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{{Short description|American musician (1958–2016)}}{{About|the American singer and musician|other uses|Prince (disambiguation)}}{{pp|small=yes}}{{pp-move}}{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}

factoids

| birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota2016216|7}}Chanhassen, Minnesota>Chanhassen, Minnesota| death_cause = Accidental fentanyl overdose

• (File:Prince logo.svg|frameless|12px|alt=Logo. Hollow circle above downward arrow crossed with a curlicued horn-shaped symbol and then a short bar|The unpronounceable symbol (later dubbed "Love Symbol 2"))
• The Artist (Formerly Known as Prince) (TAFKAP)
• Camille

}}

• Singer
• songwriter
• musician
• record producer
• actor

{edih}| years_active = 1975–2016{{marriageMayte Garcia>1996end=divorced}}Manuela Testolini2007|end=divorced}}}}| children = 1| parents = John L. Nelson| relatives = Tyka Nelson (sister)prince.com}}| module =

factoids
embed	yes | background = solo_singer | genre = {{flatlist|

rockNEWS,weblink How Prince, rock's effortlessly dangerous superstar, changed the game, Michael, Barclay, April 21, 2016, Maclean's, February 19, 2024, February 19, 2024,weblink live,

R&B

popNEWS, April 23, 2016,weblink Prince: A genre-defying master architect of funk, rock, R&B and pop, The Irish Times, March 15, 2022, April 7, 2023,weblink live,

neo-psychedeliaWEB, AllMusic, December 30, 2023,weblink Neo-Psychedelia, February 18, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130218023335weblink">weblink live,

progressive soul

}}

• Vocals
• guitar
• keyboards
• bass
• drums

{edih}

• Warner Bros.
• Paisley Park
• NPG
• EMI
• Columbia
• Arista
• Universal

}}

• The Revolution
• The Family
• Madhouse
• New Power Generation{edih}}}

}}Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958{{spnd}}April 21, 2016) was an American singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer, and actor. The recipient of numerous awards and nominations, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation.MAGAZINE, April 28, 2016, Prince Tribute: The Greatest Musical Talent of His Generation,weblink March 17, 2020, Billboard, April 23, 2020,weblink live, He was known for his flamboyant, androgynous persona;NEWS, April 22, 2016, In Prince, an icon who defied easy categorization, The Christian Science Monitor,weblink May 6, 2021, 0882-7729, May 7, 2021,weblink live, MAGAZINE, Schonfeld, Zach, June 7, 2015, Prince's 30 Best Screams, Ranked,weblink May 6, 2021, Newsweek, May 7, 2021,weblink live, his wide vocal range, which included a far-reaching falsetto and high-pitched screams; and his skill as a multi-instrumentalist, often preferring to play all or most of the instruments on his recordings.BOOK, Campbell, Michael, Popular Music in America: The Beat Goes On, Cengage Learning, 2008, 2008, 978-0-495-50530-3, 300, His music incorporated a wide variety of styles, including funk, R&B, rock, new wave, soul, synth-pop, pop, jazz, blues, and hip hop. Prince produced his albums himself, pioneering the Minneapolis sound.Born and raised in Minneapolis, Prince signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records at the age of 19, soon releasing the albums For You (1978) and Prince (1979). He went on to achieve critical success with the influential albums Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982). His sixth album, Purple Rain (1984), was recorded with his new backing band the Revolution and was also the soundtrack to the film of the same name in which he starred. Purple Rain garnered continued success for Prince and was a major commercial achievement, spending six consecutive months atop the Billboard 200 chart.MAGAZINE, Keith, Caulfield, Gary, Trust, Chart Royalty: Prince's Hot 100 & Billboard 200 Highlights,weblink Billboard, February 12, 2017, April 22, 2016, February 13, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170213010952weblink">weblink live, The soundtrack also won Prince the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score whilst the movie grossed $70.3 million worldwide, against its $7.2 million budget and publications. Critics have regarded Purple Rain as one of the greatest musical films.WEB,weblink Rockhall, Prince, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090803125236weblink">weblink August 3, 2009, mdy-all, WEB,weblink Prince's movie legacy: Will there ever be another like 'Purple Rain'?, 2016-04-21, Los Angeles Times, en-US, 2019-12-15, August 6, 2019,weblink live, After disbanding the Revolution, Prince released the album Sign o' the Times (1987), widely hailed by critics as the greatest work of his career.In the midst of a contractual dispute with Warner Bros. in 1993, he changed his stage name to the unpronounceable symbol (File:Prince logo.svg|frameless|12px|alt=Logo. Hollow circle above downward arrow crossed with a curlicued horn-shaped symbol and then a short bar|The unpronounceable symbol (later dubbed "Love Symbol #2")) (known to fans as the "Love Symbol") and was often referred to as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (or TAFKAP) or simply The Artist.WEB,weblink TAFKAP, The Free Dictionary, April 2, 2021, November 10, 2020,weblink live, WEB,weblink Prince: 'People hear the sex in my songs much more than I ever write it', The Guardian, April 24, 2016, April 2, 2021, May 25, 2021,weblink live, After moving to Arista Records in 1998, Prince reverted to his original name in 2000. Over the next decade, six of his albums entered the U.S. top 10 charts.WEB,weblink Re: Prince Rogers Nelson, Mncourts.gov, March 9, 2017, February 24, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170224141407weblink">weblink live, MAGAZINE,weblink Prince, Billboard, December 10, 2021, December 4, 2021,weblink live, In April 2016, at the age of 57, Prince died after accidentally overdosing on fentanyl at his Paisley Park home and recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota. He was a prolific musician who released 39 albums during his life, with a vast array of unreleased material left in a custom-built bank vault underneath his home after his death, including fully completed albums and over 50 finished music videos.MAGAZINE, January 1997, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince,weblink Ebony, 128, May 4, 2016, Numerous posthumous collections of his previously unheard work have been issued by his estate.Prince sold over 150 million records worldwide during his lifetime, ranking him among the best-selling music artists of all time.WEB,weblink Ebony, 128, January 1997, Johnson Publishing Company, October 22, 2022, His awards include the Grammy President's Merit Award, the American Music Awards for Achievement and of Merit, the Billboard Icon Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the U.K. Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2016, and was inducted twice into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022.MAGAZINE, Nazareno, Mia, December 17, 2021, Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, Jr. & More to Be Inducted at 2022 Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame,weblink February 17, 2022, Billboard, January 29, 2022,weblink live, MAGAZINE, Aderoju, Darlene, June 13, 2022, Black Music Month & Juneteenth 2022: Industry Celebrations (Updating),weblink June 14, 2022, Billboard, June 14, 2022,weblink live, Estimates of the complete number of songs written by Prince range anywhere from 500 to well over 1,000.WEB, Gold and Platinum Search,weblink dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120225041920weblink">weblink February 25, 2012, March 17, 2013, Some of these songs were made popular after being covered by other musicians, including "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinéad O'Connor and "Manic Monday" by the Bangles.WEB, InfoDisc : Bilan par Artiste (Ventes Réelles des Singles/Titres & des Albums),weblink dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131105082230weblink">weblink November 5, 2013, November 1, 2013,

Early life

Prince Rogers Nelson was born in Minneapolis on June 7, 1958, the son of jazz singer Mattie Della (née Shaw) and pianist and songwriter John Lewis Nelson.NEWS,weblink Prince Obituary: June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016, NME, Nicolson, Barry, April 22, 2016, June 7, 2018, June 12, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180612150319weblink">weblink live, All four of his grandparents were from Louisiana.NEWS, Smolenyak, Megan, Hey, Prince, Your Roots Are Showing, HuffPost,weblink February 12, 2013, February 8, 2013, February 12, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130212024635weblink">weblink live, His grand-aunt was the black nationalist Mittie Maude Lena Gordon, who established the Peace Movement of Ethiopia and advocated emigration to West Africa in response to American white supremacy.WEB, Mittie Maud Lena Gordon,weblink Geni, 1884, February 21, 2022, February 21, 2022,weblink live, WEB, John Lewis Nelson,weblink Geni, June 29, 1916, February 21, 2022, February 21, 2022,weblink live, The jazz drummer Louis Hayes was his paternal cousin.NEWS, Gannij, Joan,weblink Louis Hayes: Still Moving Straight Ahead, All About Jazz, May 23, 2017, June 14, 2021, June 14, 2021,weblink live, Prince was named after his father's most popular stage name, Prince Rogers, which his father used while performing with Prince's mother in a jazz group called the Prince Rogers Trio.JOURNAL, Woodworth, Griffin, 2013, Prince, Miles, and Maceo: horns, masculinity, and the anxiety of influence, Black Music Research Journal, 33, 2, 117+, 10.5406/blacmusiresej.33.2.0117, 191456792, In 1991, Prince's father told A Current Affair that he named his son "Prince" because he wanted Prince "to do everything I wanted to do".{{sfn|Hahn|2004}} Prince was not fond of his name and wanted people to instead call him "Skipper", a name which stuck throughout his childhood.{{sfn|Gulla|2008|p=483}}{{sfn|Ro|2011|p=6}} Prince said he was "born epileptic" and had seizures when he was young. He stated, "My mother told me one day I walked in to her and said, 'Mom, I'm not going to be sick anymore,' and she said, 'Why?' and I said, 'Because an angel told me so.{{'"}}WEB, Lynch, Jason, Prince Talks about His Struggle with Epilepsy, People (magazine), People, April 28, 2009,weblink May 4, 2016, August 6, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160806124442weblink">weblink live, Prince's younger sister, Tyka, was born on May 18, 1960.{{sfn|Nilsen|2003|p=19}} Both siblings developed a keen interest in music, which was encouraged by their father.NEWS, Obituary: John Nelson,weblink April 25, 2016, The Independent, September 1, 2001,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110919034257weblink">weblink September 19, 2011, His parents were both members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, an evangelical denomination.WEB,weblink 12 Black Famous Faces Who Were Raised Seventh-Day Adventist, October 26, 2020, October 27, 2020, November 1, 2020,weblink live, In 2022, during a Minneapolis teachers' strike, Minneapolis-St. Paul news station WCCO-TV was researching a previous teacher's strike in April 1970 and accidentally uncovered an interview they had done with Prince about that 1970 strike. Prince, who was 11 years old at the time, said about the strike, "I think they should get a better education too cause, um, and I think they should get some more money cause they work, they be working extra hours for us and all that stuff." While he never identifies himself in the interview, it was confirmed to be him through interviews with a historian in Minneapolis who is also a fan of Prince, as well as by a former classmate who was a member of Prince's first band. The video is one of very few videos of Prince from that stage of his life.WEB, Film Of Prince At Age 11 Discovered In Archival Footage Of 1970 Minneapolis Teachers Strike,weblink CBSLocal.com, April 5, 2022, April 4, 2022, April 4, 2022,weblink live, Prince wrote his first song, "Funk Machine", on his father's piano when he was seven years old. His parents divorced when he was 10. His mother remarried Hayward Baker, with whom she had a son named Omarr; Prince had a fraught relationship with Omarr, to the extent that it caused him to repeatedly switch homes, sometimes living with his father and sometimes with his mother and stepfather.WEB,weblink Biography – Prince: Idiosyncratic, Individualistic, Innovative, Ingenious, Purplerain120.weebly.com, December 23, 2017, October 7, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20171007120851weblink">weblink live, Baker took Prince to see James Brown in concert, and Prince credited Baker with improving the family's finances. After a brief period of living with his father, who bought him his first guitar, Prince moved into the basement of his neighbors, the Anderson family, after his father threw him out.WEB,weblink Prince's childhood homes: MnDOT research helps create a timeline, The Current, Jay, Gabler, February 23, 2018, February 23, 2018,weblink live, He befriended the Andersons' son, Andre, who later collaborated with Prince and became known as André Cymone.WEB,weblink André Cymone, March 24, 2008, December 11, 2010, April 30, 2011,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110430000328weblink">weblink live, WEB,weblink Prince obituary, Adam, Sweeting, April 22, 2016, December 23, 2017, The Guardian, December 10, 2021,weblink live, Prince attended Minneapolis' Bryant Junior High and then Central High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He played on Central's junior varsity basketball team, and continued to play basketball for fun as an adult.NEWS, Rothman, Michael, Prince's Bryant Junior High Basketball Photo is Amazing, ABC News, March 4, 2015,weblink May 1, 2016, May 7, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160507121226weblink">weblink live, WEB, Tevlin, Jon, The Quiet One: A High School Classmate Recalls the Artist as a Young Man, Star Tribune, March 13, 2004,weblink May 4, 2016, February 19, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150219215454weblink">weblink dead, Prince may have been among the Bryant students who tested The Oregon Trail during its development in autumn 1971.AV MEDIA,weblink The Story of The Oregon Trail, 2024-04-11, en, Gaming Historian, 2024-04-21, YouTube, He was trained in classical ballet at the Minnesota Dance Theatre through the Urban Arts Program of Minneapolis Public Schools,NEWS, Dancers recall Prince as a hard-working 'darling' in tights and ballet slippers,weblink Caroline, Palmer, Star Tribune, May 5, 2016, May 3, 2018, May 4, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180504011637weblink">weblink dead, Prince became an advocate for dancers, and used his wealth to save the failing Joffrey Ballet in Chicago during the 1990s.WEB,weblink Prince: Always in Motion, December 5, 2016, October 28, 2020, October 31, 2020,weblink live, WEB,weblink A Tribute to Prince, April 21, 2016, Dance Spirit, October 28, 2020, November 2, 2020,weblink live, He met songwriter and producer Jimmy Jam in 1973 and impressed Jam with his musical talent, early mastery of a wide range of instruments, and work ethic.MAGAZINE, Nolfi, Joey, Jimmy Jam Remembers School Days with Prince: 'Everything was so Forward Thinking',weblink April 23, 2016, Entertainment Weekly, April 21, 2016, April 23, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160423233136weblink">weblink live,

