Graycap23 said:

TheRIP said:

Not at all. But being that Prince spent the first leg of his career creating racially diverse bands, I find it hard to believe that his mindset has stayed the same since the race of the band really hasn't in over 20 years.

The "key" part of your comments is the first leg of his career.

That leg is OVA.

I agree. and I don't think that just because most of his band members are black, that he's committed a crime. Maybe we should make a list of all the current artists with members of their bands consisting of one race.

[Edited 6/29/10 11:10am]

TheRIP said:

I'm certainly endorsing affirmative action as far as Princes band goes, but I'm curious as to why Prince went from having extremely racially diverse bands (Revolution, Lovesexy) to very little diversity. I know this is nothing new, being that he's only had one one white dude, going as far back as 1990, but I wonder why this is. Is it simply because he prefers a black band or because there aren't many white musicians who play his style of music?

God don't ask Black America anything you will become a RACIST LIKE ME..Remember kids asking questions is just as bad as being racist so dont ask your only aloud to read about black america not talk...RIP you should be ashamed Go back and learn every last detail about black history cos that will help in some way.. I should make Black america learn every detail about me being picked on cos I am skinny its only fair

2elijah said:

TheRIP said:

Again, you're throwing this way out of proportion. I'm not bringing up this issue because I'm losing sleep over it. It's an observation and I'm interested in various view points. The band's racial lineup has clearly changed and everything happens for a reason. The race of the band won't change the fact that Prince's music is still terrible.

Not really. If you're interested in various viewpoints, then don't take those viewpoints as being defensive. My point was that the race of the band has nothing to do with their abilities to play music. It's apparent he looks for qualified musicians, and it just so happens, that most of his current band members are mostly black.

[Edited 6/29/10 11:07am]

I never said race has anything to do with their abilities, and that's where things go off track.

The rest of your theory is valid. Perhaps there just aren't that many musicians in his area who are white. I would just like to be there to see how he goes about selecting musicians. Does he do scouts, hold auditions, etc.? It's just strange that he never goes beyond having a token white dude in the background of the group.

2elijah said:

Graycap23 said:

The "key" part of your comments is the first leg of his career.

That leg is OVA.

I agree. and I don't think that just because most of his band members are black, that he's committed a crime. Maybe we should make a list of all the current artists with members of their bands consisting of one race.

[Edited 6/29/10 11:10am]

You're going off track.

levis1 said:

TheRIP said:

I'm certainly endorsing affirmative action as far as Princes band goes, but I'm curious as to why Prince went from having extremely racially diverse bands (Revolution, Lovesexy) to very little diversity. I know this is nothing new, being that he's only had one one white dude, going as far back as 1990, but I wonder why this is. Is it simply because he prefers a black band or because there aren't many white musicians who play his style of music?

God don't ask Black America anything you will become a RACIST LIKE ME..Remember kids asking questions is just as bad as being racist so dont ask your only aloud to read about black america not talk...RIP you should be ashamed Go back and learn every last detail about black history cos that will help in some way.. I should make Black america learn every detail about me being picked on cos I am skinny its only fair

Ugh, you're so racist.

levis1 said:

TheRIP said:

I'm certainly endorsing affirmative action as far as Princes band goes, but I'm curious as to why Prince went from having extremely racially diverse bands (Revolution, Lovesexy) to very little diversity. I know this is nothing new, being that he's only had one one white dude, going as far back as 1990, but I wonder why this is. Is it simply because he prefers a black band or because there aren't many white musicians who play his style of music?

God don't ask Black America anything you will become a RACIST LIKE ME..Remember kids asking questions is just as bad as being racist so dont ask your only aloud to read about black america not talk...RIP you should be ashamed Go back and learn every last detail about black history cos that will help in some way.. I should make Black america learn every detail about me being picked on cos I am skinny its only fair

Here we go.............again.

TheRIP said:

levis1 said:

God don't ask Black America anything you will become a RACIST LIKE ME..Remember kids asking questions is just as bad as being racist so dont ask your only aloud to read about black america not talk...RIP you should be ashamed Go back and learn every last detail about black history cos that will help in some way.. I should make Black america learn every detail about me being picked on cos I am skinny its only fair

Ugh, you're so racist.

Was Neto a token?

Graycap23 said:

TheRIP said:

Ugh, you're so racist.

Was Neto a token?

I don't know what he was.

