bashraka said:

This excerpt from his interview with Toure for the now-defunct Icon magazine back in 1998:

Then a moment later, somehow, he was back to money. He expressed admiration for the music of Erykah Badu, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and D'Angelo. "D'Angelo's really gotta search his heart deeply on being part of the problem or the solution. What's his whole consciousness? He's got to own his masters," he said, referring to master tapes that confer true ownership of a song, and are generally owned by the record label, not the artist. "Black Americans are walking away and getting nothin'! How can you not own your masters and try to uplift the community? Let's all of us be part of the solution. Or we gonna get our problems solved for us. The situation in Africa is testament to that. Twenty-one million with AIDS! Don't that spook you? We got to solve our problems, or they'll be solved for us. And a man can't solve your problems for you. You and your faith will solve 'em for you."

Prince started projecting his grievances with the music industry on other people. Prince like a lot of people took things for granted and by the time he realized what he signed off on, he couldn't undo the transcation that gave Warner Bros. Records his legacy in exchange for the money they gave him for it.

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Prince also forgot to point out that plenty of black artists exploited other black artists. Something he would have known since his lawyer at the time had made his name through such cases.

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But since that didn't fit his story...

JoshuaWho said:

SoulAlive said:

the irony is,Prince is now back with Warners.Yeah,I know he owns his master recordings now,but still,he's back with a company that he once considered a 'slave plantation'.

Understand that it has nothing to with irony. A black person to do business from a position of power and ownership

.

Ah, so that's why he spent the Summer whining to local journalists about WBR not taking his phonecalls and not releasing his music fast enough.

mrgone777 said:

fusk said:

.

whoa, really? I'm white, I honestly don't know, but to me, calling a black person a house n****r sounds CRAZY offensive, regardless who says it. If the person doing the name-calling was black, it just means he should have known better.

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but again, I'm white, I don't know. If "house n****r" is taken to be mild chastizing and not, "you betray our people and keep us in slavery for your own personal gain", I'd be surprised, but I'd be willing to be corrected.

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and why would prince get a pass for offending MeShell just because he has issues with WB?

Fusk I don't use it but for years it has been a "familial" term especially in majority Black communities of working class or working lower income composition. Its also "in-group" code which is somewhat similar to gay men who refer to each other as "girl" or other perjoratives that I don't have the right to speak of flipped into the familial. Its not a big deal really, happens everyday. Not the way I was raised, but I don't say that to say I'm "better than" other Black folk...our fam just didn't use it and I grew up with a Central American (of African descent) and a military father from the South. In Prince's 'hood it might have been much more common to hear. MeShell is a military brat like me and from my understanding whe was raised in a middle class home which is NOT how I understand Prince was raised? Others feel free to correct me if I'm wrong or comment on this issue if I seem to have mis-characterized Black use of the familial "n-word."

.

thanks for that response! I know that in some circles, black people using the n- word is not at all a big deal. Is it fair to say that house n- is thought of in a similar way? Like, within a certain group, it isn't the jaw-dropping offensive term it could potentially be? I don't mean to be pedantic, I just want to be clear.

^^No,it IS very degrading to be called a "house (N-word)".Prince is lucky that Meshell didn't put her foot in his ass

SoulAlive said:

^^No,it IS very degrading to be called a "house (N-word)".Prince is lucky that Meshell didn't put her foot in his ass

C'mon Meshel was raised in DC. Do you honestly think this woman wouldn't give Prince the beatdown if she truly thought he was dissing her? I have no doubt that she felt hurt by it, anyone would be. But the term wasn't used as an epithet. It was used as a reference point that he thought she was selling out.

.

RJOrion said:

SoulAlive said:

the irony is,Prince is now back with Warners.Yeah,I know he owns his master recordings now,but still,he's back with a company that he once considered a 'slave plantation'.

yeah...but the difference is, he gets to sleep in the Master Bedroom and have sex with the Master's wife now...and gets a better share of the plantation harvest profits...so i can dig the irony

Not sure where all these profits are. Purple Rain is $5.00 in the bargain bin at Target, 5.99 at Best Buy, and most of the other old cds are 5.00 or less on Amazon. And there is no sign of remasters...and he is not building this gigantic audience of young people that AOA seemed to want to try to get with Auto Tune and the Prize Patrol Horn sound effect in Art Official Cage....so I just don't see all these profits...

Even if we get remasters...only the die hards will buy. You won't see any huge CNN breaking news hour special on it.

stillwaiting said:

RJOrion said:

yeah...but the difference is, he gets to sleep in the Master Bedroom and have sex with the Master's wife now...and gets a better share of the plantation harvest profits...so i can dig the irony

Not sure where all these profits are. Purple Rain is $5.00 in the bargain bin at Target, 5.99 at Best Buy, and most of the other old cds are 5.00 or less on Amazon. And there is no sign of remasters...and he is not building this gigantic audience of young people that AOA seemed to want to try to get with Auto Tune and the Prize Patrol Horn sound effect in Art Official Cage....so I just don't see all these profits...