Career

1975–1984: Beginnings and breakthrough

File:1244 Russell Avenue North, Minneapolis 2017-08-02.jpg|right|thumb|The Minneapolis house, seen here in August 2017, where Prince stayed with André CymoneAndré CymoneIn 1975, Pepe Willie (the husband of Prince's cousin Shauntel), formed the band 94 East with Marcy Ingvoldstad and Kristie Lazenberry, hiring André Cymone and Prince to record tracks.WEB,weblink Pop Prodigy: Teen Prince Debuted as Artist, Producer, April 26, 2016, Newsweek, en, July 29, 2019, July 29, 2019,weblink live, BOOK,weblink Prince: Life and Times: Revised and Updated Edition, Draper, Jason, November 2016, Book Sales, 978-0-7858-3497-7, New York, New York, 9–10, The Early Years (1958-1983), July 29, 2019, Willie wrote the songs, and Prince contributed guitar tracks, and Prince and Willie co-wrote the 94 East song, "Just Another Sucker".MAGAZINE,weblink Inside Prince's Funky First Recording Sessions, Grow, Kory, April 26, 2016, Rolling Stone, en-US, July 29, 2019, July 29, 2019,weblink live, The band recorded tracks which later became the album Minneapolis Genius â€“ The Historic 1977 Recordings. In 1976, shortly after graduating from Central High School, Prince created a demo tape with producer Chris Moon, in Moon's Minneapolis studio.MAGAZINE, Arnold, Chuck, Prince Collaborator Chris Moon Remembers Mentoring the Legend Before the Fame,weblink Billboard, May 7, 2020, April 21, 2018, July 25, 2020,weblink live, Unable to secure a recording contract, Moon brought the tape to Owen Husney, a Minneapolis businessman, who signed Prince, age 19, to a management contract, and helped him create a demo at Sound 80 Studios in Minneapolis (with producer/engineer David Z).WEB, National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form,weblink July 8, 2021, June 5, 2021,weblink live, WEB, April 13, 2018, Prince 'discoverer' Owen Husney's new book has some very good Prince stories,weblink July 8, 2021, MinnPost, en-US, June 5, 2021,weblink live, The demo recording, along with a press kit produced at Husney's ad agency, resulted in interest from several record companies, including Warner Bros. Records, A&M Records, and Columbia Records.WEB,weblink Prince's first manager reflects on the music icon's early days, UCLA, UCLA Newsroom, May 2, 2016, May 6, 2016, Ted B., Kissell, May 3, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160503111230weblink">weblink With the help of Husney, Prince signed a recording contract with Warner Bros. The record company agreed to give Prince creative control for three albums and retain his publishing rights.{{sfn|Light|2014|p=29}}MAGAZINE, Norment, Lynn, January 1997, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince,weblink Ebony (magazine), Ebony, 130, April 21, 2016, While he retains the publishing rights to all his songs, Warner Brothers owns the master tapes to the 20 albums preceding Emancipation., Husney and Prince then left Minneapolis and moved to Sausalito, California, where Prince's first album, For You, was recorded at Record Plant Studios. The album was mixed in Los Angeles and released on April 7, 1978.{{sfn|Uptown|2004|p=19}} According to the For You album notes, Prince wrote, produced, arranged, composed, and played all 27 instruments on the recording, except for the song "Soft and Wet", whose lyrics were co-written by Moon. The cost of recording the album was twice Prince's initial advance. Prince used the Prince's Music Co. to publish his songs. "Soft and Wet" reached No. 12 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 92 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song "Just as Long as We're Together" reached No. 91 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.(File:Ticket to Prince’s First Concert.jpg|thumb|left|Ticket to Prince's first performance with his band in January 1979)In 1979, Prince created a band with André Cymone on bass, Dez Dickerson on guitar, Gayle Chapman and Doctor Fink on keyboards, and Bobby Z. on drums. Their first show was at the Capri Theater on January 5, 1979. Warner Bros. executives attended the show but decided that Prince and the band needed more time to develop his music.{{sfn|Hill|1989|p=59}}{{page needed|date=April 2016}} In October 1979, Prince released the album Prince, which was No. 4 on the Billboard Top R&B/Black Albums charts and No. 22 on the Billboard 200, and went platinum. It contained two R&B hits: "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" and "I Wanna Be Your Lover", which sold over a million copies, and reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 for two weeks on the Hot Soul Singles chart. Prince performed both these songs on January 26, 1980, on American Bandstand. On this album, Prince used Ecnirp Music â€“ BMI.WEB,weblink BMI | Repertoire Search, Repertoire.bmi.com, July 18, 2009, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20071030003322weblink">weblink October 30, 2007, In 1980, Prince released the album Dirty Mind, which contained sexually explicit material, including the title song, "Head", and the song "Sister", and was described by Stephen Thomas Erlewine as a "stunning, audacious amalgam of funk, new wave, R&B, and pop, fueled by grinningly salacious sex and the desire to shock".Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r15800|pure_url=yes}} Dirty Mind – Prince]." AllMusic. Retrieved January 1, 2010. Recorded in Prince's studio, this album was certified gold, and the single "Uptown" reached No. 5 on the Billboard Dance chart and No. 5 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. Prince was also the opening act for Rick James' 1980 Fire It Up tour.WEB, 2016-04-22, How Prince's Androgynous Genius Changed the Way We Think About Music and Gender,weblink 2024-02-24, Pitchfork, en-US, February 4, 2024,weblink live, File:Prince 1980.jpg|right|thumb|Prince in 1980, the year Dirty MindDirty MindIn February 1981, Prince made his first appearance on Saturday Night Live, performing "Partyup". In October 1981, Prince released the album Controversy. He played several dates in support of it, as the first of three opening acts for the Rolling Stones, on their US tour. In Los Angeles, Prince, who appeared in a trench coat and black bikini briefs, was forced off the stage after just three songs by audience members throwing trash at him."Rolling Stones Open 2-Day Stand In LA" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428130704weblink |date=April 28, 2022 }}, Oxnard (CA) Press-Courier, October 10, 1981, p3MAGAZINE, Heller, Jason, 12 Wildest Prince Moments,weblink Rolling Stone, April 22, 2016, August 28, 2020, November 26, 2020,weblink live, He began 1982 with a small tour of college towns where he was the headlining act. The songs on Controversy were published by Controversy MusicWEB,weblink Profile for Controversy Music, Ascap.com, July 18, 2009, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140807184702weblink">weblink August 7, 2014,  â€“ ASCAP, a practice he continued until the Emancipation album in 1996. Controversy also marked the introduction of Prince's use of abbreviated spelling, such as writing the words you as U, to as 2, and for as 4; by 2002, MTV News noted that "[n]ow all of his titles, liner notes, and Web postings are written in his own shorthand spelling, as seen on 1999's Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, which featured 'Hot Wit U.{{'"}}WEB,weblink Y Kant Artists Spell? Christina, Jimmy Jam, K-Ci Explain, Moss, Corey, November 13, 2002, MTV, April 15, 2013, November 7, 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121107233635weblink">weblink live, In 1981, Prince formed a side project band called The Time. The band released four albums between 1981 and 1990, with Prince writing and performing most of the instrumentation and backing vocals (sometimes credited under the pseudonyms "Jamie Starr" or "The Starr Company"), with lead vocals by Morris Day.{{sfn|Cashmore|1997|p=147}}{{sfn|Draper|2011}} In late 1982, Prince released a double album, 1999, which sold over four million copies.WEB, 1999 – at least four million copies sold,weblink Recording Industry Association of America, RIAA, September 30, 2020, October 26, 2020,weblink live, NEWS,weblink CNN â€“ World Beat Biography â€“ Prince â€“ December 20, 1999, CNN, July 18, 2009, October 10, 2009,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20091010125757weblink">weblink dead, The title track was a protest against nuclear proliferation and became Prince's first top 10 hit in countries outside the US. Prince's "Little Red Corvette" was one of the first two videos by black artists (along with Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean") played in heavy rotation on MTV, which had been perceived as against "black music" until CBS President Walter Yetnikoff threatened to pull all CBS videos.WEB,weblink Five History-Making MTV Music Videos, New York (magazine), New York, October 9, 2011, May 4, 2015, May 8, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150508062713weblink">weblink live, {{sfn|Buckley|2003|p=819}} Prince and Jackson had a competitive rivalry lasted for many years.MAGAZINE,weblink Music's 30 Fiercest Feuds and Beefs, Rolling Stone, September 15, 2017, February 5, 2018, February 6, 2018,weblink live, The song "Delirious" also placed in the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "International Lover" earned Prince his first Grammy Award nomination at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards.WEB,weblink Grammys Mourn Prince – See Statement From Grammy Awards Recording Academy, April 24, 2016, April 21, 2016, Gossipcop.com, Weiss, Shari, April 24, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160424001854weblink">weblink dead,

1984–1987: Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day and Parade

(File:Prince Purple Rain press photo (1984).jpg|thumb|Prince in 1984) During this period Prince referred to his band as the Revolution.WEB,weblink Rhino Historic Tours: Prince Kicks Off the Purple Rain Tour, 2014, Rhino.com, April 21, 2016, November 7, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161107135727weblink">weblink live, MAGAZINE, Raftery, Brian, July 2009, Purple Rain: The Oral History,weblink Spin (magazine), Spin, 54–61, April 21, 2016, The band's name was also printed, in reverse, on the cover of 1999 inside the letter "I" of the word "Prince".{{sfn|Light|2014|p=50}} The band consisted of Lisa Coleman and Doctor Fink on keyboards, Bobby Z. on drums, Brown Mark on bass, and Dez Dickerson on guitar. Jill Jones, a backing singer, was also part of the lineup for the 1999 album and tour.{{sfn|Light|2014|p=50}} Following the 1999 Tour, Dickerson left the group for religious reasons.{{sfn|Moskowitz|2015|pp=483–489}} In the book Possessed: The Rise and Fall of Prince (2003), author Alex Hahn says that Dickerson was reluctant to sign a three-year contract and wanted to pursue other musical ventures. Dickerson was replaced by Coleman's friend Wendy Melvoin. At first, the band was used sparsely in the studio, but this gradually changed during 1983.{{sfn|Light|2014|p=50}}{{sfn|Moskowitz|2015|pp=483–489}}{{sfn|Light|2014|p=163}}{{listen|type=music|title = "When Doves Cry" (1984)|filename = When Doves Cry sample.ogg|pos = leftPurple Rain (album)>Purple Rain; "When Doves Cry" became a signature song of Prince's.}}According to his former manager Bob Cavallo, in the early 1980s Prince required his management to obtain a deal for him to star in a major motion picture, even though his exposure at that point was limited to several pop and R&B hits, music videos and occasional TV performances. This resulted in the hit film Purple Rain (1984), which starred Prince and was loosely autobiographical, and the eponymous studio album, which was also the soundtrack to the film. The Purple Rain album sold more than 13 million copies in the US and spent 24 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The film won Prince an Academy Award for Best Original Song ScoreWEB,weblink The 57th Academy Awards: 1985, Oscars.org, October 5, 2014, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, April 22, 2016, live,weblink April 2, 2016, and grossed over $68 million in the US (${{Inflation|US|68|1984|r=0}} million in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}).WEB, Prince, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum,weblink February 27, 2010, May 26, 2010,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100526161333weblink">weblink live, WEB,weblink Purple Rain, Box Office Mojo, April 28, 2020, June 1, 2022,weblink live, Songs from the film were hits on pop charts around the world; "When Doves Cry" and "Let's Go Crazy" reached No. 1, and the title track reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. At one point in 1984, Prince simultaneously had the No. 1 album, single, and film in the US;{{sfn|Gulla|2008|p=482}} it was the first time a singer had achieved this feat.{{sfn|Light|2014|p=181}} The Purple Rain album is ranked 8th in Rolling Stone{{'}}s "500 Greatest Albums of All Time";MAGAZINE,weblink Purple Rain ranked 8th Greatest Album, Rolling Stone, September 22, 2020, February 14, 2021, January 31, 2021,weblink live, it is also included on the list of Time magazine's All-Time 100 Albums.MAGAZINE, Cruz, Gilbert,weblink The All-Time 100 Albums, Time (magazine), Time, February 22, 2011, May 3, 2016, October 7, 2022,weblink live, The album also produced two of Prince's first three Grammy Awards earned at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards—Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.In 1984, pop artist Andy Warhol created the painting Orange Prince (1984). Andy Warhol was fascinated by Prince and ultimately created a total of twelve unique paintings of him in different colorways, all of which were kept in Warhol's personal collection.WEB,weblink Expert analysis by critic Thomas Crow of Andy Warhol's portraits of Prince, pacermonitor.com, October 27, 2019, May 17, 2018,weblink live, Four of these paintings are now in the collection of The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. In November 1984, Vanity Fair published Warhol's portrait to accompany the article Purple FameMAGAZINE,weblink Purple Fame: An Appreciation of Prince at the Height of His Powers. November 1984, Vox, Tristan, Vanity Fair, April 22, 2016, April 21, 2018, December 19, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161219092654weblink">weblink live, by Tristan Fox, and claimed that Warhol's silkscreen image of Prince with its pop colors captured the recording artist "at the height of his powers". The Vanity Fair article was one of the first global media pieces written as a critical appreciation of the musician, which coincided with the start of the 98-date Purple Rain Tour.After Tipper Gore heard her 11-year-old daughter Karenna listening to Prince's song "Darling Nikki" (which gained wide notoriety for its sexual lyrics and a reference to masturbation), she founded the Parents Music Resource Center.NEWS, Siegel, Robert,weblink Tipper Gore and Family Values : NPR Music, NPR, July 18, 2009, October 14, 2007,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20071014105344weblink">weblink live, The center advocated the mandatory use of a warning label ("Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics") on the covers of records that have been judged to contain language or lyrical content unsuitable for minors. The recording industry later voluntarily complied with this request.WEB, Macdonald, Cameron, Treating Dandruff by Decapitation, Stylus, January 23, 2006,weblink March 11, 2010, March 4, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160304000120weblink">weblink dead, In 1985, Prince announced that he would discontinue live performances and music videos after the release of his next album. His subsequent recording, Around the World in a Day (1985), held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 for three weeks. From that album, the single "Raspberry Beret" reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Pop Life" reached No. 7.MAGAZINE, Wete, Brad, Letkemann, Jessica, Caulfield, Keith, June 24, 2013, Prince's 20 Biggest Billboard Hits,weblink Billboard (magazine), Billboard, April 22, 2016, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20151219000224weblink">weblink December 19, 2015, (File:Prince Brussels 1986 (retouched).jpg|left|thumb|upright|Prince performing in 1986)In 1986, his album Parade reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the R&B charts. The first single, "Kiss", with the video choreographed by Louis Falco, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. (The song was originally written for a side project called Mazarati.) In the same year, the song "Manic Monday", written by Prince and recorded by the Bangles, reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 chart. The album Parade served as the soundtrack for Prince's second film, Under the Cherry Moon (1986). Prince directed and starred in the movie, which also featured Kristin Scott Thomas. Although the Parade album went platinum and sold two million copies,Stuckey, J. Ken. "Prince's Legacy: 'Set your mind free'." The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, vol. 23, no. 5, 2016, p. 20+.NEWS, Calia, Michael, April 21, 2016, A Look Back at Prince in the Movies,weblink The Wall Street Journal, April 22, 2016, live,weblink April 22, 2016, the film Under the Cherry Moon received a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture (tied with Howard the Duck), and Prince received Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Director, Worst Actor, and Worst Original Song (for the song "Love or Money").WEB,weblink R.I.P. Razzie "Winner" and Under the Cherry Moon Star Prince..., Golden Raspberry Awards, April 22, 2016, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160413212505weblink">weblink April 13, 2016, {{sfn|Corson|2016|p=196}}In 1986, Prince began a series of live performances called the Hit n Run – Parade Tour. After the tour, Prince disbanded the Revolution and fired Wendy & Lisa. Brown Mark quit the band; keyboardist Doctor Fink remained. Prince recruited new band members Miko Weaver on guitar, Atlanta Bliss on trumpet, and Eric Leeds on saxophone.{{sfn|Moskowitz|2015|pp=483–489}}

1987–1991: Sign o' the Times, Lovesexy, Batman and Graffiti Bridge

Before disbanding the Revolution, Prince was working on two separate projects, the Revolution album Dream Factory and a solo effort, Camille.{{sfn|Draper|2008|pp=76–78}} Unlike the three previous band albums, Dream Factory included input from the band members and featured songs with lead vocals by Wendy & Lisa.{{sfn|Draper|2008|pp=76–78}} The Camille project saw Prince create a new androgynous persona primarily singing in a sped-up, female-sounding voice. With the dismissal of the Revolution, Prince consolidated material from both shelved albums, along with some new songs, into a three-LP album to be titled Crystal Ball.{{sfn|Draper|2008|p=80}} Warner Bros. forced Prince to trim the triple album to a double album, and Sign o' the Times was released on March 31, 1987.MAGAZINE, Stephen Thomas, Erlewine, {{BillboardURLbyName, prince, all, |title=Sign 'O' the Times |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509100710weblink |archive-date=May 9, 2013}}The album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The first single, "Sign o' the Times", charted at No. 3 on the Hot 100.MAGAZINE, {{BillboardURLbyName, prince, all, |archive-url=weblink{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=prince|chart=all}}|archive-date= June 10, 2008|title=Artist Chart History â€“ Prince|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 13, 2009}} The follow-up single, "If I Was Your Girlfriend", charted at No. 67 on the Hot 100 but went to No. 12 on R&B chart. The third single, a duet with Sheena Easton, "U Got the Look", charted at No. 2 on the Hot 100 and No. 11 on the R&B chart, and the final single, "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man", finished at No. 10 on Hot 100 and No. 14 on the R&B chart.It was named the top album of the year by the Pazz & Jop critics' poll and sold 3.2 million copies.{{sfn|Draper|2008|p=81}} In Europe, it performed well, and Prince promoted the album overseas with a lengthy tour. Putting together a new backing band from the remnants of the Revolution, Prince added bassist Levi Seacer Jr., keyboardist Boni Boyer, and dancer/choreographer Cat Glover{{sfn|Gregory|1995|p=246}} to go with new drummer Sheila E{{sfn|Matos|2004|p=57}} and holdovers Miko Weaver, Doctor Fink, Eric Leeds, Atlanta Bliss, and the Bodyguards (Jerome, Wally Safford, and Greg Brooks) for the Sign o' the Times Tour.The Sign o' the Times tour was a success overseas, with Warner Bros. and Prince's managers wanting to bring it to the US to promote sales of the album.{{sfn|Draper|2008|pp=86–87}}{{sfn|Hahn|2004|p = 118}} Prince balked at a full US tour, as he was ready to produce a new album.{{sfn|Draper|2008|pp=86–87}} As a compromise, the last two nights of the tour were filmed for release in movie theaters. The film quality was deemed subpar, and reshoots were performed at Prince's Paisley Park studios.{{sfn|Draper|2008|pp=86–87}} The film Sign o' the Times was released on November 20, 1987. The film got better reviews than Under the Cherry Moon, but its box-office receipts were minimal, and it quickly left theaters.{{sfn|Hahn|2004|p = 118}}The next album intended for release was The Black Album.{{sfn|Draper|2008|p=90}} More instrumental and funk- and R&B-themed than recent releases,{{sfn|Draper|2008|p=92}} The Black Album also saw Prince experiment with hip hop on the songs "Bob George" and "Dead on It". Prince was set to release the album with a monochromatic black cover with only the catalog number printed, but after 500,000 copies had been pressed,{{sfn|Draper|2008|p=91}} Prince had a spiritual epiphany that the album was evil and had it recalled.{{sfn|Hahn|2004|pp = 121–122}} It was later released by Warner Bros. as a limited edition album in 1994.Prince went back in the studio for eight weeks and recorded Lovesexy. Released on May 10, 1988, Lovesexy serves as a spiritual opposite to the dark The Black Album.{{sfn|Draper|2008|p=93}} Every song is a solo effort by Prince, except "Eye No", which was recorded with his backing band at the time. Lovesexy reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200 and No. 5 on the R&B albums chart.MAGAZINE, {{BillboardURLbyName, prince, all, |title=Lovesexy |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509100710weblink |archive-date=May 9, 2013}} The lead single, "Alphabet St.", peaked at No. 8 on the Hot 100 and No. 3 on the R&B chart; it sold 750,000 copies.{{sfn|Draper|2008|p=94}}Prince again took his post-Revolution backing band (minus the Bodyguards) on a three-leg, 84-show Lovesexy World Tour; although the shows were well-received by huge crowds, they failed to make a net profit due to the expensive sets and props.{{sfn|Hahn|2004|pp = 152–153}}{{sfn|Draper|2008|p=95}}File:Prince by jimieye.jpg|thumb|Prince performing during the Nude Tour in Tokyo, JapanTokyo, JapanIn 1989, Prince appeared on Madonna's studio album Like a Prayer, co-writing and singing the duet "Love Song" and playing electric guitar (uncredited) on the songs "Like a Prayer", "Keep It Together", and "Act of Contrition". He also began work on several musical projects, including Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic and early drafts of his Graffiti Bridge film,{{sfn|Hahn|2004|pp = 155–156}}{{sfn|Draper|2008|p=96}} but both were put on hold when he was asked by Batman (1989) director Tim Burton to record several songs for the upcoming live-action adaptation. Prince went into the studio and produced an entire nine-track album that Warner Bros. released on June 20, 1989. Batman peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200,MAGAZINE, Stephen Thomas, Erlewine, {{BillboardURLbyName, prince, all, |title=Batman |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509100710weblink |archive-date=May 9, 2013}} selling 4.3 million copies.{{sfn|Hahn|2004|p = 157}} The single "Batdance" topped the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts.The single "The Arms of Orion", with Sheena Easton, charted at No. 36, and "Partyman" (also featuring the vocals of Prince's then-girlfriend, nicknamed Anna Fantastic) charted at No. 18 on the Hot 100 and at No. 5 on the R&B chart, while the love ballad "Scandalous!" went to No. 5 on the R&B chart. Prince had to sign away all publishing rights to the songs on the album to Warner Bros. as part of the deal to do the soundtrack.In 1990, Prince went back on tour with a revamped band for his back-to-basics Nude Tour. With the departures of Boni Boyer, Sheila E., the Horns, and Cat, Prince brought in keyboardist Rosie Gaines, drummer Michael Bland, and dancing trio the Game Boyz (Tony M., Kirky J., and Damon Dickson). The European and Japanese tour was a financial success with a short, greatest hits setlist.{{sfn|Hahn|2004|p = 166}} As the year progressed, Prince finished production on his fourth film, Graffiti Bridge (1990), and the 1990 album of the same name. Initially, Warner Bros. was reluctant to fund the film, but with Prince's assurances it would be a sequel to Purple Rain as well as the involvement of the original members of the Time, the studio greenlit the project.{{sfn|Draper|2008|p=104}} Released on August 20, 1990, the album reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and R&B albums chart.MAGAZINE, {{BillboardURLbyName, prince, all, |title=Graffiti Bridge |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509100710weblink |archive-date=May 9, 2013}} The single "Thieves in the Temple" reached No. 6 on the Hot 100 and No. 1 on the R&B chart; "Round and Round" placed at No. 12 on the US charts and No. 2 on the R&B charts. The song featured the teenage Tevin Campbell (who also had a role in the film) on lead vocals. The film, released on November 20, 1990, was a box-office flop, grossing $4.2 million.{{sfn|Draper|2008|p=105}} After the release of the film and album, the last remaining members of the Revolution, Miko Weaver, and Doctor Fink, left Prince's band.

