i just finished the book 2 days ago. there were some good things about it, but the not-so-subtle insinuation of drug addiction (helpfully printed on the back cover) was sensationalist rag journalism, i thought.

makes me kinda sad

still havent read DMSR....cant obtain a new copy, i dont like second hand books

prb said:

Why? What did those mean little second hand books do to you?

Check this out:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/...dition=new

The Book should be name"The Rise and Fall and the RISE of PRINCE"
the book is what it is!

The fact that Hahn had an axe to grind because of the Uptown fiasco damaged his credibility and the quality of his writing. His bias is too obvious in presenting only one side of his subject.

Secondly, the subtext throughout the book suggests that everything Prince produced without W&L is of inferior quality

His assesment of the music itself is laughably subjective and myopic.

Basically if you wanna read a long screed by a guy with a huge chip on his shoulder, then this is the book for you. It's a compilation of all the negative stories Hahn could dig up with no positives to balance the narrative.

muleFunk said:

Now there's an interesting tidbit. I'm not surprised since the guy pretty much wore his animosity on his sleeve.

If I recall, Uptown pretty much won the suit and rightfully so but I guess that wasn't enough.

I think it's a great book. Remember people, Alan Leeds himself said right here on The Org that Possessed was the best book about Prince ever written. If you are having a problem believing in the the authenticity of what was written just refer back to Mr. Leeds' statement.

muleFunk said:

Come one....it's an interesting celebrity book...nothing more, nothing less...

dannyd5050 said:

i get frustrated that i work in a book store, and cant order a copy thru work...i dont like ordering from the net.
might have to ask my sister, the ebay queen to do it 4 me

ok, i'm on the first chapter still about him bouncing from home to home and tings of that nature.

It's kind of boring now.

Whenever the narrative veers too far from the music, it just feels...like guesswork.


I sure hope their are comments in the book about his hair stylists though. Hairstylist are some of the most important people in a person's life, and if Hahn is worth half his weight in gold, he interviewed them.

If u can get pass the authors bias against Prince and the number of people Prince has fucked off that he has talked too, its actually good. But before we slam it as a haters charter, we should consider the following.
1. It came out in 2003, a time when Prince's stock couldn't sink much lower, before Musicology, during One Night Alone and N.E.W.S. neither of which were very commercial
2. Alex Hahn is clearly a disgruntled ex fan, anyone who calls Diamonds and Pearls a pyrrhic victory, needs their head read.
3. People like Dez, Anna Garcia, WendynLisa, Susan Rogers, Karen Krattinger, Mo Ostin, Owen Husney, Brownmark, Morris Day and Charles Smith are clearly going to have axes to grind with Prince
4. The quality of journalism is lacking full of cliches and tabloidy style metaphors, eg "The lead singles hip-hoppery"

Yet it is eminently readable, I keep getting it out of the library and have read it about 20 times, I may get around to buying a copy one of these days

I also think DMSR is much better, but the best Prince book is clearly "Prince a Pop Life" by Dave Hill done back in 1989.

JudasLChrist said:

ernestsewell said it best:
"Matt Fink really hated how Hahn wrote that book and how he misused Fink's words, and really twisted some of them. A lot of "off the record" conversations were used, and other quotes from Fink were put in a totally different area, answering unrelated questions or comments. I think it's why I never put a lot of stock in the book, knowing just that much. If that much is wrong, what else could be wrong? Hahn's credibility went out the window."

Now with such conflictng stuff between Leeds and Fink, 2 me that questions the authenticity of this book. Granted every1 is entitled 2 his/her own opinion and P was/is certainly no angel. I've read most of it and 2 me it seemed like a combination of Rush Limbaugh, Karl Rove, FOX News mixed with the Enquirer tabloids bashing Obama, the Clintons, and the Democrats. Now 4 those who r interested in reading about some REAL dirty laundry, read Russ Baker's "Family of Secrets: the Bush Dynasty". Just my 2 cents.
[Edited 6/6/09 23:01pm]
[Edited 6/6/09 23:29pm]
[Edited 6/7/09 1:51am]

Huggiebear said:

Why?

Imago said:

Because its easily read, avoids the dross and deals with Prince's career to 1988 in a non critical way. I also love the chapter photos. Its a treasured possession mine, I bought it about 1990 ish

dannyd5050 said:

Liz Jones Prince bio was titled "Slave to the Rhythm."

Hey murph.

The book itself was ok but if you are going to write a book do your research. I still think that he was trying to get money after doing the pro bono work for Uptown and trash sells much better than truth.

OK, I've reached the "fall" part of the book, and I have to say that so far, the book manages to be both not terribly well written but also very entertaining despite.

I'm not sure how the author is able to dig up information on Prince's "romance" with Madonna?!?!?!?!
I mean, really? They had a romance? what?


And some of the details with him and Anna Fantastic seem a bit strange. Did she spill the beans on him for this book? Where is he getting this information? I'm don't trust the accuracy of much of it.

I do think that his assessment of the re-organization of Pre-NPG Prince and his shaking relationship with hip hop is spot on. But one doesn't need much research to realize that . You only need to listen to cuts from the Black album then from diamonds & pearls as well as read his interviews on hip hop after that.

But what stunned me was Hann's assertion that Prince is taking some credit for being influential in the establishment of modern day hip hop? Is this true. Does Prince really think this?
And where is the author getting this information if it is true.


One thing is very apparent. The author thinks Prince is an asshole. And in 50% of the cases stated in the book, I'm inclined to agree.

It shouldve been titled "The Rise & Fall of a Prince Fan"

Imago said:

Yeah,I wouldn't exactly call 'Come' "his strongest material in years".I think the album is mediocre.It's not terrible but it's not amazing,either.

dannyd5050 said:

I thought it was an interesting book,but not better than DMSR That's the BEST book of all,imo.

eaglebear4839 said:

I think you are correct. As I read it, I got the feeling that Hahn was a former fan who fell out of favor with Prince during the down years.

I started day ago. Around The World is about to be released!
I'm really liking the book!

shelbey said:

me 2 lol

Just saw this book at gardenridge for 2 bucks.....

JeriCurl said:

Didn't buy it. huh?