Black ALbum is dark because it features Prince in a uniquely misogynistic, murderous, voodoo-like, ghetto, mode of thought (aside from When 2 R in Love) and the music itself is arranged with a lot of masculine muscle with a lot of mid range and bass heavy elements. Just the monster rhythm noise in Le Grind are dark. It takes funk and dance and makes it sound a bit out of control and deranged. His lyrics are very braggart. He also speaks of sex in a very physical non spiritual way.

Remember this was 1988. His peers are Michael Jackson and Madonna and U2 and INX... etc

Braggart: "Is that your boyfriend? I don't care. I can do tricks he could never do, we'll get naked and you'll see the real you"

Voodoo: Brother Lois should be around in a minute
With a bucket filled with squirreled meat

The blood is real good if u drink it real fast
But the aftertaste just lasts and lasts
If u do 2 much, your skin will be sensitive 2 touch
The first person that touches u, u want 2 fuck
U take them 2 your crib and u tie them 2 a chair
Then u make funny faces til they get really scared
Then u turn on the neon, then u play with yourself
Til u turn them on
This chair goes round and round, I feel like a clown
Cuz I'm stripped down, It's all fun and games
Til the very next day, til, damn, u don't remember my name
Maybe I'll see u next Thursday night, maybe I won't
But that's alright, cuz in my possession, there's a signed confession
that says, I was the best u ever had

Ghetto Murder:
Please, who do I look like baby?
Yesterday's fool?
Don't u know I will kill u now?
U're fuckin' right.
I gotta gun
U think I don't?
Then what's this?
Oh, u quiet now
uh uh!
Little? Yeah, right. It might be little but it's loud

Yeah, right.
Uh uh!

Now put that suitcase down
And go in there
And put on that wig I bought U
No, No
No, No
The reddish-brown one
Bob, ain't that a bitch?
Oh
Gotcha
Got ya

ufoclub said:

This is also a description of an Ecstacy trip. And we all know that story about Cat getting Methylenedioxymethamphetamine from Anthony Kiedis and giving it to Prince.

squirrelgrease said:

Having been around ecstacy... I don't really think this fits with the feelgood mass massages and affectionate confessions that is the norm for xtcy trips!

I have moved on.I posted this question last week dude,and the thread just started jumpin. What's with the PMS on this thread? I didn't see the hoopla over the lp. A few intellegent heads finally answered my question and I thanked them. WTF?