1991–1996: Name change, Diamonds and Pearls and The Gold Experience

File:Prince (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|239x239px|Prince performing during the Act I and II tour in Zürich, Switzerland in 1993]]1991 began with a performance in Rock in Rio IIWEB,weblink Festival Flashback: Prince, Rock in Rio 1991 – Festicket Magazine, Festicket, April 10, 2020, June 12, 2020,weblink live, and marked the debut of Prince's new band, the New Power Generation. With guitarist Miko Weaver and long-time keyboardist Doctor Fink gone, Prince added bass player Sonny T., Tommy Barbarella on keyboards, and a brass section known as the Hornheads to go along with Levi Seacer (taking over on guitar), Rosie Gaines, Michael Bland, and the Game Boyz.MAGAZINE, Sutcliffe, Phil, March 5, 1991, Stories, Q Magazine, 55, 11, With significant input from his band members, Diamonds and Pearls was released on October 1, 1991. Reaching No. 3 on the Billboard 200 album chart,{{sfn|Hahn|2004|p = 177}} Diamonds and Pearls saw four hit singles released in the United States. "Gett Off" peaked at No. 21 on the Hot 100 and No. 6 on the R&B charts, followed by "Cream", which gave Prince his fifth US No. 1 single. The title track "Diamonds and Pearls" became the album's third single, reaching No. 3 on the Hot 100 and the top spot on the R&B charts. "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" peaked at No. 23 and No. 14 on the Hot 100 and R&B charts respectively.MAGAZINE, {{BillboardURLbyName, prince, all, |title=Discography (more) – Prince â€“ Sign 'O' the Times |magazine=Billboard |date=May 9, 1987 |access-date=July 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509100710weblink |archive-date=May 9, 2013}}In 1992, Prince released his 14th studio album, the second to feature the New Power Generation. It bore only an unpronounceable symbol on the cover (later copyrighted as "Love Symbol #2") as its title;NEWS, Andrew, Carter,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20081014192125weblink">weblink dead, October 14, 2008, The People Formerly Known as Fans, City Pages, June 23, 1999, December 12, 2007, the symbol was explained as being a combination of the symbols for male (♂) and female (♀). Warner Bros. wanted "7" to be the first single, but Prince fought to release "My Name Is Prince", as he believed its "hip-hoppery" would appeal to the audience that had purchased his previous album.{{sfn|Hahn|2004|p = 187}} Prince got his way, but "My Name Is Prince" reached No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 23 on the R&B chart. The follow-up single, "Sexy MF", charted at No. 66 on the Hot 100 and No. 76 on the R&B chart. "7" reached No. 7. The album, later referred to as Love Symbol, peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200WEB, Billboard Chart positions for Prince, {{BillboardURLbyName, prince & the new power generation, all, |access-date=May 29, 2010}} and went on to sell 2.8 million copies worldwide.{{sfn|Hahn|2004|p = 187}}After failed attempts in 1990 and 1991,{{sfn|Hahn|2004|pp = 192–193}} Warner Bros. released a greatest hits compilation with the three-disc The Hits/The B-Sides in 1993. The first two discs were also sold separately as The Hits 1 and The Hits 2. The collection features the majority of Prince's hit singles (with the exception of "Batdance" and other songs that appeared on the Batman soundtrack), and several previously hard-to-find recordings, including B-sides from across Prince's career and previously unreleased tracks such as the Revolution-recorded "Power Fantastic" and a live recording of "Nothing Compares 2 U" with Rosie Gaines. Two new songs, "Pink Cashmere" and "Peach", were chosen as promotional singles.In 1993, in rebellion against Warner Bros., which refused to release Prince's enormous backlog of music at a steady pace,NEWS,weblink Why did Prince change his name to a symbol?, BBC News, May 5, 2016, April 22, 2016, Jessica, Lussenhop, April 29, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160429082725weblink">weblink live, WEB,weblink Prince hated contract law so much he once changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol, Legal Cheek, April 22, 2016, April 22, 2016, April 26, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160426121814weblink">weblink live, Prince formally adopted the "Love Symbol" as his stage name. To use the symbol in print media, Warner Bros. organized a mass mailing of floppy disks with a custom font.NEWS, Brian, Feldman,weblink May 5, 2016, The Legend of Prince's Special Custom-Font Symbol Floppy Disks, New York (magazine), New York, April 21, 2016, November 13, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20181113135727weblink">weblink live, At this time, Prince was often referred to as "the Artist Formerly Known as Prince" or "the Artist".In 1994, Prince began to release albums in quick succession as a means of releasing himself from his contractual obligations to Warner Bros. He also began appearing with the word "slave" written on his face.MAGAZINE,weblink 12 Wildest Prince Moments, Rolling Stone, April 22, 2016, March 24, 2018, March 24, 2018,weblink live, He believed Warner Bros. was intent on limiting his artistic freedom by insisting he release albums more sporadically. He also blamed Warner Bros. for the poor commercial performance of Love Symbol, claiming they had marketed it insufficiently. It was out of these developments that the aborted The Black Album was officially released, seven years after its initial recording. The "new" release was already in wide circulation as a bootleg. Warner Bros. then succumbed to Prince's wishes to release an album of new material, Come.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}Prince pushed to have his next album, The Gold Experience, released simultaneously with Love Symbol–era material. Warner Bros. allowed the single "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" to be released via a small, independent distributor, Bellmark Records, in February 1994. The release reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 in many other countries, but it did not prove to be a model for subsequent releases. Warner Bros. still resisted releasing The Gold Experience, fearing poor sales and citing "market saturation" as a defense. When released in September 1995, The Gold Experience reached the top 10 of the Billboard 200. The album was not in print for a long period due to a plagiarism case relating to "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", but the album was released on streaming with Prince’s catalog in 2018, and reissued on CD and vinyl in 2022.WEB, Raihala, Ross, 2022-03-12, The curious tale of how Prince's final Top 10 hit, and its accompanying album, disappeared for decades,weblink 2024-02-24, Twin Cities, en-US, February 24, 2024,weblink live, Chaos and Disorder, released in 1996, was Prince's final album of new material for Warner Bros., as well as one of his least commercially successful releases.

1996–2000: Emancipation, Crystal Ball and Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic

Free of any further contractual obligations to Warner Bros., Prince attempted a major comeback later that year with the release of Emancipation, a 36-song, 3-CD set (each disc was exactly 60 minutes long). The album was released via his own NPG Records with distribution through EMI. To publish his songs on Emancipation, Prince did not use Controversy Music â€“ ASCAP, which he had used for all his records since 1981, but rather used Emancipated Music Inc.WEB,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20031231224724weblink">weblink dead, December 31, 2003, ASCAP profile for Emancipated Music, Ascap.com, July 18, 2009,  â€“ ASCAP.Emancipation was certified Platinum by the RIAA. It is the first Prince record featuring covers of other artists' songs: Joan Osborne's top ten hit song of 1995 "One of Us";MAGAZINE, {{BillboardURLbyName, joan osborne, all, |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521101753weblink |archive-date=May 21, 2008 |title=Chart history for 'One of Us' |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 18, 2009 |url-status=dead}} "Betcha by Golly Wow!" (written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed);WEB,weblink BMI credits for "Betcha By Golly Wow!", Repertoire.bmi.com, July 18, 2009, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20071030003327weblink">weblink October 30, 2007, "I Can't Make You Love Me" (written by James Allen Shamblin II and Michael Barry Reid);WEB,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20030706180946weblink">weblink dead, July 6, 2003, BMI credits for "I Can't Make You Love Me", Ascap.com, July 18, 2009, and "La-La (Means I Love You)" (written by Thom Bell and William Hart).WEB,weblink BMI credits for "La-La Means I Love You", Repertoire.bmi.com, July 18, 2009, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20071030003332weblink">weblink October 30, 2007, Prince released Crystal Ball, a five-CD collection of unreleased material, in 1998. The distribution of this album was disorderly, with some fans pre-ordering the album on his website up to a year before it was shipped; these pre-orders were delivered months after the record had gone on sale in retail stores. The retail edition has only four discs, as it is missing the Kamasutra disc. There are also two different packaging editions for retail; one is a four-disc sized jewel case with a white cover and the Love Symbol in a colored circle while the other contains all four discs in a round translucent snap jewel case. The discs are the same, as is the CD jacket. The Newpower Soul album was released three months later. His collaborations on Chaka Khan's Come 2 My House and Larry Graham's GCS2000, both released on the NPG label around the same time as Newpower Soul, were promoted by live appearances on Vibe with Sinbad and the NBC Today show's Summer Concert Series.In 1999, Prince once again signed with a major label, Arista Records, to release a new record, Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic. A few months earlier, Warner Bros. had also released (The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale), a collection of unreleased material recorded by Prince throughout his career.WEB, Prince Sign of the Times,weblink May 8, 2016, Socialbilitty, January 17, 2017, January 18, 2017,weblink dead, The pay-per-view concert, Rave Un2 the Year 2000, was broadcast on December 31, 1999, and consisted of footage from the December 17 and 18 concerts of his 1999 tour. The concert featured appearances by guest musicians, including Lenny Kravitz, George Clinton, Jimmy Russell, and The Time. It was released to home video the following year.

2000–2007: Musicology and 3121

On May 16, 2000, Prince stopped using the Love Symbol as his name, since his publishing contract with Warner/Chappell had expired. In a press conference, he stated that after being freed from undesirable relationships associated with the name "Prince", he would revert to using his real name. Nevertheless, Prince continued to use the symbol as a logo and on album artwork and to play a Love Symbol–shaped guitar. For several years following the release of Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, Prince primarily released new music through his Internet subscription service, NPGOnlineLtd.com, which later became NPGMusicClub.com.NEWS, Bugbee, Teo, Taylor Swift Follows Prince: The Artist Who Tamed the Corporate Giant,weblink The Daily Beast, May 8, 2016, June 25, 2015, May 6, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160506094200weblink">weblink live, Albums from this period are Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic (2001), The Rainbow Children (2001), One Nite Alone... (2002), Xpectation (2003), C-Note (2004), The Chocolate Invasion (2004) and The Slaughterhouse (2004).In 2001, Warner Bros. released a second compilation album, The Very Best of Prince, containing most of his commercially successful singles from the eighties. In 2002, Prince released his first live album, One Nite Alone... Live!, which features performances from the One Nite Alone...Tour. The 3-CD box set also includes a disc of "aftershow" music entitled It Ain't Over!. During this time, Prince sought to engage more effectively with his fan base via the NPG Music Club, pre-concert sound checks, and at yearly "celebrations" at Paisley Park, his music studios. Fans were invited into the studio for tours, interviews, discussions and music-listening sessions. Some of these fan discussions were filmed for an unreleased documentary, directed by Kevin Smith.On February 8, 2004, Prince appeared at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards with Beyoncé.MAGAZINE, Rys, Dan, Prince and Beyonce at the 2004 Grammy Awards: The Story Behind How the Duet Came Together,weblink April 23, 2016, Billboard, April 21, 2016, April 23, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160423124903weblink">weblink live, NEWS, Sweeting, Adam, Adam Sweeting, Prince obituary: 'the music flowed out in an unstoppable torrent',weblink April 23, 2016, The Guardian, April 22, 2016, December 10, 2021,weblink live, In a performance that opened the show, they performed a medley of "Purple Rain", "Let's Go Crazy", "Baby I'm a Star", and Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love".NEWS, Ryan, Patrick, 6 of Prince's most legendary live performances you need to see,weblink April 23, 2016, USA Today, April 21, 2016, April 22, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160422221656weblink">weblink live, The following month, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.WEB, Wiederhorn, Jon, Kid Rock Makes Jokes, Prince Makes Peace at Rock Hall Ceremony,weblink MTV News, April 23, 2016, March 16, 2004, December 10, 2021,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20211210101139weblink">weblink live, The award was presented to him by Alicia Keys along with Big Boi and André 3000 of OutKast.NEWS, Brucculieri, Julia, Alicia Keys' Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Speech For Prince Perfectly Captures His Greatness,weblink April 23, 2016, The Huffington Post, April 21, 2016, February 15, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170215190117weblink">weblink live, As well as performing a trio of his own hits during the ceremony, Prince also participated in a tribute to fellow inductee George Harrison in a rendering of Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", playing a two-minute guitar solo that ended the song.NEWS, Pareles, Jon, Jon Pareles, Prince and Harrison Among Rock Hall of Fame Inductees,weblink April 23, 2016, The New York Times, March 16, 2004, June 2, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160602180828weblink">weblink live, NEWS, Nekesa, Mumbi Moody, Nekesa Mumbi Moody, March 16, 2004, Prince reigns at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Seattle Post-Intelligencer,weblink April 23, 2016, December 10, 2021,weblink live, MAGAZINE, Locker, Melissa, Watch Prince's Show-Stopping Guitar Solo at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,weblink April 27, 2016, Time, April 21, 2016, November 3, 2021,weblink live, He also performed the song "Red House" as "Purple House" on the album (Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix).NEWS, Greenblatt, Mike, Jimi Hendrix: South Saturn Delta & Various Arists: Power Of Soul: A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix,weblink April 25, 2016, The Aquarian Weekly, May 25, 2011, May 8, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160508073657weblink">weblink live, In April 2004, Prince released Musicology through a one-album agreement with Columbia. The album rose as high as the top five on some international charts (including the US, UK, Germany, and Australia). The US chart success was assisted by the CDs being included as part of the concert ticket purchase, thereby qualifying each CD (as chart rules then stood) to count toward US chart placement.WEB, D'Angelo, Joe, Billboard Sours on Prince's Musicology Sales Experiment: Magazine changes policy on tallying albums sold with tickets, MTV News, May 28, 2004,weblink May 6, 2016, July 10, 2010,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100710132424weblink">weblink live, Three months later, Spin named him the greatest frontman of all time.MAGAZINE,weblink Prince Tops Frontmen Poll, July 27, 2004, Contactmusic.com,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130629095753weblink">weblink June 29, 2013, live, June 29, 2013, That same year, Rolling Stone magazine named Prince as the highest-earning musician in the world, with an annual income of $56.5 million,NEWS, Prince Crowned 'Top Music Earner', BBC News, February 9, 2005,weblink May 12, 2016, April 27, 2022,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20220427161655weblink">weblink live, largely due to his Musicology Tour, which Pollstar named as the top concert draw among musicians in the US. He played 96 concerts; the average ticket price for a show was US$61 ({{Inflation|US|61|2004|r=0|fmt=eq}}). Musicology went on to receive two Grammy wins, for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Call My Name" and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for the title track. Musicology was also nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Album, and "Cinnamon Girl" was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Rolling Stone ranked Prince No. 27 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.MAGAZINE, Thompson, Ahmir, March 24, 2004, 100 Greatest Artists,weblink May 4, 2016, Rolling Stone, September 21, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170921055527weblink">weblink dead, In April 2005, Prince played guitar (along with En Vogue singing backing vocals) on Stevie Wonder's single "So What the Fuss", Wonder's first since 1999. In late 2005, Prince signed with Universal Music to release his album, 3121, on March 21, 2006. The first single was "Te Amo Corazón", the video for which was directed by actress Salma Hayek and filmed in Marrakech, Morocco, featuring Argentine actress and singer Mía Maestro. The video for the second single, "Black Sweat", was nominated at the MTV VMAs for Best Cinematography. The immediate success of 3121 gave Prince his first No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 with the album.To promote the new album, Prince was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on February 4, 2006, 17 years after his last SNL appearance on the 15th anniversary special, and nearly 25 years since his first appearance on a regular episode in 1981.NEWS, Thompson, Desire, 'Saturday Night Live' Announce 'Good Night Sweet Prince' Tribute,weblink May 8, 2016, Vibe, April 23, 2016, April 28, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160428205903weblink">weblink live, At the 2006 Webby Awards on June 12, Prince received a Webby Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his "visionary use of the Internet to distribute music and connect with audiences", exemplified by his decision to release his album Crystal Ball (1998) exclusively online.WEB, Sandoval, Greg, Prince: The artist who formerly liked the Internet,weblink CNET, April 23, 2016, November 13, 2007, April 26, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160426150840weblink">weblink live, NEWS, Ohlheiser, Abby, Prince had a complicated relationship with the Internet,weblink April 23, 2016, The Washington Post, April 21, 2016, May 13, 2016,weblink live, In July 2006, weeks after winning a Webby Award, Prince shut down his NPG Music Club website, after more than five years of operation.NEWS, Finn, Natalie, Prince Site Fades to Black,weblink E!, E! Online, April 23, 2016, July 13, 2006, May 31, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160531080254weblink">weblink live, MAGAZINE, Prince's NPG Music Club Shutting Down,weblink April 23, 2016, Billboard, July 12, 2006, April 25, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160425055912weblink">weblink live, On the day of the music club's shutdown, a lawsuit was filed against Prince by the British company HM Publishing (owners of the Nature Publishing Group, also NPG). Despite these events occurring on the same day, Prince's attorney stated that the site did not close due to the trademark dispute.Prince appeared at multiple award ceremonies in 2006: on February 15, he performed at the 2006 Brit Awards, along with Wendy & Lisa and Sheila E.,MAGAZINE, Brandle, Lars, Watch Prince Masterfully Perform 'Purple Rain' and 'Let's Go Crazy' at 2006 Brit Awards,weblink April 23, 2016, Billboard, April 21, 2016, April 24, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160424073116weblink">weblink live, and on June 27, Prince appeared at the 2006 BET Awards, where he was awarded Best Male R&B Artist. Prince performed a medley of Chaka Khan songs for Khan's BET Lifetime Achievement Award.NEWS, You booty at BET awards,weblink April 23, 2016, The Sydney Morning Herald, June 29, 2006, June 14, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160614081250weblink">weblink live, In 2006, he was invited to dub the Prince XII cat in the film (Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties), but gave up for unknown reasons and was replaced by actor Tim Curry.In November 2006, Prince was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame; he appeared to collect his award but did not perform. Also in November 2006, Prince opened a nightclub called 3121, in Las Vegas at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino. He performed weekly on Friday and Saturday nights until April 2007, when his contract with the Rio ended.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} On August 22, 2006, Prince released Ultimate Prince. The double-disc set contains one CD of previous hits, and another of extended versions and mixes of material that had largely only previously been available on vinyl record B-sides. That same year, Prince wrote and performed a song for the hit animated film Happy Feet (2006). The song, "The Song of the Heart", appears on the film's (Happy Feet: Music from the Motion Picture|soundtrack), which also features a cover of Prince's earlier hit "Kiss", sung by Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. In January 2007, "The Song of the Heart" won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.WEB, Golden Globe Awards, goldenglobes.org,weblink dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100713105947weblink">weblink July 13, 2010, mdy-all,