TheRIP said:

2elijah said:

I agree. and I don't think that just because most of his band members are black, that he's committed a crime. Maybe we should make a list of all the current artists with members of their bands consisting of one race.

[Edited 6/29/10 11:10am]

You're going off track.

Okay whatever you say. You asked why he hasn't had a racially-diversified group in a number of years, and yet when some respond, and you don't like their answers, you accuse them of being defensive or going off track. Fact is, what is the point in asking if you're not prepared to deal with opinions different from yours?

My question to you is what does any musican's race has to do with their ability to be qualified to play in a band? Isn't it more about their music skills and knowledge of specific, types of music, moreso than what race they come from?

TheRIP said:

BklynDiamond said:

Again, I do not think it is only about jamming with. There is the control issue with Prince and the vibe issues. I am sure he hangs in a very raciail diverse group, but those people may also NOT want to work with him (based on reputation).

We can only speculate as to why he has the band he does now and what band he will have a year from know, but I doubt it has anything to do with racial preference as he has proven over the years he will work with black, white, male, female.

So it's the white musicians who don't want to work with him?

Regardless of how much of a pain in the ass he is, I'm sure tons of white musicians (especially no names) would love to put a Prince tour on their resumes.

Nope, could be the white ones he approached don't want to work with him. I am sure there are many a musician who has turned Prince down over the years.

My point is we don't know why his band is the way it is now and we have no idea what it will be tomorrow.

TheRIP said:

Xtraordinary said:

I don't think race plays a big part in his decisions on band members. I believe he gets the best talent he can to fit what he's looking for at the time. I'm sure they must have "a look" but I doubt if that's based on color. He's is one of the few band leaders that seem try to keep women in the mix in substanial roles.

It's a different ball game with women, but even so, when was the last time he had a white woman behind a major instrument?

I guess it was Candy Dulfer in 2005.

2elijah said:

TheRIP said:

You're going off track.

Okay whatever you say. You asked why he hasn't had a racially-diversified group in a number of years, and yet when some respond, and you don't like their answers, you accuse them of being defensive or going off track. Fact is, what is the point in asking if you're not prepared to deal with opinions different from yours?

My question to you is what does any musican's race has to do with their ability to be qualified to play in a band? Isn't it more about their music skills and knowledge of specific, types of music, moreso than what race they come from?

Why are we going in circles here? My question has nothing to do with talent. It's about whether or not Prince specifically has race in mind when hiring band members. Either he does or he doesn't.

BklynDiamond said:

TheRIP said:

So it's the white musicians who don't want to work with him?

Regardless of how much of a pain in the ass he is, I'm sure tons of white musicians (especially no names) would love to put a Prince tour on their resumes.

Nope, could be the white ones he approached don't want to work with him. I am sure there are many a musician who has turned Prince down over the years.

My point is we don't know why his band is the way it is now and we have no idea what it will be tomorrow.

According to the tour information, tomorrow will be the same as today.

Xtraordinary said:

TheRIP said:

It's a different ball game with women, but even so, when was the last time he had a white woman behind a major instrument?

I guess it was Candy Dulfer in 2005.

Oh, the chick way in the back.

Graycap23 said:

levis1 said:

God don't ask Black America anything you will become a RACIST LIKE ME..Remember kids asking questions is just as bad as being racist so dont ask your only aloud to read about black america not talk...RIP you should be ashamed Go back and learn every last detail about black history cos that will help in some way.. I should make Black america learn every detail about me being picked on cos I am skinny its only fair

Here we go.............again.

I don't get it. Some folks ask questions about black culture, but then if they don't like the responses they receive, from the very people who are part of that culture, then all of a sudden there's a problem?

I would like to think if you want to learn about a specific culture, then you don't go in with presumptions/assumptions or a closed mind about them, but instead, go in with an "open mind" and leave the baggage (egos) behind. Just know that everyone from a specific group does not look, act or are the same individuals. They live various lifestyles, come from various cultures, with different dialects/languages, and social/economic, political and non-religious/religious beliefs. It's not that difficult.

TheRIP said:

BklynDiamond said:

Nope, could be the white ones he approached don't want to work with him. I am sure there are many a musician who has turned Prince down over the years.

My point is we don't know why his band is the way it is now and we have no idea what it will be tomorrow.

According to the tour information, tomorrow will be the same as today.

I would hope that you understood that I didn't mean literally tomorrow, but the future. Hell the next band may be all of Asian decent.

If the band is kickass who cares what color or gender they are.

2elijah said:

Graycap23 said:

Here we go.............again.

