UP NEXT FROM CULTURE

• By Kelley D. Evans

BY KELLEY L. CARTER@KELLEYLCARTER

July 27, 2016

My life changed last August.

I’ve been an entertainment reporter for 17 years. Nothing and no one has ever given me pause.

And then it happened — Aug. 8, 2015.

I met Prince.

As a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, I attend an annual convention that we host every summer. I was one of 10 journalists invited to sit down with Prince at his home, Paisley Park. It was a free-for-all discussion about anything and everything.

The circumstances caught me off guard. My expectation for that evening was to dance in Prince’s home at a party his estate was hosting. I thought I’d marvel at artifacts — such as the motorbike from Under the Cherry Moon hanging over a door — in the various wings of his palatial space in Chanhassen, a suburb outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. But I happily obliged this invitation to “sit down” with one of the world’s most influential musicians of all time, and tried to shift from fangirl to respected entertainment journalist.

http://theundefeated.com/features/prince-obituary-music-memories/#story

..

[Edited 7/27/16 17:07pm]

NinaB said:

How many pages before this one disappears too I wonder

You read my mind.

This article has me crying again for some reason. Every time I think I'm better something hits me out of the blue.

Graycap23 said:

Mellody Hobson is pulled on stage with Prince during the George Lucas and Mellody Hobson’s wedding reception at Promontory Point on Saturday, June 29, 2013 in Chicago.Barry Brecheisen/Invision/AP

PRINCE

POP LIFE

I met Prince. And he told me something with a look. And I got it.

UP NEXT FROM CULTURE

• By Kelley D. Evans

BY KELLEY L. CARTER@KELLEYLCARTER

July 27, 2016

My life changed last August.

I’ve been an entertainment reporter for 17 years. Nothing and no one has ever given me pause.

And then it happened — Aug. 8, 2015.

I met Prince.

As a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, I attend an annual convention that we host every summer. I was one of 10 journalists invited to sit down with Prince at his home, Paisley Park. It was a free-for-all discussion about anything and everything.

The circumstances caught me off guard. My expectation for that evening was to dance in Prince’s home at a party his estate was hosting. I thought I’d marvel at artifacts — such as the motorbike from Under the Cherry Moon hanging over a door — in the various wings of his palatial space in Chanhassen, a suburb outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. But I happily obliged this invitation to “sit down” with one of the world’s most influential musicians of all time, and tried to shift from fangirl to respected entertainment journalist.

http://theundefeated.com/...ies/#story

babynoz said:

.

That's an interesting article. Writing "slave" on his face was a direct comment about racism, although he didn't speak of it.

I read another one recently, from Ebony in 2010, with an interesting quote: "[Prince] warned about the Minneapolis police department and the easy risk of being ticketed for driving while black."

The most famous man in Minnesota had to worry about that! He probably had those feelings all his life but as he experienced more, he was freer to talk about it.

https://www.washingtonpos...ons-death/

The death of Philoando Castile would have enraged him, I believe.

.

There is literally nothing in that article that merits a click.

I can distill it for you:

1) Prince didn't understand that the overwhelming majority of his albums, and general direction of his artistic output was not popular with the general public, blamed racism for his troubles and thinks he should be paid more than The Beatles for streaming, but was only offered a fraction of that.

2) Journalist talks about Journalist a lot and believes her race allows her to understand Prince in a way others may not, yet the article is no more insightful than any other Prince interview since , regardless of anyone's race.

I think that covers it.

funksterr said:

laurarichardson said:

funksterr said:

There is literally nothing in that article that merits a click.

I can distill it for you:

1) Prince didn't understand that the overwhelming majority of his albums, and general direction of his artistic output was not popular with the general public, blamed racism for his troubles and thinks he should be paid more than The Beatles for streaming, but was only offered a fraction of that.

2) Journalist talks about Journalist a lot and believes her race allows her to understand Prince in a way others may not, yet the article is no more insightful than any other Prince interview since , regardless of anyone's race.

I think that covers it.

--- Maybe while you are so busy being a smart ass you might mention the vast majority of his music was not popular with the masses because he was an independent artist who struggled to get his music on the radio which had drastic effects on sales. Oh and I am pretty sure people will singing "Purple Rain" into the next century while no one walks around singing "I am the egg man". He deserves as much money and accolades as the Beatles.

Miss the guy a lot, but wake up. He wasn't perfeoct (who is?) and didn't always get it right. Fact is he was PRINCE. Whenever he dropped a new track that was hot, it got picked up by radio. If it connected, radio gave it more spins and he had good radio support even in his 'wildrness years'. More than most major label artists. TMBGITW was on NPG Records and didn't benefit from the big machine of WB. It was one of his biggest hits of his career.

As for your commnt on the Beatles, you are welcome to them. Many would disagree.

There is also the option of both artists, and their incredible work, being enjoyed by millions for centuries to come...