2007–2010: Super Bowl XLI show, Planet Earth and Lotusflower

(File:Prince-O2-Scene-2008-0828.jpg|thumb|Prince's stage set for the Earth Tour in 2007|alt=|upright=1.2)On February 4, 2007, Prince played at the Super Bowl XLI halftime show in Miami, Florida on a large stage shaped like his symbol. The event was carried to 140 million television viewers, his biggest-ever audience.NEWS, Purple Rain Turned Super, February 5, 2007, February 5, 2007, Dave, Hoekstra,weblink Chicago Sun-Times,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090412054158weblink">weblink April 12, 2009, dead, His 12-minute performance in the rain began with an intro of the Queen song "We Will Rock You" and concluded with "Purple Rain".WEB, Prince Makes It Rain During His Iconic Super Bowl XLI Halftime Performance 13 Years Ago [Watch],weblink liveforlivemusic.com, Live for Live Music, November 29, 2020, June 7, 2020, December 12, 2020,weblink live, In 2015, Billboard ranked it the greatest Super Bowl performance ever.MAGAZINE, 10 Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows,weblink January 30, 2015, Billboard, April 21, 2016, January 25, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150125204721weblink">weblink live, Prince played 21 concerts at the O2 Arena in London during the Earth Tour in mid-2007. Tickets for the 20,000-capacity venue were capped by Prince at £31.21 ($48.66). Featuring Maceo Parker in his band, Prince's residency at the O2 Arena was increased to 15 nights after all 140,000 tickets for the original seven sold out in 20 minutes,WEB,weblink Prince Shows Sell Out in Minutes, NME, May 11, 2007, July 18, 2009, October 10, 2009,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20091010093030weblink">weblink live, before it was then further extended to 21 nights.WEB,weblink Prince extends tour, Yahoo! Music News, June 11, 2007, July 18, 2009, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110427023704weblink">weblink April 27, 2011, Prince performed with Sheila E. at the 2007 ALMA Awards. On June 28, 2007, the Mail on Sunday stated that it had made a deal to give Prince's new album, Planet Earth, away for free with the paper, making it the first place in the world to get the album. This move sparked controversy among music distributors and also led the UK arm of Prince's distributor, Sony BMG, to withdraw from distributing the album in UK stores.NEWS, Allen, Katie, Music industry attacks Sunday newspaper's free Prince CD, The Guardian, UK, June 29, 2007,weblink July 18, 2009, October 15, 2008,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20081015234544weblink">weblink live, The UK's largest high street music retailer, HMV, stocked the paper on release day due to the giveaway. On July 7, 2007, Prince returned to Minneapolis to perform three shows. He performed concerts at the Macy's Auditorium (to promote his new perfume "3121") on Nicollet Mall, the Target Center arena, and First Avenue.WEB, DeRusha, Jason, Prince Thrills Fans With 3 Minneapolis Shows, wcco.com, July 7, 2007,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100618090402weblink">weblink June 18, 2010, It was the first time he had played at First Avenue (the club appeared in the film Purple Rain) since 1987.NEWS, Prince plays 3 shows in his hometown, USA Today, July 8, 2007,weblink September 8, 2017, June 23, 2010,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100623234306weblink">weblink live, File:Prince at Coachella (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Prince at the Coachella FestivalCoachella FestivalFrom 2008, Prince was managed by UK-based Kiran Sharma.WEB,weblink Prince's Manager Shortlisted For Asian Woman of Achievement Award, MTV News, September 30, 2014, February 12, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130212025810weblink">weblink dead, On April 25, 2008, Prince performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where he debuted a new song, "Turn Me Loose". Days after, he headlined the 2008 Coachella Festival. Prince was paid more than $5 million for his performance at Coachella, according to Reuters.NEWS, Sulugiuc, Gelu, Prince reigns at California music festival, Reuters, April 28, 2008,weblink July 1, 2017, October 20, 2020,weblink live, Prince canceled a concert, planned at Dublin's Croke Park on June 16, 2008, at 10 days' notice. In October 2009 promoters MCD Productions went to court to sue him for €1.6 million to refund 55,126 tickets. Prince settled the case out of court in February 2010 for $2.95 million.NEWS, Prince settles cancelled Dublin gig case, BBC News, February 26, 2010,weblink May 12, 2016, September 23, 2020,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20200923185141weblink">weblink live, NEWS, Pogatchnik, Shawn, Prince ordered to pay Irish promoter $3 million, Associated Press, March 26, 2010,weblink dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100329132933weblink">weblink March 29, 2010, During the trial, it was said that Prince had been offered $22 million for seven concerts as part of a proposed 2008 European tour.NEWS, Singer Prince Settles Lawsuit Over Axed Dublin Gig, Boston Globe, Shawn, Pogatchnik, February 26, 2010,weblink April 25, 2016, May 13, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160513084425weblink">weblink live, In October 2008, Prince released a live album entitled Indigo Nights, a collection of songs performed live at aftershows in the IndigO2.Prince premiered four songs from his new album on LA's Indie rock radio station Indie 103.1 on December 18, 2008.MAGAZINE, Kreps, Daniel, Prince Premieres Four New Songs on L.A.'s Indie 103; New Album on the Way,weblink April 16, 2012, Rolling Stone, December 18, 2008, June 28, 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120628144657weblink">weblink live, The radio station's programmers Max Tolkoff and Mark Sovel had been invited to Prince's home to hear the new rock-oriented music. Prince gave them a CD with four songs to premiere on their radio station. The music debuted the next day on Jonesy's Jukebox, hosted by former Sex Pistol Steve Jones.NEWS,weblink Los Angeles Times, Ann, Powers, 103.1 debuts new Prince tracks, December 19, 2008, December 6, 2019, May 9, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160509192601weblink">weblink live, On January 3, 2009, the new website LotusFlow3r.com was launched; streaming and selling some of the recently aired material and concert tickets. On January 31, Prince released two more songs on LotusFlow3r.com: "Disco Jellyfish", and "Another Boy". "Chocolate Box", "Colonized Mind", and "All This Love" were later released on the website. Prince released a triple album set containing Lotusflower, MPLSoUND, and an album credited to Bria Valente, called Elixer, on March 24, 2009, followed by a physical release on March 29.On July 18, 2009, Prince performed two shows at the Montreux Jazz Festival, backed by the New Power Generation, including Rhonda Smith, Renato Neto and John Blackwell. On October 11, 2009, he gave two surprise concerts at the Grand Palais.NEWS, Tickets to Prince's Paris Shows Sell out in 77 Minutes,weblink April 22, 2016, Agence France-Presse, October 9, 2009,weblink April 1, 2013, On October 12, he gave another surprise performance at La Cigale. On October 24, Prince played a concert at Paisley Park.WEB, Anthony, Steven, All Day, All Night – How I Spent My Weekend at Paisley Park, The Musictionary, October 26, 2009,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20091031023040weblink">weblinkweblink October 31, 2009,

2010–2016: Final albums

In January 2010, Prince wrote a new song, "Purple and Gold", inspired by his visit to a Minnesota Vikings football game against the Dallas Cowboys.WEB, Prince Releases Minnesota Vikings Song, myfox9.com, January 21, 2010,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100316230948weblink">weblink March 16, 2010, The following month, he let Minneapolis-St. Paul public radio station 89.3 The Current premiere his new song "Cause and Effect" as a gesture in support of independent radio.MAGAZINE, Kreps, Daniel, Prince Gives New 'Cause and Effect' to Minnesota Public Radio, Rolling Stone, February 26, 2010,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100301063138weblink">weblink dead, March 1, 2010, May 5, 2016, In 2010, Prince was listed in Time{{'}}s annual ranking of the "100 Most Influential People in the World".MAGAZINE,weblink Full List – The 2010 TIME 100, Time, August 4, 2010, April 29, 2010, July 3, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150703021915weblink">weblink live, He released a new single on Minneapolis-St. Paul radio station 89.3 The Current called "Hot Summer" on June 7, his 52nd birthday. The same month, Prince appeared on the cover of the July 2010 issue of Ebony,WEB, Prince Covers Ebony's July 2010 Issue, Entertainment Rundown, June 7, 2010,weblink October 15, 2010, December 16, 2010,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20101216070408weblink">weblink live, and he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2010 BET Awards.MAGAZINE,weblink Prince To Be Honored By BET, Billboard, September 14, 2009, August 4, 2010, May 22, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130522045407weblink">weblink live, Prince released his album 20Ten in July 2010 as a free covermount with publications in the UK, Belgium, Germany, and France.MAGAZINE,weblink Andre, Paine, Prince To Release '20Ten' For Free in Europe, Billboard, September 14, 2009, August 4, 2010, May 15, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130515205510weblink">weblink live, He refused album access to digital download services and closed LotusFlow3r.com. On July 4, 2010, Prince began his 20Ten Tour, a concert tour in two legs, with shows in Europe. The second leg began on October 15NEWS, Bream, Jon, Prince postpones concert in Helsinki, Star Tribune, October 5, 2010,weblink May 5, 2016, July 7, 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140707050407weblink">weblink live, and ended with a concert following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 14.WEB, Sever, Brooke, Kanye West and Prince join F1 line-up, digitalproductionme, September 28, 2010,weblink October 15, 2010,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160428051428weblink">weblink April 28, 2016, dead, The second half of the tour had a new band, John Blackwell, Ida Kristine Nielsen, and Sheila E.WEB,weblink Official PRINCE Tour Announcement, Drfunkenberry.com, September 30, 2010, October 9, 2010, October 3, 2010,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20101003062548weblink">weblink live, Prince let Europe 1 debut the snippet of his new song "Rich Friends" from the new album 20Ten Deluxe on October 8, 2010.WEB,weblink New Prince Song Snippet!~ "Rich Friends" Listen Now, Drfunkenberry.com, October 8, 2010, February 4, 2011, January 13, 2011,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110113114032weblink">weblink live, He embarked on the Welcome 2 Tour on December 15, 2010.WEB,weblink Prince Rocks Opening Night of His 'Welcome 2 America' Tour at the Izod, Drfunkenberry.com, December 16, 2010, February 4, 2011, January 19, 2011,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110119091616weblink">weblink live, Prince was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame on December 7, 2010.WEB,weblink PRINCE & The Revolution's "Purple Rain" Get Grammy Induction + My Thoughts, Drfunkenberry.com, December 7, 2010, February 4, 2011, January 10, 2011,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110110024851weblink">weblink live, (File:Prince Paris - June 30th, 2011.png|thumb|upright=0.75|Prince performing in Paris, 2011)Prince presented Barbra Streisand with an award and donated $1.5 million to charities on February 12, 2011.WEB,weblink Prince Presents Barbra Streisand With Award; Gives Away 1.5 million To Charities, Drfunkenberry.com, February 12, 2011, February 20, 2011, February 17, 2011,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110217054936weblink">weblink live, On the same day, it was reported that he had not authorized the television show Glee to cover his hit "Kiss", in an episode that had already been filmed.WEB,weblink Exclusive! Prince Not Happy With "Glee" Over Use Of "Kiss", Drfunkenberry.com, February 12, 2011, February 20, 2011, December 24, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131224111537weblink">weblink live, Prince headlined the Hop Farm Festival on July 3, 2011, marking his first UK show since 2007 and his first-ever UK festival appearance.NEWS, Lee, Ann, Prince to Join Morrissey and Brandon Flowers at Hop Farm Festival 2011,weblink April 16, 2012, Metro, March 30, 2012, April 29, 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120429064002weblink">weblink live, Despite having previously rejected the Internet for music distribution, on November 24, 2011, he released a reworked version of the previously unreleased song "Extraloveable" through both iTunes and Spotify.WEB,weblink Prince released new song "extraloveable", Drfunkenberry.com, November 23, 2011, December 6, 2011, November 26, 2011,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20111126185304weblink">weblink live, Purple Music, a Switzerland-based record label, released a CD single "Dance 4 Me" on December 12, 2011, as part of a club remixes package including the Bria Valente CD single "2 Nite" released on February 23, 2012. The CD features club remixes by Jamie Lewis and David Alexander, produced by Prince.WEB,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120623131957weblink">weblink dead, June 23, 2012, Bria Valente, Purplemusic.ch, February 23, 2012, June 10, 2012, In January 2013, Prince released a lyric video for a new song called "Screwdriver".MAGAZINE,weblink Prince Posts Clip for New Song 'Screwdriver', Rolling Stone, January 24, 2013, January 23, 2013, January 23, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130123214815weblink">weblink live, In April 2013, Prince announced a West Coast tour titled Live Out Loud Tour with 3rdeyegirl as his backing band.WEB,weblink 3rdeyegirl tour dates, Drfunkenberry.com, August 31, 2013, September 21, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130921054747weblink">weblink live, The final two dates of the first leg of the tour were in Minneapolis-St. Paul where former Revolution drummer Bobby Z. sat in as guest drummer on both shows.WEB,weblink Bobby Z. Will Play "Purple Rain" With Prince at the Myth!, Drfunkenberry.com, May 24, 2013, August 31, 2013, September 12, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130912131612weblink">weblink live, In May, Prince announced a deal with Kobalt Music to market and distribute his music.WEB,weblink Prince & Kobalt Make Marketing & Distribution Deal Official, Drfunkenberry.com, May 20, 2013, August 31, 2013, September 21, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130921054744weblink">weblink live, On August 14, 2013, Prince released a new solo single for download through the 3rdeyegirl.com website.WEB,weblink 3RDEYEGIRL – PLECTRUMELECTRUM, New Album – PLECTRUMELECTRUM, September 30, 2014, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131229090034weblink">weblink December 29, 2013, The single "Breakfast Can Wait" had cover art featuring comedian Dave Chappelle's impersonation of him, from a 2004 second-season Chappelle's Show comedy sketch on Comedy Central.MAGAZINE,weblink Rahman, Ray, Dave Chappelle and Prince, together at last! (Sort of), Entertainment Weekly, August 19, 2013, August 21, 2013, August 21, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130821013314weblink">weblink live, In February 2014, he performed concerts with 3rdeyegirl in London titled the Hit and Run Tour. Beginning with intimate shows, the first was held at the London home of singer Lianne La Havas, followed by two performances of what Prince described as a "sound check" at the Electric Ballroom in Camden,NEWS,weblink BBC News, Prince to charge $10 for live shows, February 5, 2014, February 5, 2014, February 5, 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140205110806weblink">weblink live, and another at Shepherd's Bush Empire.NEWS, Bychawski, Adam, Prince's Band Release Live Footage of Shepherds Bush Empire Gig,weblink April 22, 2016, NME, February 13, 2014, March 4, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160304120028weblink">weblink live, On April 18, 2014, Prince released a new single entitled "The Breakdown". He re-signed with his former label, Warner Bros. Records after an 18-year split. Warner announced that Prince would release a remastered deluxe edition of Purple Rain in 2014 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the album. In return, Warner gave Prince ownership of the master recordings of his recordings with the company.WEB,weblink Purple Rain Deluxe Edition, Super Deluxe Edition, April 18, 2014, August 10, 2015, September 13, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150913122913weblink">weblink live, NEWS,weblink NPR, Prince Fans Prepare for the Deluge, April 19, 2014, April 24, 2014, April 23, 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140423235209weblink">weblink live, In February 2014, Prince began what was billed as his 'Hit N Run Part One' tour. This involved Prince's Twitter followers keeping an avid eye on second-by-second information as to the whereabouts of his shows. Many of these shows would only be announced on the day of the concert, and many of these concerts involved two performances: a (wikt:matinée|matinee) and an evening show. These shows began at Camden's Electric Ballroom, billed as 'Soundchecks', and spread throughout the UK capital to KoKo Club, in Camden, Shepherd's Bush Empire and various other small venues. After his London dates, he moved on to other European cities. In May 2014, Prince began his 'Hit N Run Part Two' shows, which followed a more normal style of purchasing tickets online and being held in music arenas. In Spring 2014, he launched NPG Publishing, a music company to administer his own music and that of other artists without the restrictions of mainstream record companies.WEB,weblink A day with Prince at Paisley Park, Bigstory.ap.org, September 11, 2017, February 3, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170203014727weblink">weblink dead, In May 2015, following the death of Freddie Gray and the subsequent riots, Prince released a song, "Baltimore", in tribute to Gray and in support of the protesters in that city.WEB,weblink Prince records tribute to Baltimore and Freddie Gray, The Guardian, May 1, 2015, May 5, 2016, April 28, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160428135808weblink">weblink live, WEB,weblink Prince to release song dedicated to Baltimore, May 2, 2015, The Baltimore Sun, May 5, 2016, May 4, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160504162000weblink">weblink live, NEWS,weblink CNN Exclusive: Prince records ode to Baltimore after Freddie Gray protests, Steve, Forrest, Ben, Brumfield, CNN, May 1, 2015, May 9, 2016, May 9, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160509170844weblink">weblink live, NEWS,weblink May 9, 2016, Baltimore riots: Prince records tribute song after Freddie Gray dies in police custody, Jess, Denham, The Independent, May 1, 2015, London, May 9, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160509122218weblink">weblink live, He also held a tribute concert for Gray at his Paisley Park estate called "Dance Rally 4 Peace" in which he encouraged fans to wear the color gray in honor of Freddie Gray.MAGAZINE,weblink Prince holds dance party in tribute to Freddie Gray, Alex, Young, Consequence of Sound, May 4, 2015, January 17, 2023, January 17, 2023,weblink live, On May 10, he performed a special concert at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore called "Rally 4 Peace," which featured a special appearance by Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby, and one set performed by Prince alone at a keyboard.NEWS,weblink Review: Prince, in Baltimore, Nods to Unrest in Song and Asides, Ratliff, Ben, May 11, 2015, The New York Times, December 26, 2018, en-US, 0362-4331, December 27, 2018,weblink live, Prince's penultimate album, Hit n Run Phase One, was first made available on September 7, 2015, on the music streaming service Tidal before being released on CD and for download on September 14.WEB,weblink Prince's Album 'HITNRUN' no Longer a Tidal Exclusive, Technically, Music Times, September 15, 2015, April 21, 2016, March 5, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160305080434weblink">weblink live, His final album, Hit n Run Phase Two, was meant as a continuation of this, and was released on Tidal for streaming and download on December 12, 2015.MAGAZINE,weblink Prince releases HITNRUN Phase Two on Tidal, Jessica, Derschowitz, December 12, 2015, May 12, 2016, Entertainment Weekly, March 10, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160310011244weblink">weblink live, In February 2016, Prince embarked on the Piano & A Microphone Tour, a tour that saw his show stripped back to only him and a custom piano on stage. He performed a series of warm-up shows at Paisley Park in late January 2016 and the tour commenced in Melbourne, Australia, on February 16, 2016, to critical acclaim.WEB,weblink Prince Melbourne review. Five stars for the most intimate Australian show of his career, Sydney Morning Herald, February 17, 2016, February 17, 2016, February 17, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160217213510weblink">weblink live, The Australian and New Zealand legs of the tour were played in small-capacity venues, including the Sydney Opera House. Hit n Run Phase Two CDs were distributed to every attendee after each performance. The tour continued to the United States but was cut abruptly short by illness in April 2016.