Even if we get remasters...only the die hards will buy. You won't see any huge CNN breaking news hour special on it.

As I said in another thread: Prince's catalog should have been remastered in the 90s....a time when people still bought CDs.He could have really cashed in,especially with 80s nostalgia being a big thing back then.He waited too long and now,if these albums ever get remastered,he's not gonna make too much money from it.Except for 'Purple Rain'....that might be a decent seller.

fusk said:

mrgone777 said:

Fusk I don't use it but for years it has been a "familial" term especially in majority Black communities of working class or working lower income composition. Its also "in-group" code which is somewhat similar to gay men who refer to each other as "girl" or other perjoratives that I don't have the right to speak of flipped into the familial. Its not a big deal really, happens everyday. Not the way I was raised, but I don't say that to say I'm "better than" other Black folk...our fam just didn't use it and I grew up with a Central American (of African descent) and a military father from the South. In Prince's 'hood it might have been much more common to hear. MeShell is a military brat like me and from my understanding whe was raised in a middle class home which is NOT how I understand Prince was raised? Others feel free to correct me if I'm wrong or comment on this issue if I seem to have mis-characterized Black use of the familial "n-word."

.

thanks for that response! I know that in some circles, black people using the n- word is not at all a big deal. Is it fair to say that house n- is thought of in a similar way? Like, within a certain group, it isn't the jaw-dropping offensive term it could potentially be? I don't mean to be pedantic, I just want to be clear.

You are clear and also super respectful....so respect to you whoever you are! Yeah we all look at this differently...my mother would have tried to smack that word out of me if I ever used it at home.....in Panama Afro-Latins don't use that word. My dad woiuld have been unhappy, but since he was from the American south he would have understood the context. It is not only familial, it can be used in a derogatory way too.....one of my L.A. homies, older and wiser than myself and literally straight out of Compton used to describe when Black folks did stupid isht as "reaching the heights of N#gg$rdom"....but don't go repeating that....cool Fusk?

SoulAlive said:

^^No,it IS very degrading to be called a "house (N-word)".Prince is lucky that Meshell didn't put her foot in his ass

On the surface she could have been, but we don't know the context right? Most of the time its said in a jokingly serious manner and Me'Shell being from the beltway (Maryland) and of middle class, military status has enough gumption and self-esteemed to have kicked Prince's teeth in if he said it in a violent way. Since this DID NOT occur I am led to the conclusion that it was the "fam" N-Word like we tend to do to describe our relationship with the dominant powers that be....especially at work.

mrgone777 said:

fusk said:

.

thanks for that response! I know that in some circles, black people using the n- word is not at all a big deal. Is it fair to say that house n- is thought of in a similar way? Like, within a certain group, it isn't the jaw-dropping offensive term it could potentially be? I don't mean to be pedantic, I just want to be clear.

You are clear and also super respectful....so respect to you whoever you are! Yeah we all look at this differently...my mother would have tried to smack that word out of me if I ever used it at home.....in Panama Afro-Latins don't use that word. My dad woiuld have been unhappy, but since he was from the American south he would have understood the context. It is not only familial, it can be used in a derogatory way too.....one of my L.A. homies, older and wiser than myself and literally straight out of Compton used to describe when Black folks did stupid isht as "reaching the heights of N#gg$rdom"....but don't go repeating that....cool Fusk?

.

Thank you for that! I appreciate your comments and I won't blindly repeat them, acting as if I really know something. I'm definitely not trying to be that kind of "expert". It's just good to try to be aware of different points of view. What I'm taking away from this is that when I hear someone call someone else a name that I think is derogatory, I should think carefully about the context and who these people are and so on, because it's not always appropriate for me to become indignant on someone else's behalf. And even in the case of "house n****r", it's not 100% clear cut.

.

pfff! And people say the org is too negative. I think this is a totally positive discussion.

[Edited 3/19/15 12:14pm]

BartVanHemelen said:

Militant said:

Probably. Prince was fighting a WAR with those cats at WB.

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BS. Dude was throwing a temper tantrum. Couldn't do much else since he knew WBR would crush him in court. See also: the lawsuit George Michael started against his label.

.

And lo and behold, we find out in 2014 that Prince WON that war. He got everything he wanted.

.

No he didn't. WBR have the exclusive license, so Prince still can't do shit with his precious masters until he fullfills his current contract. Considering that he was already bitching about that contract in Summer 2014, mere months after signing, tells you enough.

if this is whats up ..shit,do we know when he will fulfill

his current contract?but yeah, I get it.goddamn.

BartVanHemelen said:

Militant said:

Probably. Prince was fighting a WAR with those cats at WB.

.

BS. Dude was throwing a temper tantrum. Couldn't do much else since he knew WBR would crush him in court. See also: the lawsuit George Michael started against his label.

.

And lo and behold, we find out in 2014 that Prince WON that war. He got everything he wanted.

.