I don't get it. Some folks ask questions about black culture, but then if they don't like the responses they receive, from the very people who are part of that culture, then all of a sudden there's a problem?

I would like to think if you want to learn about a specific culture, then you don't go in with presumptions/assumptions or a closed mind about them, but instead, go in with an "open mind" and leave the baggage (egos) behind. Just know that everyone from a specific group does not look, act or are the same individuals. They live various lifestyles, come from various cultures, with different dialects/languages, and social/economic, political and non-religious/religious beliefs. It's not that difficult.

I agree, it's NOT that difficult. You're talking first grade racial sensitivity and I'm talking about Princes decision making.

BklynDiamond said:

TheRIP said:

According to the tour information, tomorrow will be the same as today.

I would hope that you understood that I didn't mean literally tomorrow, but the future. Hell the next band may be all of Asian decent.

If the band is kickass who cares what color or gender they are.

Yes, I understood that.

And the only one who seems to care about race is Prince.

TheRIP said:

2elijah said:

Okay whatever you say. You asked why he hasn't had a racially-diversified group in a number of years, and yet when some respond, and you don't like their answers, you accuse them of being defensive or going off track. Fact is, what is the point in asking if you're not prepared to deal with opinions different from yours?

My question to you is what does any musican's race has to do with their ability to be qualified to play in a band? Isn't it more about their music skills and knowledge of specific, types of music, moreso than what race they come from?

Why are we going in circles here? My question has nothing to do with talent. It's about whether or not Prince specifically has race in mind when hiring band members. Either he does or he doesn't.

You're not making any sense. because why would Prince's purpose for picking the musicans in his band be based on a possible candidate's race, especially when it is a musician's music background (aka talent in music) that would be his main reason for hiring them? If it was based on race, then he could hire any black person off the street, just based on their race. You're trying to create a situation that does not exist dude. Good luck with that.

[Edited 6/29/10 11:47am]

TheRIP said:

BklynDiamond said:

I would hope that you understood that I didn't mean literally tomorrow, but the future. Hell the next band may be all of Asian decent.

If the band is kickass who cares what color or gender they are.

Yes, I understood that.

And the only one who seems to care about race is Prince.

So....Neto is Black?

TheRIP said:

2elijah said:

I don't get it. Some folks ask questions about black culture, but then if they don't like the responses they receive, from the very people who are part of that culture, then all of a sudden there's a problem?

I would like to think if you want to learn about a specific culture, then you don't go in with presumptions/assumptions or a closed mind about them, but instead, go in with an "open mind" and leave the baggage (egos) behind. Just know that everyone from a specific group does not look, act or are the same individuals. They live various lifestyles, come from various cultures, with different dialects/languages, and social/economic, political and non-religious/religious beliefs. It's not that difficult.

I agree, it's NOT that difficult. You're talking first grade racial sensitivity and I'm talking about Princes decision making.

We were not referring to you. The person that we were responding to in this thread, made a comment in reference to another thread on this site. Relax. You're getting emotional.

[Edited 6/29/10 11:45am]

2elijah said:

TheRIP said:

Why are we going in circles here? My question has nothing to do with talent. It's about whether or not Prince specifically has race in mind when hiring band members. Either he does or he doesn't.

You're not making any sense. because why would Prince's purpose for picking the musicans in his band be based on a possible candidate's race, especially when it is a musician's music background (aka talent in music) thatwould be his main concern? If it was based on race, then he could hire any black person on the street, just based on their race. You're trying to create a situation that does not exist dude. Good luck with that.

[Edited 6/29/10 11:43am]

He's just inquiring if Prince favors black musicians over musicians of any other race. Simple question and it made sense to me.

I think one of the most important things to Prince right now is trustworthyness. I don't think he wants his everymove to to be written down in a journal someplace and later to be revealed in an inerview by a "friend/bandmate". He is a stickler for loyalty and he knows he has some eccentric qualities and he doesn't want them to be used by former bandmates to get interviews. Now I may be wrong, and correct me if I am, alot of the tell-all interviews that made him look like an ass were done by white bandmates and then there was the 3 part Kevin Smith interview,and Kevin is white.

I myself am white, so I am not trying to put down white people, but I am wondering if they have not, in the past, kept things as close to the vest as he would have liked them to? It is just my guess, that is all.

TheRIP said:

BklynDiamond said:

I would hope that you understood that I didn't mean literally tomorrow, but the future. Hell the next band may be all of Asian decent.