Illness and death

(File:Leaving flowers for Prince at First Avenue in Minneapolis (25961157864).jpg|alt=|thumb|284x284px|Following his death, fans left flowers, purple balloons and other mementos beneath Prince's star painted on the front of the First Avenue nightclub.)Prince saw Michael T. Schulenberg, a Twin Cities specialist in family medicine, in Excelsior on April 7, 2016, and again on April 20.NEWS, Minneapolis doctor who was treating Prince is identified, Lambert, Brian,weblink May 11, 2016, May 11, 2016, MinnPost, May 12, 2016,weblink live, On April 7, he postponed two performances at the Fox Theatre from his Piano & a Microphone Tour; the venue released a statement saying he had influenza.NEWS, Chad, Radford, April 7, 2016, Prince has postponed both of tonight's shows, Creative Loafing,weblink April 21, 2016, April 28, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160428090726weblink">weblink live, He rescheduled and performed what was to be his final show on April 14, despite still not feeling well.NEWS, Tom, Horgen, April 16, 2016, 'All's good' with Prince, back in Chanhassen after emergency landing, Star Tribune,weblink April 21, 2016, April 20, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160420073324weblink">weblink dead, NEWS, April 17, 2016, Music News: Prince appears at Paisley Park to assure fans he's okay after health scare,weblink April 21, 2016, June 1, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160601193359weblink">weblink live, While flying back to the Twin Cities early the next morning, he became unresponsive, and his private jet made an emergency landing at Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, Illinois, where he was hospitalized and received naloxone, a medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially following an overdose. Once he became conscious, he left against medical advice.NEWS, Chanen, David, May 4, 2016, Prince died amid frantic plans for drug addiction treatment, Star Tribune,weblink May 4, 2016, May 4, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160504122623weblink">weblink dead, NEWS, John, Eligon, Serge F., Kovaleski,weblink Clues to the Mystery of Prince's Final Days, April 22, 2016, The New York Times, April 26, 2016, April 26, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160426220233weblink">weblink live, Representatives said he was dehydrated and had influenza for several weeks. Prince was seen cycling the next day in his hometown of Chanhassen.NEWS, April 23, 2016, In Prince's final days, video shows him on bike, WWLP,weblink April 26, 2016, April 26, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160426122655weblink">weblink live, He shopped that evening at the Electric Fetus in Minneapolis for Record Store Day and made a brief appearance at an impromptu dance party at his Paisley Park recording studio complex, stating that he was feeling fine.NEWS, Jon, Bream, April 17, 2016, April 17, 2016: Prince offers a little speech and even less piano at Paisley to prove he's fine, Star Tribune,weblink April 21, 2016, April 20, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160420052400weblink">weblink dead, On April 19, he attended a performance by singer Lizz Wright at the Dakota Jazz Club.NEWS,weblink Prince's Final Moments in Minneapolis, Murphy, Esme, WCCO-TV, WCCO, April 21, 2016, April 21, 2016, April 22, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160422033443weblink">weblink live, On April 20, 2016, Prince's representatives called Howard Kornfeld, a California specialist in addiction medicine and pain management, seeking medical help for the star. Kornfeld scheduled to meet with him on April 22, and he contacted a local physician who cleared his schedule for an exam on April 21.NEWS, Friends Sought Help for Prince's Addiction, Lawyer Says,weblink May 4, 2016, The New York Times, May 4, 2016, Eligon, John, Kovaleski, Serge F., amp, May 5, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160505022941weblink">weblink live, and NEWS, Prince's Addiction and an Intervention Too Late,weblink Eligon, John, Kovaleski, Serge F., Coscarelli, Joe, May 4, 2016, The New York Times, May 5, 2016, May 5, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160505022941weblink">weblink live, On April 21, at 9:43 am, the Carver County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call requesting an ambulance be sent to Prince's home at Paisley Park. The caller initially told the dispatcher that an unidentified person at the home was unconscious, then moments later said he was dead, and finally identified the person as Prince.NEWS, Variety, April 21, 2016, Prince Reportedly Treated for Drug Overdose Before Death; 911 Details Released,weblink May 9, 2016, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160507073322weblink">weblink May 7, 2016, The caller was Kornfeld's son, who had flown in with buprenorphine that morning to devise a treatment plan for opioid addiction. Emergency responders found Prince unresponsive in an elevator and performed CPR, but a paramedic said he had already been dead for at least six hours,NEWS,weblink Prince died from accidental overdose of fentanyl, medical examiner says, Chanen, David, June 3, 2016, Star Tribune, June 2, 2016, June 2, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160602215654weblink">weblink live, and they were unable to revive him. They pronounced him dead at 10:07 am, 19 minutes after their arrival. There were no signs of suicide or foul play. A press release from the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office in Anoka County on June 2 stated that Prince had died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl,PRESS RELEASE,weblink Press Release June 2, 2016, Midwest Medical Examiner's Office, June 2, 2016, Strobl, A. Quinn (M.D.), June 3, 2016,weblink live, at the age of 57.NEWS,weblink Prince Is Dead at 57, Coscarelli, Joe, The New York Times, April 21, 2016, April 21, 2016, April 22, 2016,weblink" title="archive.today/20160422060243weblink">weblink live, The fentanyl that led to his overdose was in counterfeit pills made to look like a generic version of the painkiller hydrocodone/paracetamol.Forliti, Amy (April 20, 2018). Investigation says Prince was isolated, addicted and in pain. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805125828weblink |date=August 5, 2020 }} Associated Press. Retrieved: May 17, 2020. The question of how and from what source Prince obtained the drug was the subject of investigations by several law enforcement agencies. A sealed search warrant was issued for his estate,WEB,weblink Search Warrant Issued for Prince's Paisley Park Estate, ABC News, April 28, 2016, April 30, 2016, Date, Jack, April 29, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160429130451weblink">weblink live, and another unsealed search warrant was issued for the local Walgreens pharmacy.NEWS,weblink Authorities raid Minnesota Walgreens where Prince reportedly picked up prescriptions for heavy-duty medications, New York Daily News, Daily News, New York, April 29, 2016, April 30, 2016, Dillon, Nancy, April 30, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160430111753weblink">weblink live, On April 19, 2018, the Carver County Attorney announced that the multi-agency investigation had ended with no criminal charges filed.PRESS RELEASE, Carver County Attorney's Office, Carver County Attorney Mark Metz announces no criminal charges following the Prince Rogers Nelson death investigation,weblink April 19, 2018, April 21, 2018, April 21, 2018,weblink live, NEWS, Stephen, Montemayor, Carver County closes Prince death investigation with no criminal charges,weblink Star Tribune, April 20, 2018, April 21, 2018, April 21, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180421161227weblink">weblink live, The investigation did reveal that Prince was addicted to opioids.NEWS,weblink How Prince Concealed His Addiction: Aspirin Bottles of Opiates, The New York Times, April 17, 2017, March 20, 2024, March 20, 2024,weblink live, WEB,weblink Files show rising alarm in Prince's circle as health failed, April 20, 2018, AP News, March 20, 2024, March 20, 2024,weblink live, Following an autopsy performed by Dr. A. Quinn Strobl, a protege of Janis Amatuzio,WEB, May 12, 2016, Prince's autopsy: What it could (and might not) reveal,weblink October 15, 2020, Twin Cities, en-US, December 4, 2020,weblink live, Prince's remains were cremated.NEWS, Grinberg, Emanuella, Prince death: What we know,weblink April 24, 2016, CNN, Inc, April 24, 2016, April 24, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160424114432weblink">weblink live, On April 26, 2016, Prince's sister Tyka Nelson filed court documents in Carver County, to open a probate case, stating that no will had been found. As of his death, the twice-divorced Prince was neither married nor known to have fathered any surviving children. Under Minnesota law, the absence of a will meant that, in addition to his full sister, Prince's five half-siblings also had a claim to an estate totaling millions of dollars in cash as well as real estate, stocks, and cars.WEB,weblink Prince had no will, says his sister, CNN, April 26, 2016, April 27, 2016, France, Lisa Respers, April 29, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160429151934weblink">weblink live, State of Minnesota {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613035848weblink |date=June 13, 2017 }} State of Prince Within three weeks of his death, 700 people claimed to be half-siblings or descendants.NEWS, 700 people claim to be Prince's half-siblings as judge orders DNA tests to find legitimate heirs, Merriman, Rebecca, May 7, 2016, May 10, 2016, Mirror,weblink May 11, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160511013902weblink">weblink live, Bremer Trust was given temporary control of his estate, had his vault drilled open,WEB,weblink Prince's Vault Reportedly Drilled Open, ABC News, April 29, 2016, April 30, 2016, April 30, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160430105353weblink">weblink live, and was authorized to obtain a blood sample for DNA profiling from the coroner who had performed the autopsy.NEWS, Genetic testing ordered on Prince's blood to handle 'parentage' claims, Puente, Maria,weblink May 6, 2016, USA Today, May 6, 2016, May 6, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160506221456weblink">weblink live, Prince's ashes were placed into a custom 3D-printed urn shaped like the Paisley Park estate.WEB, Lozano, Kevin, Prince's Remains on Display at Paisley Park in an Urn Shaped Like Paisley Park {{!, Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/68854-princes-remains-on-display-at-paisley-park-in-an-urn-shaped-like-paisley-park/|website=pitchfork.com|date=October 7, 2016|access-date=October 24, 2016|archive-date=October 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024152956weblink|url-status=live}} The urn was placed on display in the atrium of the Paisley Park complex in October 2016.WEB, Martinelli, Marissa, Prince's Ashes Are Now on Display at Paisley Park in an Appropriately Regal Urn,weblink Slate, October 24, 2016, October 11, 2016, October 24, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161024153919weblink">weblink live, {{as of|2019|April|}}, no additional estate claimants were recognized by the courts besides Prince's full sister and five half-siblings.WEB, Puente, Maria, Prince died three years ago, his estate is still unsettled: Here's why,weblink April 18, 2019, USA Today, May 26, 2020, June 9, 2020,weblink live, It was reported in August 2022 that the Prince estate had settled. Filings in the Minnesota First Judicial District ordered that the cash in Prince's estate be split evenly between Prince Legacy LLC and Prince OAT Holdings LLC.WEB, Garvey, Marianne, Prince's estate is finally settled after a 6-year battle,weblink August 3, 2022, CNN, September 9, 2022, September 10, 2022,weblink live,

