I've been finding some cool articles surrounding the release (and cancellation)

Did you guys know the album was coming? What was the hype surrounding it?

Billboard- December 5, 1987

Billboard- April 2, 1988

I remember during my first year in college, reading about it being scrapped in Rolling Stone, but I don't recall reading anything about it beforehand, personally. And then, of course, eventually reading that it was "out there," and the subsequent search for it.

I had heard quite a bit about it at the time - I was also in college but I spent a LOT of time reading music trade magazines (especially looking for info on Prince). I read a few times it was an answer to people saying he had lost touch with his funk roots after ATWIAD and Parade and also in particular a certain review that said George Michael's new album was "the best Prince album to be released in a few years". This of course angered Prince and gave him "I will show you who is funky" attitude. I remember the title being floated around was I believe "The Funk Bible" and I even saw a track list or two. Then when the whole things was scrapped and Lovesexy came out I remember that for some reason I read NOTHING at all about Lovesexy before it's release and I was a bit shocked - like it came literally from nowhere. But the attitude Prince had while recording or compiling the Black Album tracks I think is what ultimately caused him to scrap it - it was put together from a negative angry place - we have all read the post-mortem descriptions of the album. I got my hands on a bootleg copy not long after and I remember loving part of it and not loving part of it - also the same feelings on Lovesexy so together for me they became one really great release for that year and a half or so period.