No he didn't. WBR have the exclusive license, so Prince still can't do shit with his precious masters until he fullfills his current contract. Considering that he was already bitching about that contract in Summer 2014, mere months after signing, tells you enough.

if this is whats up it's very sad.

do we know when he fulfills his current contract..

but yeah, I get it.goddamn,man.

BartVanHemelen said:

Militant said:

Probably. Prince was fighting a WAR with those cats at WB.

.

BS. Dude was throwing a temper tantrum. Couldn't do much else since he knew WBR would crush him in court. See also: the lawsuit George Michael started against his label.

.

And lo and behold, we find out in 2014 that Prince WON that war. He got everything he wanted.

.

No he didn't. WBR have the exclusive license, so Prince still can't do shit with his precious masters until he fullfills his current contract. Considering that he was already bitching about that contract in Summer 2014, mere months after signing, tells you enough.

Ive tried to reply to this twice,so for the last time,goddamn,man,so sad...........

EDIT:sorry moderators,feel free to delete..

[Edited 3/19/15 20:09pm]

BartVanHemelen said:

bashraka said:

This excerpt from his interview with Toure for the now-defunct Icon magazine back in 1998:

Then a moment later, somehow, he was back to money. He expressed admiration for the music of Erykah Badu, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and D'Angelo. "D'Angelo's really gotta search his heart deeply on being part of the problem or the solution. What's his whole consciousness? He's got to own his masters," he said, referring to master tapes that confer true ownership of a song, and are generally owned by the record label, not the artist. "Black Americans are walking away and getting nothin'! How can you not own your masters and try to uplift the community? Let's all of us be part of the solution. Or we gonna get our problems solved for us. The situation in Africa is testament to that. Twenty-one million with AIDS! Don't that spook you? We got to solve our problems, or they'll be solved for us. And a man can't solve your problems for you. You and your faith will solve 'em for you."

Prince started projecting his grievances with the music industry on other people. Prince like a lot of people took things for granted and by the time he realized what he signed off on, he couldn't undo the transcation that gave Warner Bros. Records his legacy in exchange for the money they gave him for it.

.

Prince also forgot to point out that plenty of black artists exploited other black artists. Something he would have known since his lawyer at the time had made his name through such cases.

.

But since that didn't fit his story...

Why would he mention that? That wasnt the issue he was discussing. The entire history of industry is based on white men taking ownership of black music - and they still own it. People who dont know better think so called rap moguls such as Jay Z have some real power of ownership. Its nothing compared to the major corporations that own everything 0 corporations owned and run by people who are not black. THe nickels and pennies that any blacks are getting from exploiting other blacks is so irrelevant that only someone who doesn't know what they are talking about OR simply wants to have a lame retort to the racism of the music industry would even bring it up. It is tantamount to the people who want to scream about black on black crime when white police kill unarmed black people - the two dont mean a damn thing to each other so the correlation is pure bullshit.

SoulAlive said:

SignOthetimes1987 said:

BartVanHemelen said:

.

No he didn't. WBR have the exclusive license, so Prince still can't do shit with his precious masters until he fullfills his current contract. Considering that he was already bitching about that contract in Summer 2014, mere months after signing, tells you enough.

if this is whats up ..shit,do we know when he will fulfill

his current contract?but yeah, I get it.goddamn.

Barts just speculating. He's not seen the contract, nor has anyone else.

fusk said:

mrgone777 said:

You are clear and also super respectful....so respect to you whoever you are! Yeah we all look at this differently...my mother would have tried to smack that word out of me if I ever used it at home.....in Panama Afro-Latins don't use that word. My dad woiuld have been unhappy, but since he was from the American south he would have understood the context. It is not only familial, it can be used in a derogatory way too.....one of my L.A. homies, older and wiser than myself and literally straight out of Compton used to describe when Black folks did stupid isht as "reaching the heights of N#gg$rdom"....but don't go repeating that....cool Fusk?

.

Thank you for that! I appreciate your comments and I won't blindly repeat them, acting as if I really know something. I'm definitely not trying to be that kind of "expert". It's just good to try to be aware of different points of view. What I'm taking away from this is that when I hear someone call someone else a name that I think is derogatory, I should think carefully about the context and who these people are and so on, because it's not always appropriate for me to become indignant on someone else's behalf. And even in the case of "house n****r", it's not 100% clear cut.

.

pfff! And people say the org is too negative. I think this is a totally positive discussion.

[Edited 3/19/15 12:14pm]

Fusk I'm positive that YOU are a positive cat and YES this is the kind of positive discussion we need more of in the social media world. I'd have a cup of coffee or tea with you if I knew you in the f2f world. But, there are a lot of "anti-Prince" types in here posing as fans to drive home their agendas. Don't let them steal your joy though Fusk and know there are more postive Prince fans in here that maybe aren't posting every day!!!!

lezama said:

SignOthetimes1987 said:

if this is whats up ..shit,do we know when he will fulfill

his current contract?but yeah, I get it.goddamn.

Barts just speculating. He's not seen the contract, nor has anyone else.

Speculating or just making stuff up? I'd go with making up inforanation that he DOESN'T have.