I'm talking about the likes of Catfish Collins, Al McKay, Nile Rodgers, Tony Maiden, Eddie Hazel, Freddie Stone.

Talking strictly about his funk chops, do you think he measured up next to these funk masters?

Good question. P mentioned in Guitar Player (years ago) that Tony Maiden and Freddie Stone were his funk guitar influences..(that probably tied in because he was working with Larry and Chaka). We all know he was a big fan of P-Funk, CHIC and EWF and was cool with Nile..So I would rank him highly right next to those legends for keeping funk guitar alive and strong. His funk guitar chops have been analyzed and dissected in many guitar magazines (for years). I also loved how his rhythmic funk playing filled up a lot of space in some songs (too many songs to list)..The video of him jamming with Maceo Parker (2000?) is a perfect example of this. And I also have to give credit to Miko Weaver..his funk chops were incredibile (and I'm sure P "borrowed" some licks from him too).

I love Prince's funk licks. "Controversy" and "Alphabet Street" immediately come to mind and that's the tip of the iceberg. As for ranking him against other funk guitarists (how could you leave out Jimmy Nolen?) that's tough for me because I'm not a guitarist and it's hard to distinguish between those fast rhythms. With the exception of Hazel (who some think wasn't the best guitarist the funk mob ever had), I haven't heard the others shred like Prince but I have heard Prince's chicken scrathing on "D.M.S.R." Prince put the stank on it! Hazel did have great riffs though, I tend to like him more as a proto-metal player.