O.K. I've read a lot of posts about the Hahn book and other stories of Prince's behavior, and I realized that there's both a good and bad side to publicity. Let me explain:

The good side is this:

First, because no one seems to care these days what Prince is up to, that means that they won't really care when something bad is reported. Case in point:the case of Charlene Friend. I don't know how it is in Europe, particularly England, but here in America, it seems as if no one is talking about this case. THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT, and that's good.

I don't think that it is reported as much anymore when Prince has done something "wrong" or "weird". It seems to be a passing joke here or there, but it's not taken as seriously as it once was.

But, there are disadvantages of not being in the public eye as much:

We NEVER hear the good things that Prince has done for people, like the Marva Collin's foundation that he set up.

We NEVER hear when he does charitable work, like disaster relief after the earthquate in CA years ago.

We NEVER hear when his marriage is going well and the GOOD things that he's done to promote women. Remember, he did hire extremely talented women and placed them in roles of prominence in his band (rarely do you witness the raw talent of a Sheila E. or a Rosi Gaines, or a Rhonda on bass). But FEW discuss this; rather, they are quick to label Prince as a mysoginist, adulterer, philanderer...

We NEVER hear about the good things that Prince has done for music like:

1. His collaborations with many in every genre of music (Kenny Rogers in country; Miles Davis in jazz; George Clinton in Funk; Gwen Stephani in rock; Mavis Staples in soul; gospel (can't remember the name of the group at the momen).

2. The many artists that he has obviously influenced over the years: DeAngelo who wants to be Prince so bad it's sickening; Maxwell; Lenny; and the list goes on and on...

3. Finally, don't you guys think that there are some really terrific music out there that you are dying for others to hear that will NEVER be heard because people are so anti-Prince? Wouldn't you like to play a song for someone who dislikes Prince and then have them say: Oh, he IS a musical genius? I'm sure that there are plenty of songs that could've been released and played on the radio that won't get played because the radio stations will not play Prince?

So, I guess that those who go to great lengths to defend Prince do so because they have received so much flack for liking him or his music. The many fams who have a difficult time criticizing Prince's behavior do so because they are really tired of having to defend Prince the Musician, not Prince the human...

Now, there's nothing wrong with criticizing the music and/or the man, but keep this in mind: How many of us are really VERY tired of having to explain away Prince to others? I know that as a 30-something, older fan, I can't understand how people have come to dislike Prince the Musician so much...and feel very strongly about it, simply because they dislike Prince the human.

Well, that's all for now. Just wanted to get this off my chest.

Peace and chicken grease...

LOL71

Why? Because we live in a world in which criminal thug rappers are respected and memorialized (ie. Tupac) and REAL artists that dont rape women, shoot people, get busted on drugs, or just behave badly do get nearly the respect that they deserve. Prince has never molested any children or been busted at the airport with weed in his bag or gone nuts in a mental hospital so there is nothing that an intelligent fan has to "explain away".

Prince is one of the few artists out there who truly is trying to be positive today. He is a truly artists with remarkable talent that cant be denied regardless of your preference for his work. The reason that Prince doesnt "explain" his choices and life is because he is not obligated to do so. When he is up on murder charges and gets off like your average ghetto negro rapper, I will seek some explanation. Lets ask Eminem, Puff Daddy, adn Snoop Dogg to explain there dubious brushes with the law and hurting people with no recourse.

LaMont said:

I usually like reading your posts, but when you knock Tupac like that then I don't think you've done all your homework! To me, he was to rap/hip hop as Prince is to music. A prolific rapper who made a lot of sense. Personally I doubt he ever needed to or did rape anybody! They on the other hand tried to rape him of his freedom. As for Em, Puff, or Snoop.. like them or not they all earned their stripes not for sitting on their asses but pulling through many obstacles to get to where they are! They must have done something right to gain the success they achieved. Anybody can encounter having brushes with the law. It's the celebs that stand out like a soar thumb. If your going to make them look like the criminals they really aren't then remember to include Bill Gates, Larry King, George Michael, etc.It's not just the rappers.

LaMont said:

That's right...

He just changed his name to an unpronouncable symbol, went around with "slave" written on his cheek, then disapeared from the charts forever.

Have you never needed to explain any of that? I know I have.

TheEnglishGent said:

he is Prince again though.. give him a lil credit..

TheEnglishGent said:

If you are Prince's publicist, you are dillusional in thinking you HAVE to explain anything about him

PERSIA said:

Rappers frequently are criminals. Tupac broke the law and everyone knows he did. He was a thug. Prince is not. Thugs have to go before a judge and explain themselves. Prince doesnt. Simple as that

LaMont said:

Co-sign

your average ghetto negro rapper...(WHOA) :SAD2:

loveroflife71 said:

That's probably because for once, people could see through such a silly story. As you know, she's not the first one to do somethign like this.


yeah, that's 'cause he's not commercial anymore.


shoot...we, or at least I, never heard about this stuff when he was popular


True...but maybe that's because he did infact cheat on women. And as far as the talented girls go, they're not the more popular ones. The popular ones are Vanity, Appolina, Carmen,ect. when they see those type of women they assume that about Prince. Even wendy and lisa aren't considered the way they should be (excluding the harcores), since the only real commercial exposure they ever got was with 'purple rain', when they were dressed up in the "in control whore" look. Many people fail to realize that had they never been with Prince, they would've never gotten record contracts in the first place. Don't get me wrong, they're talented, but sadly that's not enough to get you very far.
But it's another story with sheila, people actually do realize what Prince did/does for her.


Really? Watch VH1. I'm not a fan of them by any means, but they always give him props on this.


Gonna have to disagree with this; I've heard about this many times.


it's their small-minded loss, plain and simple.


I ,personally never go to great lengths to defend him. I don't get flack for liking his music, I either hear "who?" or "oh, the purple rain guy". Now if I hear the gay comments, well as I've said before, it's their small-minded loss.


I don't think anyone has to explain Prince to others. If you want to, cool, but it's like fighting a battle you know you just can't win; ESPECIALLY if you defend Prince the person.
I don't ever defend him, I give my opinion; sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, if when it's good, its considered defnding, then whatever.


And, yet again, they're just being samll-minded. People like that don't seem to get very far in life, let them be that way, I usually like to laugh at people like that. They're just not worth my time or energy (or Prince's talents).

LaMont said:

I am not Prince's publicist, am I still delusional? Have you never had one of your friends salgging off 'that freak' Prince and felt like you HAD to set them straight? Fair play if you haven't.

I was just making the point that Prince isn't the most well adjusted individual either. He may not molest children, have been busted for drugs or been in a mental hospital but he hardly qualifies for his 'normal' certificate.

I am not having a go at you either, so please don't take it as so, I am just expressing my opinion.

pejman said:

That's fair, but how many people know that he is Prince again. Most people I know or encounter do not realise that he went back to being Prince again.

LaMont said:

Here is a news story from TODAY that supports my point about the rappers that get respect and dont deserve it. I never see this kind of publicity around Prince.

CNN says: Grammy-nominated rapper Mystikal pleaded guilty Thursday to charges that he forced his hairstylist to perform sex acts on him and two bodyguards.

Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Tyler, had been charged with aggravated rape, which carries a sentence of life in prison if convicted. He agreed to plead guilty to extortion and a sexual battery charge.

He was sentenced to five years probation for extortion and has a Sept. 25 sentencing date for the second charge, sexual battery of the infirmed.
[This message was edited Sat Jun 28 6:13:05 PDT 2003 by LaMont]