Back in 2001 Prince released TRC and broke with the plastic production that had been going since 1996. It seemed like a reaction to the "Voodoo" album by D'Angelo, who had enjoyed much success and critical acclaim with that album. Many people said back then that 'Voodoo' was the kind of organic sounding album that Prince should make.

About a year ago D'Angelo released "Black Messiah" and again it was very well received by music critics all over the world, even if sales didn't really take off this time. Many Prince comparisons were made again by critics, some saying it was the best new 'Prince' album in years.

Now we suddenly get Phase 2 after the lackluster electronic Phase 1 album. An album chockfull of organic sounding, well played songs with the focus on musicianship. Just like D's "Black Messiah"!

Is this coincidence? Or would you think that Prince (competitive as he is) sees D as the only 'threat' to his Purple Kingdom and wants to show the world once more that he is more than capable of making a great organic sounding RnB based album, just like D has just done?

funkaholic1972 said:

Back in 2001 Prince released TRC and broke with the plastic production that had been going since 1996. It seemed like a reaction to the "Voodoo" album by D'Angelo, who had enjoyed much success and critical acclaim with that album. Many people said back then that 'Voodoo' was the kind of organic sounding album that Prince should make.

About a year ago D'Angelo released "Black Messiah" and again it was very well received by music critics all over the world, even if sales didn't really take off this time. Many Prince comparisons were made again by critics, some saying it was the best new 'Prince' album in years.

Now we suddenly get Phase 2 after the lackluster electronic Phase 1 album. An album chockfull of organic sounding, well played songs with the focus on musicianship. Just like D's "Black Messiah"!

Is this coincidence? Or would you think that Prince (competitive as he is) sees D as the only 'threat' to his Purple Kingdom and wants to show the world once more that he is more than capable of making a great organic sounding RnB based album, just like D has just done?

Most of the songs, if not all the songs on "Phase 2" were recorded before "Black Messiah" was released. Secondly, at this stage of his career, if Prince stared down Michael Jackson, Rick James and Roger Troutman at the height of his and their popularity and critical acclaim why would he sweat D or any musician for that matter now? P is competitive but that's like being through all the wars with Michael Jordan and sweating Chris Bosh.

NorthC said:

Did you forget that most of Phase 2 was recorded two-three years ago? The only "answer" song by Prince that I can think of is Rock & Roll Is Alive, which was recorded and released shortly after Lenny Kravitz' Rock & Roll Is Dead.

Nope, I didn't forget about that. Prince records lots of different stuff over the years and keeps it in his Vault until a certain song fits a certain project and then it gets released. WHat I am saying is that Prince might have felt a need to 'reply' with an album of well played organic material rooted in RnB, to show the world that he is still the nr.1 when it comes to that type of material.

No due to lack of mumbling.

Aerogram said:

No due to lack of mumbling.

That settles the case, thanks!

NorthC said:

funkaholic1972 said:

Prince's life is a reaction to D'Angelo's Black Messiah.

Aerogram said:

KingSausage said:

Aerogram said:

No due to lack of mumbling.

I wish so badly that most of the lyrics on HITNRUN Phase One, PLECTRUMRECTUM, and many other recent Prince albums were mumbled.

u mean that he can release something better???

KingSausage said:

Aerogram said:

No due to lack of mumbling.

I wish so badly that most of the lyrics on HITNRUN Phase One, PLECTRUMRECTUM, and many other recent Prince albums were mumbled.

And if only D'Angelo had got Joshua Welton in to produce 'Black Messiah' ...

langebleu said:

KingSausage said:

langebleu said:

And if only D'Angelo had got Joshua Welton in to produce 'Black Messiah' ...

Oh god. Never say that. Ever.

I've always thought it was his reaction to Thriller?

funkaholic1972 said:

bluegangsta said:

I've always thought it was his reaction to Thriller?

Ok, not what I had in mind. When I first heard RockNRoll Love Affair, my immediate thought was "Oh yeah, this is a reaction to Dolly Partons Jolene." Have a listen and tell me what you think.

funkaholic1972 said:

Back in 2001 Prince released TRC and broke with the plastic production that had been going since 1996. It seemed like a reaction to the "Voodoo" album by D'Angelo, who had enjoyed much success and critical acclaim with that album. Many people said back then that 'Voodoo' was the kind of organic sounding album that Prince should make.

About a year ago D'Angelo released "Black Messiah" and again it was very well received by music critics all over the world, even if sales didn't really take off this time. Many Prince comparisons were made again by critics, some saying it was the best new 'Prince' album in years.

Now we suddenly get Phase 2 after the lackluster electronic Phase 1 album. An album chockfull of organic sounding, well played songs with the focus on musicianship. Just like D's "Black Messiah"!

Is this coincidence? Or would you think that Prince (competitive as he is) sees D as the only 'threat' to his Purple Kingdom and wants to show the world once more that he is more than capable of making a great organic sounding RnB based album, just like D has just done?

Maybe in 2001 but in 2015 I don't think D'Angelo's comeback was significant enough. His album is cool and may have been well received but IDK of those "many people" who you say said "OMG this young genius is the next Prince" anymore. Did any professional review actually say that?

Besides, lots of the stuff on Phase Two goes back to several years ago, before D's comeback.

lolol, no.

i adore d'angelo, and to his credit he's made an entire style/genre for himself based on one pinkyful of princes sound...i kind of think of d'angelo like jackson pollack - or even keith haring....

where prince is a leonardo davinci...

the 12 exc songs from phase 1 and phase 2 are WAY better than Black Mess-iah

D'Angelo's Black Messiah was hot GARBAGE! That album sucked ass. I played it twice and was bored. And lets not get started on his mumbling ass.

I heard Prince's latest tweets were a reaction to a bad acip trip.

I highly doubt it. I think the only/last time Prince did anything that was a "reaction" was when he brought in Tony M. and incorporated rap. He HAS to know how badly that failed (there's no way he's escaped the fury directed at "Jughead", LOL).

I think at that time, Prince decided to just make the music that was in his head, and make it the way he heard it. The lone exception to that is, IMO, HitNRun Phase 1. He let someone else produce him and that led to, IMHO, disastrous results. But I believe that was an experiment whose seeds were germinated by Prince's releationship with Josh and Hannah. I think he hit it off with Josh, discussed production, etc., and that led to Prince saying "Let's see what this sounds like". I don't think it was a reaction to anything in popular music.

KingSausage said:

Aerogram said:

No due to lack of mumbling.

I wish so badly that most of the lyrics on HITNRUN Phase One, PLECTRUMRECTUM, and many other recent Prince albums were mumbled.

Long ago, there was an Orger named lowercasemumbles. He (?) only made 10 or 20 posts but they were pure gold!

lowercasemumbles, if your alter is reading this, please come back!