Are there any artists(vocalists, bands, groups), past and present, seasoned and established, or new, who've had hits, who DID NOT or WOULD NOT work with Prince or allow him to produce for them?

Anita Baker

I heard that Tony Toni Tone wouldn't. Can someone verify this?

mistermcgee said:

It's true. After their work with Sheila E. Prince wanted to sign them to Paisley Park. But at the time they didn't see any artists succeeding on the label besides Prince. They make some sort of reference to it in the song 'Born Not to Know'

chickengrease said:

things are getting kind of Hazy but we aren't not Wearing Paisley I Believe is how the line goes?

Lisa Stanfield Said No Because While She respected His Talent She also Alluded to the fact that many of the Women that Work with Him aren't Heard from him again&She didn't want to take that cahnce.She said this around the Mid 90's.

Sinead O'Connor as well Stated She wouldn't do any of His Stuff.Fragnoli Hooked Her up with the Song.but She didn't seek it Per Se.James Brown turned Him down when He was trying to Give Him "Chocolate" back in 86 as did Sly Stone.

mistermcgee said:

Meshell Ndegéocello said she had an offer to be on the Paisley Park label and passed it up, because every artist under Prince's wing, so to speak, ended up sounding like Prince. She's right, and she made a good choice. It was better for her to find a label that would let her assert her unique individuality instead, even if the label she picked is one she constantly has battles with now.

But it was never a personal thing with her. Meshell is well-known as a HUGE Prince fan, then and now. And she has worked with him.

chickengrease said:

Would you happen to know of her reasons why she wouldn't?
Or what would be your guess?

mistermaxxx said:

Dag, but what happened to her afterwards??? I like her songs though...

i think i remember that he offered to produce and play Manic Monday with The Banlges, but they said no... They liked the song, but wanted to record it and do it themselves...

mistermcgee said:

I don't know her reasons. But the song 'Hold Me' was initially offered to her before Jevetta Steele released it.

JonSnow said:

didn't they use the backing tracks from the demo? If not, they sure did play it note for note.

Correct Me if I'm wrong, but Prince sings background on Manic Monday. That's got to be him, cuz I don't remember the Bangles being able to sing that high.

milli vanilli

mistermcgee said:

isn't the front man in ttt

now on his own

i believe he is rapheal sadique

forgive me 4 misspelling

his name

he did the group lucy pearl

he also produced d'angelo's

untitled

this song is a carbon copy of

prince

it's funny how so many

artists dis prince in some way

yet rip off his sound and get

phat paid

who feels me?

I think Prince himself borrowed sounds or styles from others. I can see and hear James Brown, for instance, in the song, The Work. There are countless other examples. I can see aspects of Little Richard, Frankie Lymon, and Jackie Wilson in Prince. To me this isn't ripping off anyone, it's the nature of music and art itself. We take or borrow influences and work with them ourselves.

I have a question? Has Prince at anytime over the years "dissed" or dismissed others, and experimented with sounds or styles that he himself did not first innovate?
What about rap, hip-hop, new jack swing, etc?

mistermcgee said:

Well, "Dead On It" was a broadside attack on hip-hop, and while funny, it was clear that when he made it he was not too fond of it. And a couple of years later, he went out and recorded with two of the wackest rappers ever to disgrace the music industry: TC Ellis (Kiiid . . . wha donchu lemme WRRAPH?) and Tony M (his name is nearly unspeakable to me by virtue of the various and sundry Prince jams he singlehandedly ruined).