Remembrances and reactions

File:Purple Lowry Bridge, Minneapolis, Minnesota (27732598893).jpg|thumb|alt=|250x250pxNumerous musicians and cultural figures reacted to Prince's death.WEB,weblink Celebs React to Prince's Death: Read Touching Tributes From Carmen Electra, Katy Perry, Madonna and More, Bueno, Antoinette, April 21, 2016, April 22, 2016, Entertainment Tonight, April 22, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160422033052weblink">weblink live, WEB,weblink Prince dead at 57, artists pay tribute, Fact (UK magazine), Fact, April 22, 2016, April 21, 2016, April 23, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160423195208weblink">weblink live, President Obama mourned him,NEWS,weblink How did President Obama mourn Prince's death?, Jaffe, Greg, April 22, 2016, The Washington Post, May 5, 2016, June 9, 2016,weblink live, and the United States Senate passed a resolution praising his achievements "as a musician, composer, innovator, and cultural icon".NEWS,weblink Senate passes resolution honoring Prince, The Hill, April 28, 2016, April 30, 2016, Carney, Jordain, April 30, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160430105514weblink">weblink live, Cities across the U.S. held tributes and vigils, and lit buildings, bridges, and other structures in purple.NEWS, Parties, vigils, other tributes to Prince in many cities,weblink April 22, 2016, Associated Press, CBS News, April 22, 2016, April 23, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160423131123weblink">weblink live, NEWS,weblink Purple Rain: Cities Across the Country Light Up in Memory of Prince, April 21, 2016, KTLA, April 22, 2016, April 22, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160422094714weblink">weblink live, NEWS,weblink Boston Honors Prince By Lighting Zakim Bridge, South Station Purple, April 21, 2016, WBZ-TV, April 22, 2016, April 22, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160422064448weblink">weblink live, In the first five hours after the media reported his death, "Prince" was the top trending (most-used) term on Twitter, and Facebook had 61 million Prince-related interactions.NEWS,weblink Social media explodes as Prince tributes mark death of music icon, April 21, 2016, Reuters, Tennery, Amy, April 22, 2016, April 22, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160422005405weblink">weblink live, MTV interrupted its programming to air a marathon of Prince music videos and Purple Rain.NEWS, Schwindt, Oriana, 'Purple Rain' Is Not on Netflix, But It Will Air on MTV Thursday Night As Part of Its Prince Takeover,weblink April 21, 2016, April 24, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160424094524weblink">weblink live, AMC Theatres and Carmike Cinemas screened Purple Rain in select theaters over the following week.WEB, Solis, Steph, Where to watch 'Purple Rain' this weekend,weblink USA Today, April 23, 2016, April 24, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160424021803weblink">weblink live, Saturday Night Live aired an episode in his honor, titled "Goodnight, Sweet Prince", featuring his performances from the show.WEB, Russell, Erica, Goodnight, Sweet Prince: 'SNL' to Honor Music Icon With Special Tribute,weblink PopCrush, April 23, 2016, April 23, 2016, April 24, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160424122546weblink">weblink live, Nielsen Music reported that sales of his material spiked 42,000 percent.NEWS,weblink Los Angeles Times, April 26, 2016, Prince album sales skyrocket after death, Brown, August, April 25, 2016, April 26, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160426180517weblink">weblink live, The artist's catalog sold 4.41 million albums and songs from April 21 to 28, with five albums simultaneously in the top ten of the Billboard 200, a first in the chart's history.WEB,weblink Billboard, Prince Sets Record With Five Albums in Top 10 of Billboard 200 Chart, Caulfield, Keith, May 3, 2016, May 5, 2016, May 5, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160505064944weblink">weblink live, At the 59th Grammy Awards, Morris Day with the Time and Bruno Mars performed a tribute.WEB, Ahern, Sarah, Bruno Mars Channels Prince in Rousing Grammys Tribute,weblink February 14, 2017, Variety, February 14, 2017, February 13, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170213172017weblink">weblink live, The May 2, 2016, cover of The New Yorker featured an illustration of purple rain.[The New Yorker, May 2, 2016] In June 2016 Vanity Fair/Condé Nast, released a special edition commemorative magazine, The Genius of Prince. It celebrated the star's life and achievements, with new photography and archive articles, including the original Vanity Fair article from November 1984, written in the wake of the singer-songwriter's breakout success, with other content from the magazine, The New Yorker, Wired, and Pitchfork. The cover of The Genius of Prince featured a portrait by Andy Warhol, Orange Prince (1984).NEWS,weblink Prince Resources at the Minneapolis Central... {{!, Hennepin County Library|work=Hennepin County Library|access-date=March 1, 2018|archive-date=December 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218202417weblink|url-status=live}}NEWS,weblink Andy Warhol's Prince painting on a cover, February 28, 2017, Andy Earhole, March 2, 2018, March 2, 2018,weblink live, Casts of the musicals The Color Purple and Hamilton paid tribute to the star during their curtain calls with "Purple Rain" and "Let's Go Crazy", respectively.WEB,weblink Broadway Pays Tribute to Prince, Gordon, Cox, April 22, 2016, Variety, February 22, 2019, October 7, 2018,weblink live, In 2016, Minnesota representative Joe Atkins introduced a bill in the state legislature to memorialize Prince with a statue in the National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol, in recognition of his contributions to music and the state of Minnesota. As of 2020, however, the bill has not had a second reading.WEB,weblink HF3979 Minnesota 2015–2016 Prince commemoration; a resolution memorializing the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress and the Architect of the Capitol to commemorate Prince with a statue representing Minnesota at the National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol, July 1, 2020, July 4, 2020,weblink live, On August 21, 2016, Prince was posthumously inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.WEB,weblink Prince, Smokey Robinson and more to be inducted into Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame, June 6, 2016, June 4, 2018, December 10, 2021,weblink live,

Posthumous projects

2016–2019

The first posthumous release from the Estate was 4Ever on November 22, 2016. It was a compilation of Prince's hits plus one previously unreleased song, "Moonbeam Levels", originally recorded for the 1999 sessions in 1992.MAGAZINE,weblink Billboard 200 Chart Moves: Prince's '4Ever' Marks Late Icon's 40th Charting Album, Billboard, September 11, 2017, December 22, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161222090430weblink">weblink live, On February 9, 2017, Prince's estate signed a distribution deal with Universal Music Group, which includes the post-1995 recordings on his NPG Records label and unreleased tracks from his vault.MAGAZINE,weblink Universal to Release Prince's Vault Music, Post-1995 Albums, Rolling Stone, September 11, 2017, September 11, 2017,weblink live, On June 27, Comerica (acting on behalf of the estate) requested that Carver County District Judge Kevin Eide cancel the estate's deal with Universal, as UMG's contract would interfere with a contract with Warner Music Group that Prince signed in 2014. After Universal's attorneys were granted access to the Warner contract, the attorneys also offered to cancel the deal.WEB,weblink Universal presses bid to void music deal with Prince estate, USA Today, September 11, 2017, September 11, 2017,weblink live, On July 13, the court voided Universal's deal with Prince's estate, though Universal will continue to administer Prince's songwriting credits and create merchandise.MAGAZINE,weblink Court Voids Universal $31 Million Deal With Prince Estate, Billboard, September 11, 2017, September 14, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170914175345weblink">weblink live, On April 19, an EP featuring six unreleased Prince recordings, Deliverance, was announced with an expected release date for later that week.WEB, Minsker, Evan, Unreleased Prince Songs Coming on New EP, "Deliverance" Shared: Listen {{!, Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/71669-unreleased-prince-songs-coming-on-new-ep-deliverance-shared-listen|website=pitchfork.com|date=April 18, 2017|access-date=April 22, 2017|archive-date=April 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423062243weblink|url-status=live}} The next day, Prince's estate was granted a temporary restraining order against George Ian Boxill, an engineer who co-produced the tracks and was in possession of the master tapes, and halted the release of the EP.NEWS, Flanagan, Andrew, 'Deliverance' Denied: Release Of Posthumous Prince Record Stopped By Judge,weblink NPR, April 20, 2017, April 22, 2017, April 21, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170421224953weblink">weblink live, On June 23, a deluxe reissue of Purple Rain was released.MAGAZINE,weblink Prince's 'Purple Rain' Hits Top 5 of Billboard 200 Albums Chart After Reissue, Billboard, September 11, 2017, September 10, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170910082041weblink">weblink live, The most expansive edition contained the first being a remaster of the original album made in 2015 and overseen by Prince himself, a bonus disc of previously unheard material called From the Vault & Previously Unreleased plus single and maxi-single edits, B-sides and the first DVD issue of Prince and the Revolution: Live recorded in Syracuse on the Purple Rain Tour.MAGAZINE,weblink Prince's 'Purple Rain' Expanded Edition Coming June 23 with Unreleased Tracks, Billboard, September 11, 2017, July 4, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170704023321weblink">weblink live, The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 1 on both the Billboard R&B Albums and Vinyl Albums charts.In April 2018, the previously unreleased original recording of "Nothing Compares 2 U" from 1984 was released as a single.WEB,weblink Listen to Prince's Original Version of "Nothing Compares 2 U" {{!, Pitchfork|work=Pitchfork|date=April 19, 2018|access-date=April 19, 2018|archive-date=April 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419195659weblink|url-status=live}} A music video was also released consisting of edited rehearsal footage shot in the summer of 1984.WEB,weblinkweblink December 11, 2021, live, Prince – Nothing Compares 2 U [OFFICIAL VIDEO] – YouTube, YouTube, April 19, 2018, April 25, 2018, {{cbignore}} Troy Carter, adviser for Prince's estate, later announced in an interview with Variety that a full-length album was planned for release on September 28.WEB,weblink Prince Album of Previously Unreleased Material Coming in September (EXCLUSIVE), Variety, Jem, Aswad, April 23, 2018, April 25, 2018, April 24, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180424210857weblink">weblink live, In June of that year, the Prince estate signed a distribution deal with Sony Music Entertainment including the rights to all of Prince's studio albums, plus unreleased music, remixes, live recordings, music videos and B-sides.MAGAZINE,weblink Prince Estate Signs Deal With Sony Music to Re-Release 35 Catalog Albums, June 27, 2018, Billboard, April 28, 2020, July 17, 2020,weblink live, From 2021 onwards, Prince's Warner Bros. albums from 1978–1996 are distributed by Sony/Legacy Recordings in the United States, with Warner Music Group still controlling the international rights.WEB,weblink Sony Music signs exclusive distribution deal with the Prince Estate – Music Business Worldwide, June 27, 2018, June 27, 2018, June 28, 2018,weblink live, On August 17, all 23 post-Warner Bros. albums by Prince were released digitally on streaming platforms, together with a new compilation album entitled (Anthology: 1995–2010).WEB,weblink 23 Prince albums made available to stream for the first time, Official Charts Company, Birzniece, Elsa, August 16, 2018, August 17, 2018, July 10, 2020,weblink live, Only one song remained unavailable to stream, "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", due to a plagiarism lawsuit in Italy that was not resolved until 2022. On September 21, Piano and a Microphone 1983 was released, an intimate recording of Prince privately rehearsing with a piano.NEWS, Pareles, Jon, Alone in the Studio in 1983, Prince Is Revealed,weblink September 20, 2018, The New York Times, September 19, 2018, September 19, 2018,weblink live, The Sony/Legacy reissues began in 2019. Throughout that year, Musicology, 3121, Planet Earth, Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic, Chaos and Disorder and Emancipation were reissued on CD and vinyl. Ultimate Rave was also released, a 2 CD and 1 DVD set which included the concert film of Rave Un2 the Year 2000.WEB,weblink Legacy Reissues {{!, Shop the Prince Official Store|website=Legacy Reissues {{!}} Shop the Prince Official Store|access-date=November 19, 2019|archive-date=October 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014032436weblink|url-status=live}}WEB, Blais-Billie, Braudie, Prince's Rave Albums Are Getting Reissued,weblink May 22, 2019, Pitchfork, February 25, 2019, July 8, 2019,weblink live, The Versace Experience - Prelude 2 Gold was also reissued for Record Store Day.WEB,weblink Take a listen to Prince's ultra-rare 'Versace Experience' cassette from 1995, now streaming online, Clarke, Patrick, September 13, 2019, NME, en-US, November 19, 2019, December 9, 2019,weblink live, In June, a compilation of Prince's original recordings of songs given to other artists, entitled Originals, was released - initially exclusively through TIDAL, then later on CD and vinyl.WEB,weblink Prince's 'Originals' Out Tonight Exclusively On TIDAL, Finance.yahoo.com, March 8, 2018, June 9, 2019, June 7, 2019,weblink live, In October, a single of Prince's previously unheard original acoustic demo of "I Feel for You"MAGAZINE,weblink Prince Estate Releases Acoustic Demo of 'I Feel for You', Shaffer, Claire, October 18, 2019, Rolling Stone, en-US, November 19, 2019, April 28, 2022,weblink live, was released digitally and as a limited 7" single.In October 2019, Prince's incomplete memoir The Beautiful Ones was published by Random House.NEWS,weblink The Book of Prince, Piepenbring, Dan, The New Yorker, September 2, 2019, November 19, 2019, en, 0028-792X, August 2, 2021,weblink live, Prince had worked on the memoir project with {{ill|Dan Piepenbring|de}} during the Piano and a Microphone Tour in 2016 and had managed to complete around 50 pages before his death.NEWS,weblink Prince Announces Coming Memoir at Performance, March 19, 2016, The New York Times, May 5, 2016, Joe, Coscarelli, April 24, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160424231735weblink">weblink live, The book includes those pages plus a lengthy account by Piepenbring of how the project came to be, a scrapbook of rare personal photos and miscellanea from the vault, and Prince's original handwritten concept for the film Purple Rain.In November, a Deluxe reissue of 1999 was released. This reissue had several configurations, the most expansive including 35 previously unreleased songs and two live concerts.WEB,weblink Prince estate to reissue '1999' along with 35 previously unreleased songs, Global News, September 14, 2019, September 14, 2019,weblink live,

2020–present

In 2020, a Super Deluxe reissue of Sign o' the Times was released. This reissue had various configurations, with the most expansive containing the original album, the single and maxi-single mixes, related B-sides, plus 45 previously unissued studio tracks, a live show from the Sign o' the Times Tour in Utrecht plus a DVD featuring the New Year's Eve 1987 show at Paisley Park.WEB,weblink Sign O' The Times Remastered Super Deluxe Edition (13LP 180g + 1 DVD) | Shop the Prince Official Store, store.prince.com, November 15, 2020, September 28, 2020,weblink live, Pitchfork rated the Super Deluxe version 10 out of 10 and named it Best New Reissue.NEWS, Nelson, Brad, Prince: Sign o' the Times (Super Deluxe),weblink October 5, 2020, Pitchfork, October 3, 2020, October 5, 2020,weblink live, In June 2021, The Truth was reissued on vinyl for Record Store Day.{{Citation|title=RSD '21 Special Release: Prince - The Truth|url=https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/13290|language=en|access-date=April 8, 2021|archive-date=April 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408170522weblink|url-status=live}} The following month saw the release of Welcome 2 America, a completely unheard album originally recorded and shelved in 2010.WEB,weblink Lost Prince album, Welcome 2 America, to be released in July, April 8, 2021, The Guardian, April 12, 2021, April 12, 2021,weblink live, In 2022, (Prince and the Revolution: Live) was reissued on Blu-Ray, along with the soundtrack which was also released on CD and vinyl for the first time.WEB, 'Prince and The Revolution: Live' Completely Remastered & Digitally Enhanced Release June 3, 2022,weblink Legacy Recordings, March 30, 2022, 20 January 2024, April 20, 2023,weblink live, This year also saw the release of "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" on streaming services. It had previously been unavailable due to a plagiarism lawsuit in Italy which the estate has now resolved; Bruno Bergonzi and Michele Vicino are now legally recognized as co-writers in Italy.Mark Worden, Prince's Italian Plagiarism Case Drags On, weblink {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501133308weblink|date=May 1, 2019}}, Retrieved February 10, 2019. Roger Nelson Prince, Controversy Music inc., Michele Vicino, Bruno Bergonzi, weblink {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923191238weblink|date=September 23, 2020}}. Retrieved April 16, 2019.In 2023, a Super Deluxe reissue of Diamonds and Pearls was released, containing the original album plus remixes and B-sides from this era, 33 previously unheard tracks and a Blu-ray of a live concert recorded at Glam Slam as a rehearsal for the Diamonds and Pearls Tour.NEWS, Juzwiak, Rich, Review: Diamonds and Pearls (Super Deluxe Edition),weblink 20 January 2024, Pitchfork, 30 October 2023, January 21, 2024,weblink live,

