Cloudbuster said:

This is the only reply worth reading

MUSICOLOGY THE MOVIE

FEATURING PRINCE AS NEIL

AND

THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AS "THE MATRIX!"

thesexofit said:

So he was supposed to call a press conference to tell his fans why he wrote 'slave' on his face? Ohhhkayyyy.


After what, a decade??? Yep, sounds like a personal problem.


Speak for yourself.


Personally, I don't take it personally. I'm not a huge fan of most of the material he released in the decade of the '90s, but in my mind his work wasn't totally void of good material as most would have you believe. Sure, he can be the most frustrating musician on the planet when he phones it in, because we all know how talented he is. It got to a point that I didn't expect much from him when it came to his studio work, and I wouldn't even bother to check out his latest albums.

I believe some of his sub par output at one point was PARTLY due to spite of WB, and partly due to being burned out because of his career situation at that time. Did I miss his brilliance? Very much so. But if he wanted to tread water, it wasn't affecting me and my life. Do I agree with the way he handled the situation? No. I wouldn't have gone about it in such an ostentatious, silly way as to use my face as a billboard, but that's me. But seriously, after all these years if you're pissed off it has more to do with you than him.

muleFunk said:

Lay it down!

He had signed several contracts in his life, so he knew what the deal was. Everything was made clear to him in the deal, so he had absolutely nothing to bitch about. If he suddenly disagreed with the contract, he should have just dealt with it and then refused to sign the next one.

What bothers me most is that he lied 2 us fans...He flat out told Oprah (and others) that he changes his name 4 spiritual reasons...A break from the past and all that jazz...Well I bought it hook,line and sinker and defended the man...Call it petty on my part but I think he still owes many of us an apology...He's since admitted that he did it to get out of the contract. I backed him 100% during this time period when many a casual fan took off...I would love 2 hear Prince acknowledge and apologize 4 this lie...I took the man at his word...Since he retracted the symbol, it's as if a small part of me was completly burned...Up until that time, I always gave him the benefit of the doubt.

thesexofit said:

Well I hear you. I am sorry you are being attacked. I swear I understand where you are coming from I just disagree with some or your points. See you argue more from Prince's ego I argue more from his business acumen which I believe is substantial.
He did explain the whole slave thing when he was on BET. Contrary to popular opinion if you are black and you go around with the word slave written on your face you better be damn well be ready to explain yourself to black america. Trust me the heat from black America can get ten times hotter than white America in some instances and this is one of those instances. He did and as he just recently stated on Tavis. Anita Baker disagreed with him fully until she had to gain control of her masters now she knows better his point of view.
I think it is too easy to look at the success of any very successful person whether it is Prince or Madonna or Donald Trump and write off things as ego. Of course that plays a major part because I honestly believe their ego is partly what makes them great. But there is more to it than that. According to Charlie Murphy Rick James had a big ego and look at him now.
I feel he matured at WB and when he was ready to take that next step they were not. I think it is sad really because who does WB really have now? I mean I am sure that no matter what Madonna is out. I go to their web-site to check out Seal vids but outside of him I don't see the ground breaking major artist they once had. Hell they don't even have the biggest pop stars of today. I might be wrong because I am trying to do this off memory.
Anyway that is all I am saying. I agreed with the whole Prince slave thing becuase it got a whole lot of other Artist Black White or whatever to realize the majors are evil, evil, evil.
Peace

I knew from the beginning that it was a ploy to get out of a contract that he couldnt fulfill .

Prince likened this experence to Muhammad Ali refusing to go to Vietnam. I can understand this too.Prince gave up a lot to do something that he thought was right and he stood on those principles.Years later he emerges victorious .R&R HOF, Grammy nominations for a afterthought album, etc,etc.

In America if you get to the top there are people willing to do anything to make sure you fall down just as quick as you made it to the top.

muleFunk said:

Yes I agree. That is why I call him a visionary. They usually get their props much more in the future than in the present.
Peace

See my avatar.

Justifiable anger? Yes. Calling yourself the same thing as men who were stolen, sold, owned, beaten, and belittled by other men? No.