If the band is kickass who cares what color or gender they are.

Yes, I understood that.

And the only one who seems to care about race is Prince.

We cannot state that equivically as none of us truly know why he picked the band he has today.

All else is just speculation and to state that he picked them because they are black is putting a label on the man that you (collective not personal) want him to have that he may rightly not deserve.

Also, people must care about race as the subject seems to be constantly brought up amongst some of his fans. Especially since the Ebony issue.

2elijah said:

TheRIP said:

Why are we going in circles here? My question has nothing to do with talent. It's about whether or not Prince specifically has race in mind when hiring band members. Either he does or he doesn't.

You're not making any sense. because why would Prince's purpose for picking the musicans in his band be based on a possible candidate's race, especially when it is a musician's music background (aka talent in music) that would be his main reason for hiring them? If it was based on race, then he could hire any black person off the street, just based on their race. You're trying to create a situation that does not exist dude. Good luck with that.

[Edited 6/29/10 11:47am]

I think you're just trying to make a mess here.

Never did I say Prince only cared about race, regardless of talent. Obviously he'll take a talented white player over a talentless black guy off the street any day. But if he has two equally talented guitarists in front of him, one being white and the other black, does race have anything to do with the final decision? My personal opinion is that he would go with the black guy.

This is the only point I'm making. Take some time to read before going off into ridiculous directions.

Graycap23 said:

TheRIP said:

Yes, I understood that.

And the only one who seems to care about race is Prince.

So....Neto is Black?

Doesn't appear to be. He's the token.

TheRIP said:

2elijah said:

You're not making any sense. because why would Prince's purpose for picking the musicans in his band be based on a possible candidate's race, especially when it is a musician's music background (aka talent in music) that would be his main reason for hiring them? If it was based on race, then he could hire any black person off the street, just based on their race. You're trying to create a situation that does not exist dude. Good luck with that.

[Edited 6/29/10 11:47am]

I think you're just trying to make a mess here.

Never did I say Prince only cared about race, regardless of talent. Obviously he'll take a talented white player over a talentless black guy off the street any day. But if he has two equally talented guitarists in front of him, one being white and the other black, does race have anything to do with the final decision? My personal opinion is that he would go with the black guy.

This is the only point I'm making. Take some time to read before going off into ridiculous directions.

None of us are in a position to answer that question as we are not him. We can give our opinions, but they are just that, opinions, not truth or fact.

Deadflow3r said:

I think one of the most important things to Prince right now is trustworthyness. I don't think he wants his everymove to to be written down in a journal someplace and later to be revealed in an inerview by a "friend/bandmate". He is a stickler for loyalty and he knows he has some eccentric qualities and he doesn't want them to be used by former bandmates to get interviews. Now I may be wrong, and correct me if I am, alot of the tell-all interviews that made him look like an ass were done by white bandmates and then there was the 3 part Kevin Smith interview,and Kevin is white.

I myself am white, so I am not trying to put down white people, but I am wondering if they have not, in the past, kept things as close to the vest as he would have liked them to? It is just my guess, that is all.

He's had so few white band mates. Who are you referring to? And it would be stupid for him to hate on Kevin Smith cuz Kevin is the one who got fucked over. Besides, I'm referring to the 1990 racial shift. The Kevin Smith thing happened years later.

BklynDiamond said:

TheRIP said:

Yes, I understood that.

And the only one who seems to care about race is Prince.

We cannot state that equivically as none of us truly know why he picked the band he has today.

All else is just speculation and to state that he picked them because they are black is putting a label on the man that you (collective not personal) want him to have that he may rightly not deserve.

Also, people must care about race as the subject seems to be constantly brought up amongst some of his fans. Especially since the Ebony issue.

I don't know what else has happened since the Ebony issue and I didn't read all of it myself. But the vibe I get is that he'd rather "stick to his own kind."

BklynDiamond said:

TheRIP said:

I think you're just trying to make a mess here.

Never did I say Prince only cared about race, regardless of talent. Obviously he'll take a talented white player over a talentless black guy off the street any day. But if he has two equally talented guitarists in front of him, one being white and the other black, does race have anything to do with the final decision? My personal opinion is that he would go with the black guy.

This is the only point I'm making. Take some time to read before going off into ridiculous directions.

None of us are in a position to answer that question as we are not him. We can give our opinions, but they are just that, opinions, not truth or fact.

That's why I say it's my opinion, or an educated guess if you will.