Artistry and legacy

Music and image

File:Freiluftgalerie Hagen 8.JPG|thumb|267x267px|Prince street art in Hagen, Germany ]] File:Prince (8717376428).jpg|thumb|upright|A costume worn by Prince and associated memorabilia, displayed at a Hard Rock CafeHard Rock CafePrince is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation. Rolling Stone ranked Prince at No. 27 on its list of 100 Greatest Artists, "the most influential artists of the rock & roll era". In 2010, Prince was ranked number 7 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".WEB,weblink VH1: 100 Greatest Artists, September 3, 2010, VH1, August 2, 2021, January 26, 2021,weblink live, In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Prince at No. 16 on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.MAGAZINE, January 1, 2023, The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time,weblink October 12, 2023, Rolling Stone, en-US, October 31, 2023,weblink live, In 2003, Rolling Stone{{'}}s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list included Purple Rain at number 72,WEB,weblink Purple Rain ranked no. 72, May 31, 2009, Rolling Stone,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110902124913weblink">weblink August 2, 2021, September 2, 2011, Sign o' the Times at number 93,WEB,weblink Sign o' the Times ranked no. 93, Rolling Stone,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110902074512weblink">weblink August 2, 2021, dead, September 2, 2011, 1999 at number 163,WEB,weblink 1999 ranked no. 163, Rolling Stone,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110902071252weblink">weblink August 2, 2021, dead, September 2, 2011, and Dirty Mind at number 204.WEB,weblink Dirty Mind ranked no. 204, Rolling Stone,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110902074248weblink">weblink August 2, 2021, dead, September 2, 2011, And in 2004, on their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list, Rolling Stone included "When Doves Cry" at number 52, "Little Red Corvette" at number 108, "Purple Rain" at number 143, "1999" at number 212, "Sign o' the Times" at number 299, and "Kiss" at number 461.WEB,weblink Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time(compiled in 2004), April 30, 2015, Sportirama, August 2, 2021, July 15, 2021,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20210715072255weblink">weblink live, The Los Angeles Times called Prince "our first post-everything pop star, defying easy categories of race, genre and commercial appeal".NEWS, Brown, August, Rottenberg, Josh, Prince, master of rock, soul, pop and funk, dies at 57,weblink May 1, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160423024038weblink">weblink April 23, 2016, Los Angeles Times, April 21, 2016, Jon Pareles of The New York Times described him as "a master architect of funk, rock, R&B and pop", and highlighted his ability to defy labels,NEWS, Pareles, Jon, Jon Pareles, Prince, an Artist Who Defied Genre, Is Dead at 57,weblink The New York Times, April 22, 2016, April 21, 2016, April 22, 2016,weblink" title="archive.today/20160422060243weblink">weblink live, while Geoffrey Himes described him as a leading artist in "a tradition of left-wing black music", or "progressive soul", although even he conceded the term may be "too narrow".MAGAZINE, Himes, Geoffrey, Geoffrey Himes, October 31, 2013,weblink The Curmudgeon: Black Bohemian Music from Sly to Prince to Janelle Monáe, Paste (magazine), Paste, March 15, 2022, August 7, 2020,weblink dead, Los Angeles Times writer Randall Roberts called Prince "among the most versatile and restlessly experimental pop artists of our time," writing that his "early work connected disco and synthetic funk [while his] fruitful mid-period merged rock, soul, R&B and synth-pop."NEWS, Roberts, Randall, Prince's secret weapon: a versatility that united pop genres under one roof,weblink Los Angeles Times, April 21, 2016, April 25, 2016, April 24, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160424161344weblink">weblink live, Simon Reynolds called him a "pop polymath, flitting between (wikt:funkadelia|funkadelia), acid rock, deep soul, (wikt:schmaltz|schmaltz)—often within the same song".{{sfn|Reynolds|1990|p=49–55}} AllMusic wrote that, "With each album he released, Prince showed remarkable stylistic growth and musical diversity, constantly experimenting with different sounds, textures, and genres [...] no other contemporary artist blended so many diverse styles into a cohesive whole."WEB, Erlewine, Stephen Thomas, Prince Biography,weblink AllMusic, June 16, 2016, June 25, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160625054516weblink">weblink live, Jon Pareles has named Prince among the "pantheon" of artists in the album era, in which the album format was the dominant form of recorded music expression and consumption.NEWS, Pareles, Jon, Jon Pareles, January 5, 1997,weblink All That Music, and Nothing to Listen To, The New York Times, March 10, 2020, registration,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20171227043520weblink">weblink December 27, 2017, live, As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant style and showmanship. He came to be regarded as a sex symbol for his androgynous, amorphous sexuality,WEB, Vivinetto, Gina,weblink Floridian: Prince and the Evolution, St. Petersburg Times, April 29, 2004, March 26, 2012, December 3, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131203082738weblink">weblink live, play with signifiers of gender,NEWS,weblink Mourning Prince and David Bowie, who showed there's no one right way to be a man, The Washington Post, April 21, 2016, April 22, 2016, Rosenberg, Alyssa, May 12, 2016,weblink live, MAGAZINE,weblink The Purple One 151 53 Black or white, straight or gay, rock or R&B, male or female—Prince transcended every category., Slate, April 22, 2016, April 23, 2016, Wilson, Carl, April 23, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160423153334weblink">weblink live, and defiance of racial stereotypes.WEB, Thrasher, Steven, Prince broke all the rules about what black American men should be, The Guardian,weblink April 22, 2016, April 22, 2016, April 22, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160422043856weblink">weblink live, His "audacious, idiosyncratic" fashion sense made use of "ubiquitous purple, alluring makeup and frilled garments". His androgynous look has been compared to those of Little RichardMAGAZINE, Hudak, Joseph,weblink Little Richard – 100 Greatest Singers, Rolling Stone, December 3, 2010, August 17, 2015, August 21, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170821095514weblink">weblink live, {{sfn|White|2003|pp=125–126}} and David Bowie.{{sfn|Cole|2005|p=226}} In 2016, Reynolds described it as "Prince's '80s evasion of conventional gender definitions speaks to us now in this trans-aware moment. But it also harks backwards in time to the origins of rock 'n' roll in racial mixture and sexual blurring".WEB,weblink How Prince's Androgynous Genius Changed the Way We Think About Music and Gender, Reynolds, Simon, April 22, 2016, pitchfork.com, April 23, 2017, April 25, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170425112231weblink">weblink live, Prince was known for the strong female presence in his bands and his support for women in the music industry throughout his career.WEB,weblink Prince Spent His Life Elevating and Mentoring Women, Escobedo Shepherd, Julianne, April 22, 2016, The Muse, April 22, 2016, April 23, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160423124143weblink">weblink dead, Slate said he worked with an "astounding range of female stars" and "promised a world where men and women looked and acted like each other".MAGAZINE, Doris, Jesse, April 22, 2016, Prince Was One of Pop Music's Greatest Champions of Women,weblink Slate, April 23, 2016, April 23, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160423140430weblink">weblink live, Prince also wore high-heeled shoes and boots both on and off-stage.Many artists have cited Prince as an influence and inspiration, including Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Usher, Janelle Monáe, The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Lorde,WEB,weblink Lorde 'I relate to Kanye West and I feel intimidated by teenage girls', November 5, 2013, Simpson, Leah, Digital Spy, June 18, 2021, November 7, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131107225023weblink">weblink live, Marilyn Manson,WEB, Dazed,weblink Natasha, Stagg, Marilyn Manson: all-American nightmare, September 26, 2016, November 14, 2022, November 14, 2022,weblink live, Lenny Kravitz, André 3000, Mark Speer, Jamie Lidell, Frank Ocean, Miguel,WEB, Miguel Talks Prince Comparisons,weblink March 28, 2023, BET, en, March 28, 2023,weblink live, WEB, August 2, 2013, Miguel Talks Prince In Lost Interview Footage From SXSW 2012 - Okayplayer,weblink March 28, 2023, Okayplayer - Hip Hop Music, Audio, Video, Reviews, News, Interviews, Blogs and Discussion Board, en-US, March 28, 2023,weblink live, Mya,WEB, Hildebrand, Lee, September 7, 2003, Stepping up into divahood / R&B singer Mya shows her range and sex appeal,weblink March 30, 2023, SFGATE, en-US, March 30, 2023,weblink live, Robyn,WEB, 15 Current Artists You Didn't Realize Were Influenced By Prince,weblink March 30, 2023, Romper, April 21, 2016, en, March 30, 2023,weblink live, D'Angelo, H.E.R.,WEB, Style And Swagger: 10 Artists Influenced By The Musicality Of Prince,weblink 2024-01-08, BET, en, April 1, 2023,weblink live, Ciara,WEB, America, Good Morning, Ciara reflects on Prince's legacy and influence,weblink 2024-01-08, Good Morning America, en, January 8, 2024,weblink live, The-Dream,WEB, Dream's Life,weblink 2024-01-08, MemphisFlyer, St. Vincent,WEB, Prince Dead: Musicians Influenced by Prince,weblink 2024-01-08, Peoplemag, en, January 8, 2024,weblink live, Ween,MAGAZINE, Fortune, Drew, 2016-05-06, Dean Ween Remembers Prince: 'He Was My John Lennon',weblink 2024-01-08, Rolling Stone, en-US, January 8, 2024,weblink live, and Beck.WEB,weblink 21 Artists Who Wouldn't Be The Same Without Prince, Bartleet, Larry, April 22, 2016, NME, February 22, 2019, November 6, 2018,weblink live, NEWS,weblinkweblink January 10, 2022, subscription, live, Prince influenced everyone from Madonna to Beyoncé, McCormick, Neil, The Telegraph, April 24, 2016, www.telegraph.co.uk, February 22, 2019, {{cbignore}}WEB, Gotrich, Lars, January 26, 2018, Khruangbin's Vibrant 'Con Todo El Mundo' Is Drawn From Life,weblink June 8, 2021, NPR Music, May 14, 2021,weblink live, WEB, Kaganskiy, Julia, July 17, 2013, Jamie Lidell Dishes On The Evolution of His Sound and Undying Love for Prince,weblink June 11, 2021, Vice (magazine), Vice, June 11, 2021,weblink live, Bono of U2 regarded Prince as one of his "favorite composers of the twentieth century".BOOK, Assayas, Michka, (Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas), Riverhead Books, 2005, 1-57322-309-3, Beyoncé expressed her admiration for Prince in the book Prince: A Private View, calling him "my mentor" and also praising his independence: "He dared to fight for what was rightfully his: his freedom, wrapped up in words and music he created."WEB,weblink Beyoncé pays tribute to Prince: 'He dared to fight for what was rightfully his', Gabler, Jay, Local Current Blog {{!, The Current from Minnesota Public Radio|language=en-US|date=October 11, 2017|access-date=June 12, 2019|archive-date=June 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612031151weblink|url-status=dead}}In August 2017, Pantone Inc. introduced a new shade of purple ({{color sample|#4F3D63}}) in their color system in honor of Prince. The shade is called Love Symbol #2.WEB, The Prince Estate and Pantone Unveil Love Symbol #2 logo,weblink Pantone, August 14, 2017,weblink February 9, 2021, December 14, 2017, NEWS, Nevins, Jake, Pantone announces new purple shade in honor of Prince,weblink The Guardian, August 14, 2017, June 11, 2018, June 12, 2018,weblink live, WEB, The Prince Estate and Pantone Unveil Love Symbol #2 logo,weblink Pantone, August 14, 2017, June 11, 2018, December 14, 2017,weblink live, WEB, Aswad, Jem, Pantone Announces Official Prince Color: Purple 'Love Symbol #2',weblink Variety (magazine), Variety, August 14, 2017, June 11, 2018, June 12, 2018,weblink live, (File:Prince & Revolution - First Avenue Stars.jpg|thumb|Stars honoring Prince and his band the Revolution on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue)

Influences and musicianship

Prince's music synthesized a wide variety of influences, and drew inspiration from a range of musicians, including Ike Turner,WEB, Cole, Harriette, July 2010, Ebony - Prince Writes,weblink January 16, 2022, Prince interview archive, en-US, PRINCE: Actually, 1st influence was Ike Turner., January 16, 2022,weblink live, WEB, jonbream, June 16, 2010, Ebony visits Prince at Paisley Park,weblink January 16, 2022, Star Tribune, January 16, 2022,weblink live, James Brown,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}}{{sfn|Lavezzoli|2001|p=87|ps=: "Prince has acknowledged George [Clinton]'s influence, as well as that of James Brown and Sly Stone."}}{{sfn|Gulla|2008|p=494|ps=: "Prince had always been influenced by the bandleading style of James Brown, [...]"}}{{sfn|Cole|2005|p=226}} George Clinton,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}}{{sfn|Lavezzoli|2001|p=87|ps=: "Prince has acknowledged George [Clinton]'s influence, as well as that of James Brown and Sly Stone."}}{{sfn|Cole|2005|p=226}} Joni Mitchell,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}} Duke Ellington,{{sfn|Lavezzoli|2001|p=88}} Jimi Hendrix,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}}{{sfn|Cole|2005|p=226}} the Beatles,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}}{{sfn|Cole|2005|p=226}} Chuck Berry,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}} David Bowie,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}} Earth, Wind & Fire,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}} Mick Jagger,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}} Rick James,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}} Jerry Lee Lewis,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}} Little Richard,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}} Curtis Mayfield,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}}MAGAZINE, Gonzales, Michael A., Mighty Mighty, Vibe (magazine), Vibe, April 1996, 81,weblink April 22, 2016, Mayfield—whose massive body of work has influenced everyone from Lenny Kravitz, Prince, and Vernon Reid to countless other soul singers, new jack producers, and hip hop heads—will never play the guitar again., Elvis Presley,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}} Todd Rundgren,NEWS, Lester, Paul, Paul Lester, Hot, Chip, That's one potent hot toddy,weblink April 22, 2016, The Guardian, July 25, 2008, He [Todd Rundgren] was a hero to the young Prince, who would try to get backstage to meet the gangly whizzkid multi-instrumentalist with the long, rainbow-coloured hair; [...], Hot Chip, April 27, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160427094105weblink">weblink live, Carlos Santana,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}} Sly Stone,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}}{{sfn|Gulla|2008|p=418}}{{sfn|Lavezzoli|2001|p=87|ps=: "Prince has acknowledged George [Clinton]'s influence, as well as that of James Brown and Sly Stone."}}{{sfn|Cole|2005|p=226}}{{sfn|Ro|2011|p=9}} Jackie Wilson,{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}} and Stevie Wonder.{{sfn|Ro|2011|p=9}}{{sfn|Perone|2006|p=xii}}MAGAZINE, Getz, Dana, Stevie Wonder reflects on Prince: 'It's a heartbreak to lose a member of that army of love',weblink April 22, 2016, Entertainment Weekly, April 22, 2016, Prince has been compared with jazz artist Miles Davis in regard to the artistic changes throughout his career.{{sfn|Touré|2013|pp=5–6}}NEWS,weblink A Prince We Followed Anywhere, CNN, April 21, 2016, April 21, 2016, Seymour, Gene, Davis said he regarded Prince as an otherworldly blend of James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, Sly Stone, Little Richard, Duke Ellington, and Charlie Chaplin.MAGAZINE,weblink Prince Live, The New Yorker, April 21, 2016, April 22, 2016, Remnick, Dave, {{sfn|Lavezzoli|2001|p=88}}{{sfn|Werner|2006|p=277}} Prince and Miles Davis performed together for a Charity Event at Paisley Park. This performance was viewed as the pinnacle of their on-again, off-again partnership.Journalist Nik Cohn described him as "rock's greatest ever natural talent".NEWS, Cohn, Nik, Nik Cohn, Prince, the godfather of R&B, had his fingerprints everywhere,weblink GQ, April 21, 2016, April 22, 2016, Prince was a natural tenor,WEB,weblink How to Sing Pop Songs as a Baritone in a Tenor's World | TakeLessons, June 16, 2015, TakeLessons Blog, WEB,weblink Prince: Why Tenors Rule in Pop Music, Eric, Niiler, Seeker, April 21, 2016, but he had a wide vocal range from falsetto to baritone, and performed rapid, seemingly effortless shifts of register.NEWS, Petridis, Alexis, Alexis Petridis, November 12, 2015, Prince: 'Transcendence. That's What You Want. When That Happens – Oh, Boy.', The Guardian,weblink April 21, 2016, ...a man who can play pretty much any instrument he choses [sic], possessed of a remarkable voice that can still leap effortlessly from baritone to falsetto., Prince was also renowned as a multi-instrumentalist.{{sfn|Cole|2005|p=226}}{{sfn|Lavezzoli|2001|p=92}} He is considered a guitar virtuoso and a master of drums, percussion, bass, keyboards, and synthesizer.{{sfn|Touré|2013|p=3}} On his first five albums, he played nearly all the instruments,NEWS, Ilahe, Ezadi, April 21, 2016, 'The World Lost a Creative Icon': Prince, Legendary Musician, Dies at 57,weblink The Washington Post, April 21, 2016, etal, including 27 instruments on his debut album,{{sfn|Hawkins|Niblock|2012|ps=: "Evidence of Prince's desire to control everything was blatantly apparent in the presentation of the credits on the album's sleeve: produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince and a listing of the 27 instruments he played."}} among them various types of bass, keyboards and synthesizers. Prince was also quick to embrace technology in his music,WEB, Lynn, Samara, Prince Understood the Value of Technology for Music Early On,weblink Black Enterprise, April 22, 2016, April 23, 2016, making pioneering use of drum machines like the Linn LM-1 on his early '80s albums and employing a wide range of studio effects.WEB, Wilson, Scott, The 14 drum machines that shaped modern music,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150811215021weblink">weblink dead, August 11, 2015, Fact (UK magazine), Fact, April 23, 2016, The LA Times also noted his "harnessing [of] new-generation synthesizer sounds in service of the groove," laying the foundations for post-'70s funk music. Prince was also known for his prolific and virtuosic tendencies, which resulted in him recording large amounts of unreleased material.MAGAZINE, Rys, Dan, Prince Dies at 57: Iconic Musical Genius Found Dead in Paisley Park,weblink Billboard, April 23, 2016, April 21, 2016, Prince also wrote songs for other artists, and some songs of his were covered by musicians, such as the hit songs "Manic Monday" (performed by the Bangles), "I Feel for You", originally on Prince's self-titled second album from 1979, covered by Chaka Khan, and "Nothing Compares 2 U", written for Prince's side project the Family, and covered very successfully by Sinéad O'Connor. Prince co-wrote "Love... Thy Will Be Done" with singer Martika, for her second album, Martika's Kitchen, and also gifted Celine Dion a song for her second album, Celine Dion, titled "With This Tear"; it was a song Prince had written specifically for her.James Wigney, Prince's output in the '80s and '90s was amazing — Sinead, The Bangles and Martika benefited the most Sydney Morning Herald, April 23, 2016 Prince also wrote "U" for Paula Abdul, appearing on her 1991 release Spellbound.{hide}hidden|style=float:right; clear:right; margin-left:1em; border:1px #aaa solid; width:22em|Signature and custom guitars|

• HS Anderson/Hohner Madcat Telecaster copy (197?)
• Cloud Guitar White (1983)
• Cloud Guitar Gold (1983)
• Model C (19??)
• Cloud Guitar Yellow (1989)
• Cloud Guitar Blue (19??)
• Gold Fender Stratocaster (????)
• Prince Symbol Purple (19??)
• Prince Symbol Gold (19??)
• G1 Purple Special (2007)
• Gus G3 Prince Bass (2016)