I will never understand why people who harbor such intense resentment and obvious dislike for this man waste their time and ours with their vitriol.

Someone should start a "I hate Prince and think he was a race-baiting, shoddy businessman who wrote marginally-likable pop music" website to lure them and their psychoses away from here.

i like this article, head nod

hezekinap said:

i like this article, head nod

I think we all know that maybe less than a dozen artists could sell out major arenas for 21 concerts in a row. I really do mean "sell out every seat." Prince had that magic - and of course the talent - to do that. But there was something else about him - even celebrities screamed for him - that transported him above the rest. He was a singular talent - a once in a century talent - and we had the gift of being alive when he was. How extraordinary is that?

Very touching article. His artistic influence crosses so many barriers and he was brave to stand up for what is right, even when it was not popular. God rest his soul. So glad I appreciated him when he was alive as I always will in his passing.

funksterr said:

There is literally nothing in that article that merits a click.

I can distill it for you:

1) Prince didn't understand that the overwhelming majority of his albums, and general direction of his artistic output was not popular with the general public, blamed racism for his troubles and thinks he should be paid more than The Beatles for streaming, but was only offered a fraction of that.

2) Journalist talks about Journalist a lot and believes her race allows her to understand Prince in a way others may not, yet the article is no more insightful than any other Prince interview since , regardless of anyone's race.

I think that covers it.

Wake me when u are done.

laytonian said:

.

That's an interesting article. Writing "slave" on his face was a direct comment about racism, although he didn't speak of it.

.

I could have sworn he did that during the early years because he felt he was a slave to Warner Brothers due to them owning his masters?

ETA: Rolling Stone Mag references it here: http://www.rollingstone.c...3-20160422

[Edited 7/29/16 9:11am]

EnDoRpHn said:

I will never understand why people who harbor such intense resentment and obvious dislike for this man waste their time and ours with their vitriol.

Someone should start a "I hate Prince and think he was a race-baiting, shoddy businessman who wrote marginally-likable pop music" website to lure them and their psychoses away from here.

100% agree.

Mumio said:

Graycap23 said:

EnDoRpHn said:

I will never understand why people who harbor such intense resentment and obvious dislike for this man waste their time and ours with their vitriol.

Someone should start a "I hate Prince and think he was a race-baiting, shoddy businessman who wrote marginally-likable pop music" website to lure them and their psychoses away from here.

100% agree.

I'm onboard with this. I don't get it at all, nor do I get people who are here that continuously argue with everyone else. It feels like people wait on the sidelines, looking for someone to jump on about whatever it is they might say. Sad that people are that angry and nasty.

wonder505 said:

Mumio said:

I have to admit, I'd have liked to have heard a lot more of what P. actually SAID during the conversation...The writer remarks that it was quite intimate and that it went on for some time - and yet she doesn't really recount very much of it!

.

I suppose the fact that P didn't let journalists record him might have had something to do with it - but, to me, this reads like an INTRODUCTION to a piece of writing / in-depth interview, not the main text, if that makes sense..?

NME01 said:

EnDoRpHn said:

EnDoRpHn said:

I will never understand why people who harbor such intense resentment and obvious dislike for this man waste their time and ours with their vitriol.

Someone should start a "I hate Prince and think he was a race-baiting, shoddy businessman who wrote marginally-likable pop music" website to lure them and their psychoses away from here.

I think i can count only about 2 or 3 people that come here to hate on Prince . I think most people on the org are cool and have balanced and fair views on him with out the hate. i will add please don't let a few put you of from being on the org. Believe there are more cool people here than trolls

[Edited 7/29/16 14:16pm]

Guitarhero said:

EnDoRpHn said:

I will never understand why people who harbor such intense resentment and obvious dislike for this man waste their time and ours with their vitriol.

Someone should start a "I hate Prince and think he was a race-baiting, shoddy businessman who wrote marginally-likable pop music" website to lure them and their psychoses away from here.

I think i can count only about 2 or 3 people that come here to hate on Prince . I think most people on the org are cool and have balanced and fair views on him with out the hate. i will add please don't let a few put you of from being on the org. Believe there are more cool people here than trolls

[Edited 7/29/16 14:16pm]

Hugs for you buddy

Mumio said:

Guitarhero said:

I think i can count only about 2 or 3 people that come here to hate on Prince . I think most people on the org are cool and have balanced and fair views on him with out the hate. i will add please don't let a few put you of from being on the org. Believe there are more cool people here than trolls

[Edited 7/29/16 14:16pm]

Hugs for you buddy

xx

1Sasha said:

hezekinap said:

i like this article, head nod

I think we all know that maybe less than a dozen artists could sell out major arenas for 21 concerts in a row. I really do mean "sell out every seat." Prince had that magic - and of course the talent - to do that. But there was something else about him - even celebrities screamed for him - that transported him above the rest. He was a singular talent - a once in a century talent - and we had the gift of being alive when he was. How extraordinary is that?

Extra-Extraordinary!