This question just popped in my mind this morning. Every artist has a low point in their career. When I say lowest point, I don't necessarily mean low sales or bad music, per se, but overall lowest point.

To me, one of his lowest points would have to be between 1999-2001. He seemed to have been looking for himself and trying to get himself together. He had just been through the breakup with Mayte and was trying to follow the hip-hop/pop trends of the time, but never really successfully adapted. He then did the Hit and Run tour at small venues. That tour seemed to be the type of tour he HAD to do to bring in some quick money.

What do u guys think?

Now would be his lowest point.

Now's pretty low, but there's been worse. In terms of musical output and disappointment, I agree with the OP. Although there was the 2000 Celly in the middle there, which I see as the beginning of his jump back. So I'd adjust it to:
'98-2000.

luv4u said:

You really think so? He seems to be on top of the world, personally, right now. Yes, he may have hit a professional low with the Lotus fiasco, but the mainstream public is not really apart of the fiasco, only the fans who joined the website.

the 1998 and 1999 NPS/Rave era was pretty bad, but there were a fair number of decent tracks and ideas spread throughout it.


all that stuff he recorded in 2000 for High and Peace took the plastic sound to a whole other (lower) level. the lyrical blurring of his spirituality, angry non-sensical politics, and his own bitching and maoning about his struggle with radio and record labels might have been something he needed to get out of his system, and I'm glad he did (outside of an album), but it's nearly unlistenable and doesn't add up to much. combined with the half-assed stage band and the schizo medley-marred setlists of the tour around that time (what was it called? Hit + Run? Prince: A Celebration? whatever) was the only time in the last 20 years that I was completely turned off by Prince and for about 2 years there (between Rave and Rainbow Children) didn't listen to him, didn't care about him, didn't come to the org or even plan on buying tickets to his show that was scheduled a half hour away from me in the middle of the big-name entertainment no-man's land where I live (it was cancelled with the rest of the dates anyway).

luv4u said:

his lowest point is every time he mistreat a peer like rick James or a radio jock like tom Joyner or anybody else in his camp.

jackson35 said:

How is that the lowest point in his career when he doesn't get along with someone?

Got to be the name change

hmm i would say between 1994-Present esp the LotusFlower website disater

Prince is at his overall lowest point every night when he takes of his heels to get into bed.

CallMeCarrie said:

CallMeCarrie said:

daPrettyman said:

Considering all those law suits, LotusRipoff.com and the other sites, the dismantling of NPGMC, not doing the show at Croke Park, a lot of disgruntled fans, etc, etc.

druss1999 said:

I agree. He should've stayed with "0)+>."

luv4u said:

I get where u're coming from. Do u think he'll do another "Musicology"-type tour/album where he focuses on nothing but the money?

P's lowest point was the passing of his baby and the divorce from Mayte. I don't think musically he's had a low point.

Right about now?

1997/2000

daPrettyman said:

the day he hooked up with Larry

PurpleLove7 said:

Some of Prince's music a few song here and there are really sad and I don't know when they're made, but I guess trying to make music after that time PurpleLove7 was pretty impossible. And, I think of what we know of Prince, he probably didn't deal with it immediately (too much to digest) and it probably took a couple of years to fully come to terms with it all.

PurpleLove7 said:

But his baby and his divorce isn't his career. That was his personal life.

However, that was definitely a low point in his personal life. A child dying before the parent isn't natural.

Now? U are kidding right?

Without question the lowest point in Prince's life was after the release of Emancipation having 2 deal with the passing of his son. That still impacts the man 2 this very day.

From a creative stand point, the man has been releasing material constantly 4 the past 31 years and has rarely disappointed me outside of a few tracks here and there.

I'd say the low point was pulling the actual cd he had prepared at the beginning of the London Tours and replacing it with the last minute thrown together project known as "Planet Earth". That was a disjointed project from the word go. It is the only "official" Prince cd that I never play.

ernestsewell said:

I think personal life has a very strong impact on one's professional life.

ludwig said:

True!!! this is really a deep low..thank god he bounced back strongly...Planet Earth also was in my mind..this is worse...true...

specdude said:

Ding! Ding! Ding!

He's had so many, it's not fair to make us choose just one.

ernestsewell said:

Knowing the type of person he "shows" us, I truly believe that still affects him to this day. How would one "define" a low point in his career, then?

He's not making the same kind of $ he was making when Purple Rain dropped. One would think his albums go at least Gold when they're marketed, right?