I vividly remember buying this CD when it dropped. It was hanging in the window of a store downtown where they sold jewlry, hats, music, shoes, phones and just about anything they were sure poor folk would spend money on. At that age I chose music, and the exchange was simple.

step 1: aqcuire lunch money

step 2: dont spend lunch money on actual lunch

step 3: buy music instead of lunch

step 4:

I was between 15 or 16, and I doubt I was a fan just yet. The more I think of it I more than likely bought this soundtrack to hear Yasiin (Mos Def) above everybody else. I was definitely looking for a yarn durag to rock around that time, I'll tell you that much, so the lineup worked for no matter who was singing.. never found that durag tho..

Anyway, the movie was dope, but my mother hated it. My mother was born in the heart of the segregated south though so I dont blame her.

I dont remember when I first listened to the actual song, but if I had to sum up my feeling around that age it pretty much came off like an older black man dropping game on me. Which is essentially what it was.

I was already the kinda kid who listened to stevie and ella so the jazzy (so-called)neo-soul vibe was right up my alley, but ..I dunno the track felt too subdued for me maybe. And I could kind of understand what he was getting at about IP ownership at the time but naturally I wouldnt care that much at that age..everything else was like basic arithmetic tho. Grow up in a neighborhood like mine and you know exactly what he's getting at wit the "nigga" shit.

Over the years as I gained a world of appreciation for the musicality of this track, as well as the lyrics.. the year kept ringing in my ears "...2045....2045.."

"...Why (according to Prince) is the destruction of the radical man in 2045?"

I'd ask myself this in the countless times I'd heard the track..never putting too much effort into finding out really, just..wondering..

I came to understand ALOT of prince's work has apocalyptic undertones (hell overtones)..but like I said..as years went by, I questioned less and just enjoyed the track for what it was..

~

Fast forward 21 years.

I'm listening to an speech on AI advancment and the speaker mentions 2045 as the point of singularity..

so I think to myself (now 36)

"well of course, the year 2045 has to've been in conversation for other reasons than the point at which machine intelligence takes over..but I wonder what the chances are that Prince was a Ray Kurzweil reader?"

..so I check Rays wiki to see Ray's bibliogaphy..and low and behold. Released in 1999:

It may not be where he got that year specifically from..

..or that the song is even referencing the singualirity..

..but there's no way in hell Prince saw this title at barnes & noble and didnt pick it up. Just saying.

~

Love this Jam...especially when it kicks into the extra FUNK gear.

great song, listen to it very often.