Of course Prince wants to make money...who doesn't, Of course Prince has been self-indulgent a-hole. Of course Prince is part of the machine, but the machine didn't make Prince. Prince made Prince.

There is a difference between making a shit load of money with someone stepping on your neck and telling how you where you need to be and what music you should be making or making money that's all yours (or at least the lions share of the profits are yours) and working in the industry how you want to work within it. Outside of being an other-worldly musical talent, Prince is a FIERCELY INDEPENDENT person. Most people aren't. If you aren't, you will never understand why he did what he did and keep knocking him. So it isn't surprising to read some of these negative comments about his business decision making. I thought he was wacky with the slave thing, in fact I hated that period. But after he explained why he did it in several interviews, I got it. Prince signed a deal, at the end of the disco-era, when he was 19 or 20 years old. He was a ridiculously talented kid who got a great deal....at the time. When you are that keyed into yourself, your talent and know your worth, and have faith in your abilities, you don't want to settle....it's impossible to settle. Especially being indulged like he was with the earlier Warner regime. Of course if someone says hey...here's a bizillion dollars yadda yadda yadda, anyones knee-jerk reaction is to take it. But if you're a person like Prince, at the end of the day you start to really look at what all that means and that they were probably going to make him jump through hoops and keep his masters on top of that, he was like "fuck this shit". He decided to take his chances and do things his way, That's him. No one has that kind of nerve. He's extremely, respected, made it to the Rockin n Roll Hall of fame (first time being nominated), is an "in demand" free agent (most artist would kill for that) and has made lot of great music, and even with a crappy record, still SELLS OUT
MAJOR CONCERT VENUES and he's rich as fuck ON HIS OWN TERMS!!!!. I'm still praying for something to top SOTT and I'm not thrilled about the JW conversion, but I'll always dig Prince for doing things his way, even if I don't get it sometimes. Prince is chillin'

muirdo said:

that's what I'm wondering


several times throughout this thread,Eric Benet's name is mentioned.Could he be the "grasshopper"?

funny how he decided to "really look at what it all means" and said "fuck this shit" AFTER he renewed his contract. i'd like to feel for him in theis situation just as much as anyone else. but sympathy aint due, prince knew the deal. he aint stupid. hell he shoulda knew the deal in 78 when he signed the first deal. last time i checked he was takin music biz classes or something like that. but he gets my sympathy on that one cuz i chalk it up to being young and starry eyed.

oh yea and a couple of other people do have that kinda nerve. Two great examples being Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles

DiamondGirl said:

Yet another mature response..

NewPowerSista said:

Don't get your panties all in a bunch. First of all, YOU mentioned the chat,so why would you want to be upset about a chat quotation used here from a publicly posted chat?? If you believe in what you say, stand by it. I posted the direct quotes not, as you say, to "bolster" my stance. But so that I myself wouldn't misquote anyone. My stance and opinion STILL remain the same. Although I have read several thoughful, and well written, non attacking rebuttals to my opinion, Still I have not changed it. And nor will your tirade change my mind either. Nor do I feel I have been "hostile" in voicing that said opinion. Now, instead of getting all hostile youself, you need to rethink your response. I respect your opinion, you respect mine.

BTW...My screenname has nothing to do with Eric Benet. The "E" is in conjuction with the "6", as in "sexy"...True Sexy Diva (tru6ediva).

Some of ya'll need to take a little break from the internet, waaaay too uptight. To those who have given me some food for thought through your intellegent, well written, and for some of you, factful, comments. Thank You. To the others: try getting some fresh air.
[Edited 8/17/05 15:23pm]
[Edited 8/17/05 15:25pm]
[Edited 8/17/05 15:27pm]

MistyCotton said:

Unh, Huh~!

UndercovaBrotha said:

too funny! LOL!!!

tru6ediva said:

Ha ha ha such nerve. Please don't go there. You're the one who is bringing your pent up feelings from reading ANOTHER site here and complaining about the content you witnessed.

DiamondGirl said:

Yes, I went THERE.

Pent up, meaning I've held the feelings in a while, and boo fuckin' hoo, I've been crying about it so fuckin' long. NOT! It happened, I vented, I'm so ovah it. But you do make me feel like the diva that I am by trying to insult me. Must've sparked some interest because you not only read this thread, but you CHOSE to respond to it, negatively perhaps, but a response none the less. You may not like what I'm playing, but still you eagerly dance to it.

tru6ediva said:

You know what? You clearly are the one who needs a break since you have chosen to try to respond to everyone who disagrees with you. I can see that you truly enjoy this back and forth. I don't. This is my last post on the issue so you can reply if you wish but I have nothing else to say to you about it----once I finish here. I only want to tell you, one, my panties are not in a bunch, thank you; two, what I said to you was clearly NOT a tirade because I don't get into those on here; three, all I suggested was that you rethink what you THOUGHT was said in reply to my question.

Only someone who also subscribes to the other club would make the assumption that I did about your screen name and I apologize for that.

Interestingly enough, I understand that you are a diehard Prince fan, as am I. Believe me, I have come to his defense plenty of times! The difference here is that I don't feel a need to call anyone names like "Mr. Halle Berry" or
"the artist who is desperately trying to make a comeback." To me, that DOES show hostility even as you express your feelings. Eric Benet is a great talent in his own right and doesn't deserve what you are putting out there. I'll continue to enjoy them both.

You ARE entitled to your opinion, but I still contend that you have misinterpreted the statement that you are "pissed" about.

And with that, tru6ediva, I'm finished.

tru6ediva said:

NewPowerSista said:

I can FEEL the hostility waaaay ovah here! bwahahahahah! U are so pissed at me right now and it's funny as hell. U did get all "puffy" about your Eric Benet! Chill out! You're probably one of those women who wait in line all day to go to an Eric concert and wait with baited breath just to get a moment of his "precious" time and maybe a pic. Am I right?

So, lemme get you straight on Mr. Benet. HE IS DESEPRATELY TRYING TO MAKE A COMEBACK, it's the truth, plain and simple. Even one person on this thread hadn't even heard of him. He's been gone from the music biz for years and now has little promotion for his new CD, with little, or in some cases, no radio play! What would you call it? I said "he was referred to as Mr. Halle Berry," also very true. It was rare when they were together that any media referred to him as just Eric Benet. It was ALWAYS in conjuction to his wife. Nothing hostile about the truth.

Even though you claim that you're through with this thread, I know your curiousity will get the best of you, it always gets the best of those who really don't have a life outside of this internet.You'll be drawn in like a moth to the flame, like I'm the pied piper playing a tune and you can't resist it!

Gawd, and If I took the time to respond to EVERY one who disagrees with my opinion, I'd be on this damn computer all effin' day. And the next time you get your extra large panties all in a bunch, take the time to actually READ the entire posts, not pick and choose something to respond to and try to attack.
[Edited 8/18/05 5:26am]