in a gospel quartet in the church growing up. I am also a part of the third generation of four generations of gospel singers in my family.

Routing from Houston, TX where I lived for 2 years, my brothers and I sent a 9-song demo to Minneapolis, MN where Mr. Hayes of the NPG resides. He liked what he heard so much that he took a chance and flew me to Minneapolis to give me an opportunity to try and cut a better sounding demo at his studio.
I took the offer and three months later he took me to Paisley Park in June 1999 because they were having a private jam session with Carlos Santana after his concert at the Target Center. I went and with him and this is where the fun begins.}}}

I was just standing there watching, when I decided to pick up a basketball and started shooting. Prince ran out and started playing defense on me. This was pretty overwhelming but I just shot around and he asked me to come back the next day to shoot around with him and the rest of the band. I was on the team with the boss, and I must add that he's got game. So we finished shooting around and took a break. He left the room and I went to the bathroom only to find out that I liked the acoustics of this restroom and started singing a familiar song by K-Ci and Jojo. So I left the restroom and went to watch them rehearse in the party room when he walked up from behind me and asked me to come to the stage and jam to see if I could sing for real. I took the chance and I guess it's safe to say that he liked what he heard, because that day rehearsal was cut short and I was summoned to Studio A to record on the Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic Album in '99.
This gave me the opportunity to sing and play with Prince and the NPG in
front of Clive Davis at the record release party New York. In November of that year I toured with Prince in London, France, Spain, Germany, and The Netherlands. This was the beginning of a great professional career for me.
After the tour we did the 1999 New Year's Eve special Rave Un2 the Year
2000, which was aired on MTV and Vhl all over the world. I also had the
privilege of singing a trio of "Everyday is a Winding Road" with artist
like Sheryl Crow at a well-known night club/bar called Bunker's in Minneapolis. I got the opportunity to sing "Somebody Loves You" with Patti Labelle by way of Prince getting me on the stage to sing with her, and I must say that she was pleased.
I appeared in one of Prince's latest videos "U Make My Sunshine" a duo
with Angie Stone. I was also privileged to share the stage with others like Larry Graham of Sly and the Family Stone and Graham Central Station, Lenny Kravitz, Common Sense, Erykah Badu, Deborah Cox, and the list goes on and on.

Currently I have worked long and hard on my record to make it a success.
Prince has blessed me with a song, as I have produced the main portion of this record with my brothers and others like Mr. Hayes my mentor. I have always kept a positive attitude in saying "As long as you keep your head to the sky, you can win," and that is in the plan of action."

Kip's voice is great...
however hearing him live,he cant seem 2 hold a note 2 save his life.
dunno what he sounds like now tho...that stuff i know mainly is from the H'N'R tour & Rave gig.

Joshy84au said:

Kip can SING...anytime i have heard him sing live he has done a great job...ill definitely be buying his album...

Dude has a nice voice and I wish him great success with his cd when it actually comes out. He always sounded good in the concerts that I attended.Plus he is from the great state of Arkansas so that is an added point.

Kips voice is quite irritating. I am glad however that he is coming out with his own album so that I don't have to be irritated hearing him on Prince's. I never thought that he mixed good with the NPG anyway. He's just not Prince material. He looked downright foolish on the Rave Un2 the joy 2000 videotape. He has NO fashion sense and I hope that I NEVER have to hear him on another Prince album again. Prince truly did him a favor by even dealing with him.

damn u know u can't please everybody.. negativity always nipping at your heels...
Kip good luck baby, I think your have a great voice!
and

Hooray for Kip!!

I think he has a beautiful voice and am very happy for him. You go boy!