{edih}

Equipment

A guitar virtuoso, Prince was also known to have a stylish and flamboyant custom guitar collection, which consisted of 121 guitars.NEWS,weblink What would Prince want? Two years later, his estate is a mess and his legacy unclear, Karen, Heller, The Washington Post, April 18, 2018, June 9, 2019, WEB,weblink Prince, Oscar, Jordan, April 20, 2017, vintageguitar.com, February 22, 2019, One notable series is his Cloud Guitars, which were commissioned and released in colored versions of white, yellow and purple. The white version is prominently shown in the Purple Rain film and the "Raspberry Beret" video.WEB,weblink Dave Rusan: Building Prince's Cloud Guitar, Bill, Murphy, June 10, 2016, www.premierguitar.com, February 22, 2019, WEB,weblink A Look at Some of Prince's Guitars, Dean, Hailstone, May 1, 2016, playguitarlive.com, February 22, 2019, Other notable guitars are The Love Symbol guitars, which were designed in the separate colors of gold and purple. The guitar that was used for the majority of Prince's music career was the H.S. Anderson Madcat guitar – a Telecaster copy created by Hohner. Several versions of the guitar were used throughout his career – due to one being donated for charitable reasons, while one or more were stolen.WEB,weblink LEGENDARY GUITARS: Prince's MadCat Hohner Telecaster, Eric, September 26, 2011, legendary-guitars.blogspot.com, February 22, 2019, WEB,weblink Prince's Telecaster – Ed's Guitar Lounge, edsguitarlounge.com, April 23, 2016, February 22, 2019, Another guitar primarily used in his later years was the Vox HDC-77, which was introduced to him by 3rdeyegirl member Ida Kristine Nielsen, both a Blackburst version, and a White Ivory version.WEB,weblink Vox HDC-77 Blackburst, April 8, 2019, Two other noteworthy guitars are the G1 Purple Special, and the black-and-gold Gus G3 Prince bass, which would become the last two guitars to ever be made for him.WEB,weblink See the Purple Special, the Last Guitar Made for Prince, Damian Fanelli 2017-04-21T17:05:26Z, Gear, guitarworld, April 21, 2017, February 22, 2019, WEB,weblink Gus Guitars latest news..., www.gusguitars.com, February 22, 2019, WEB,weblink The Strange and Lucky Tale of the Man Who Made Prince's Last Guitar, Nick, Mafi, HWD, June 23, 2016, February 22, 2019, WEB,weblink The Guitar That Prince Left Behind, Leslie, Swiantek, guitarworld, February 22, 2019,

Legal issues

Pseudonyms

In 1993, during negotiations regarding the release of The Gold Experience, a legal battle ensued between Warner Bros. and Prince over the artistic and financial control of his musical output. During the lawsuit, Prince appeared in public with the word "slave" written on his cheek.NEWS,weblink Prince Fought Big Labels For Ownership, Artistic Control, April 21, 2016, NBC News, May 5, 2016, Lisa Kay, Davis, He explained that he had changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol to emancipate himself from his contract with Warner Bros., and that he had done it out of frustration because he felt his own name now belonged to the company.{{sfn|Heatley|2008|p=191}}BOOK,weblink Pop Cult, 63, December 23, 2017, 9780826445926, Till, Rupert, December 2, 2010, A&C Black, Prince sometimes used pseudonyms to separate himself from the music he had written, produced or recorded, and at one point stated that his ownership and achievement were strengthened by the act of giving away ideas.NEWS, Coryat, Karl, His Highness Gets Down,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160506235643weblink">weblink dead, May 6, 2016, July 25, 2020, Bass Player magazine, November 1999, Pseudonyms he adopted, at various times, include: Jamie Starr and The Starr Company (for the songs he wrote for the Time and many other artists from 1981 to 1984), Joey Coco (for many unreleased Prince songs in the late 1980s, as well as songs written for Sheena Easton and Kenny Rogers), Alexander Nevermind (for writing the song "Sugar Walls" (1984) by Sheena Easton), and Christopher (used for his songwriting credit of "Manic Monday" (1986) for the Bangles).

Copyright issues

On September 14, 2007, Prince announced that he was going to sue YouTube and eBay, because they hosted his copyrighted material, and he hired the international Internet-policing company Web Sheriff.MAGAZINE, Prince To Sue YouTube, eBay Over Unauthorized Content, Billboard, September 14, 2007, May 6, 2016,weblink NEWS, Prince takes on YouTube over clips, The Times, London, September 13, 2007,weblink May 5, 2016, Fiona, Hamilton,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080907001725weblink">weblink September 7, 2008, In October, Stephanie Lenz filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Publishing Group claiming that they were abusing copyright law after the music publisher had YouTube take down Lenz's home movie in which the Prince song "Let's Go Crazy" played faintly in the background.WEB, Francescani, Chris, The Home Video Prince Doesn't Want You to See, ABC News, October 26, 2007,weblink May 5, 2016, AV MEDIA, Lenz, "Let's Go Crazy" #1, February 7, 2007,weblinkweblink December 11, 2021, live, March 30, 2016, Stephanie, {{cbignore}} On November 5, several Prince fan sites formed "Prince Fans United" to fight back against legal requests which, they claim, Prince made to prevent all use of photographs, images, lyrics, album covers, and anything linked to his likeness.NEWS, Gibson, Owen, Prince threatens to sue his fans over online images, The Guardian, November 7, 2007,weblink July 18, 2009, Prince's lawyers claimed that this constituted copyright infringement; Prince Fans United said that the legal actions were "attempts to stifle all critical commentary about Prince". Prince's promoter AEG stated that the only offending items on the three fansites were live shots from Prince's 21 nights in London at the O2 Arena earlier in the year.WEB, Prince 'not suing fans': Singer hits back at fansite claims, NME, November 9, 2007,weblink November 27, 2017, On November 8, Prince Fans United received a song named "PFUnk", providing a kind of "unofficial answer" to their movement. The song originally debuted on the PFU main site,MAGAZINE, Kreps, Daniel, Prince Releases Diss Track As Battle With Fans Gets Funky, Rolling Stone, November 9, 2007,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20071110222603weblink">weblink dead, November 10, 2007, was retitled "F.U.N.K.", but this is not one of the selected songs available on the iTunes Store. On November 14, the satirical website b3ta.com pulled their "image challenge of the week" devoted to Prince after legal threats from the star under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).NEWS, Kiss, Jemima, B3ta bates Prince, The Guardian, November 15, 2007,weblink May 9, 2016, At the 2008 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival ("Coachella Festival"), Prince performed a cover of Radiohead's "Creep"; however, immediately afterward, he forced YouTube and other sites to remove footage that fans had taken of the performance despite Radiohead's request to leave it on the website.WEB,weblink Prince Is Being A "Creep," Radiohead Tell Him He's A Loser, StereoGum, May 30, 2008, December 6, 2014, Days later, YouTube reinstated the videos, as Radiohead had said: "It's our song, let people hear it." In 2009, Prince put the video of the Coachella performance on his official website.{{citation_needed|date=May 2024}}In 2010, Prince declared: "the internet is completely over", elaborating five years later that "the internet was over for anyone who wants to get paid... tell me a musician who's got rich off digital sales".In 2013, the Electronic Frontier Foundation granted Prince the inaugural "Raspberry Beret Lifetime Aggrievement Award"WEB,weblink The Raspberry Beret Lifetime Aggrievement Award, Eff.org, May 7, 2013, August 31, 2013, for what they said was abuse of the DMCA takedown process.WEB,weblink Prince Inducted into Takedown Hall of Shame With New Lifetime Aggrievement Award | Electronic Frontier Foundation, Eff.org, May 7, 2013, August 31, 2013, In January 2014, Prince filed a lawsuit titled Prince v. Chodera against 22 online users for direct copyright infringement, unauthorized fixation, contributory copyright infringement, and bootlegging.WEB,weblink Prince v. Chodera, Scribd.com, September 30, 2014, January 27, 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140127062124weblink">weblink dead, Several of the users were fans who had shared links to bootlegged versions of Prince concerts through social media websites like Facebook.MAGAZINE,weblink Prince Files Lawsuit Against Facebook Fans Over Bootlegged Concerts, Time, September 30, 2014, January 27, 2014, Lily, Rothman, NEWS,weblink Prince sues internet users for total of $22m over alleged bootleg recordings, Sean, Michaels, The Guardian, September 30, 2014, January 27, 2014, In the same month, he dismissed the entire action without prejudice.WEB,weblink Prince v. Chodera – Voluntary Dismissal Without Prejudice, Scribd.com, September 30, 2014, September 4, 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150904061654weblink">weblink dead, Prince was one of a small handful of musicians to deny "Weird Al" Yankovic requests to parody his music (Yankovic does not need legal permission to parody songs, but requests artists' permission as a professional courtesy).WEB,weblink Frequently Asked Questions, Weird Al, Yankovic, "Weird Al" Yankovic, MAGAZINE,weblink 'Weird Al' Yankovic Says Prince Turned Down at Least 4 Parody Ideas, But Michael Jackson Was 'Very Supportive', Lauren, Craddock, August 3, 2016, Billboard, By Yankovic's account, he'd done so "about a half-dozen times" and has been the sole artist not to give any explanation for his rejection beyond a flat "no".MAGAZINE,weblink Alpocalypse Now: 'Weird Al' Yankovic Says 'Twitter Saved My Album', WIRED, May 1, 2016,

Personal life

File:20150502-PaisleyParkStudio.jpg|thumb|Paisley ParkPaisley Park

Relationships

Prince was romantically linked with many women over the years, including Kim Basinger, Madonna, Vanity, Jill Jones, Sheila E., Carmen Electra, Susannah Melvoin, and Sherilyn Fenn.NEWS,weblinkweblink January 10, 2022, subscription, live, Prince, one year on: his life and death in pictures, The Telegraph, April 21, 2016, www.telegraph.co.uk, {{cbignore}}NEWS, September 23, 2020, Prince's Sign O' The Times: An oral history, BBC News,weblink NEWS,weblink Love for Prince turned Kim Basinger into rebel, Business Standard India, April 25, 2016, Business Standard, MAGAZINE,weblink Prince and Madonna End Decades-Long Feud, Us, Weekly, Rolling Stone, January 20, 2011, WEB,weblink 'Some Guys Send You Flowers, Prince Gives You Albums': An Interview With Jill Jones, Terrell, Ashley Gail, September 27, 2016, HuffPost, September 27, 2016, Susannah Melvoin recalled how, around the time of Sign o' the Times, "Wendy [Melvoin, her twin sister] and Lisa [Coleman] and I lived together and we would have [Prince] stay at our place. We became really close. He got to be in a family of three women, and we got to have our Prince. Not many people had that kind of relationship with him."In 1990, he saw 16-year-old dancer Mayte García standing outside his tour bus and referred to her as his "future wife" when pointing her out to bandmate Rosie Gaines. García began working as one of his backup singers and dancers after graduating from high school. They were married on February 14, 1996, when he was 37 and she was 22.WEB,weblink A Look Back at Prince's Valentine's Day Wedding, February 14, 2020, NEWS,weblink Living with Prince: 'I think it's time you got birth control', Catherine, Conroy, The Irish Times, According to García, she and Prince had a son named Amiir (born October 16, 1996), who died a week after being born due to Pfeiffer syndrome. Attempts by publications to independently verify the child's name, birth, and cause of death proved difficult due to Prince's focus on privacy. The distress of losing a child and García's subsequent miscarriage took a toll on the marriage, and the couple divorced in 2000.MAGAZINE, Kennedy, Dana, Sinclair, Tom, December 20, 1996, Prince's Saddest Song,weblink dead, Entertainment Weekly,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20141205135733weblink">weblink December 5, 2014, May 12, 2016, WEB, Prince Book: Mayte Garcia on How the Death of Their Son Doomed the Marriage,weblink October 22, 2023, People Magazine, en, Prince married Manuela Testolini, a Canadian businesswoman of Italian and Egyptian descent, in a private ceremony in 2001; she hails from Toronto, which led the couple to live there part-time.NEWS, Prince's Toronto connections cherished by city,weblink February 3, 2020, CBC News, April 21, 2016, They separated in 2005 and filed for divorce in May 2006,WEB, Levy, Daniel S., Prince's Wife, Manuela (Partner of five years), Filed for Divorce, People, July 27, 2006,weblink May 4, 2016, which was finalized in October 2007.WEB, Newly Released Divorce Documents Shine Light On Prince's 2nd Marriage, CBS News, January 13, 2017,weblink January 11, 2024,

Religious beliefs

Prince was an observant religious person from childhood and throughout his life. An abiding love of God and Jesus were recurring themes in his work, often closely intertwined with romance, sexuality and sensuality on songs such as "I Would Die 4 U" and albums such as Lovesexy. In March 2016, while discussing his childhood during a show in Oakland, he told the audience: {{Blockquote|I wanted to be like my father and I loved everything he loved — my mother, the Bible, and music.NEWS, Walters, Barry, Prince Channels Liberace at Tour Kick-Off in Oakland,weblink 21 January 2024, Pitchfork, 29 February 2016, }}A complete recitation of The Lord's Prayer featured in the full-length album version of his 1981 hit "Controversy." His 1984 track "Darling Nikki", while dealing with explicit subject matter involving an encounter with a sex worker, contained the following backward message: "Hello, how are you?/Fine, fine, ’cause I know that the Lord is coming soon/Coming, coming soon." This is often thought to have been an ironic response to the Satanic backmasking scandal of the 1980s.NEWS, Starkey, Arun, The secret hidden messages Prince left in his classic track 'Darling Nikki',weblink 23 January 2024, Far Out Magazine, 10 May 2021, That same year, he released a B-side simply entitled "God."Prince became a Jehovah's Witness in 2001 as a result of his friendship with bassist Larry Graham. He did not consider it a conversion but a "realization", comparing his connection with Graham to Morpheus and Neo in the film The Matrix. He attended meetings at a local Kingdom Hall and occasionally knocked on people's doors to discuss his faith.MAGAZINE, Hoffman, Claire, Soup With Prince, The New Yorker, November 24, 2008,weblink May 5, 2016, NEWS, Hagerty, James R., Audi, Tamara, Prince's Little-Known Life,weblink April 27, 2016, The Wall Street Journal, April 24, 2016, His newfound faith would also heavily influence his 2001 album The Rainbow Children. The CD edition of his 2003 instrumental album N.E.W.S contained an Adobe Flash file that slowly display the words "He Causes 2 Become" when the disc was inserted into a computer, being a reference to the name of Jehovah in Witness theology.WEB, The Divine Name in the Hebrew Scriptures,weblink JW.org, 23 January 2024, Shortly after he became a Witness, former bandmates Melvoin and Coleman reached out to him for a potential reunion of their 1980s band The Revolution. Melvoin claims he declined due to her lesbian and Jewish identities, then asked her to hold a press conference in which she would disavow homosexuality and become a Jehovah's Witness herself. She resigned herself to never hearing from him again.MAGAZINE, Hoffman, Claire, Prince's Life as a Jehovah's Witness: His Complicated and Ever-Evolving Faith,weblink 23 January 2024, Billboard, 28 April 2016, However, Prince later reunited with Melvoin in 2004 to perform a stripped-back acoustic version of the song "Reflection" on the Tavis Smiley Tonight ShowWEB, Prince and Wendy reunite for TV,weblink Goldies Parade, February 20, 2004, 23 January 2024, and subsequently performed "Purple Rain" with her and Coleman at the Brit Awards 2006. Anti-gay marriage comments were attributed to him in 2008 but later denied by his management NEWS, Elan, Priya, Can Prince really be anti-gay marriage?,weblink 23 January 2024, The Guardian, 20 November 2008, and walked back by him personally, as he later stated, "I have friends who are gay, and we study the Bible together."NEWS, Powers, Ann, My Night with Prince,weblink 23 January 2024, LA Times, 11 January 2009, Despite his ambiguous, contradictory and evolving personal convictions throughout his lifetime, Prince is often considered a queer icon by his fans for his influence on music, fashion and culture in a manner infused with religious themes.NEWS, Kornhaber, Spencer, Prince: Gay Icon, Whether He Wanted to Be or Not,weblink 23 January 2024, The Atlantic, 22 April 2016, NEWS, Smith, Reiss, Years after his death, Prince's queer legacy and influence on LGBTQ+ culture is as muddled as ever,weblink 26 January 2024, Pink News, 21 April 2020, NEWS, Reynolds, Chelsea, I'm a gender and sexuality scholar. Here's how the media blew it on Prince.,weblink 26 January 2024, Vox, 24 April 2016, NEWS, Smith, Nathan, The Queer Legacy of Prince,weblink 26 January 2024, Out, 7 June 2016, García said of Prince's religious beliefs: "He was always a spiritual seeker ... fascinated in all possibilities to integrate the signs of the zodiac and third eye and reincarnation into the Christian beliefs his Baptist mother and Seventh-day Adventist father had exposed him to."BOOK, Vogel, Joseph, Joseph Vogel (author), 2019, This Thing Called Life: Prince, Race, Sex, Religion, and Music,weblink Reprint, Bloomsbury Academic, 150, 978-1-5013-3398-9, At the time of his passing, Prince's display picture on Twitter was an illustration of him with both eyes closed and a third eye on his forehead open.NEWS, Lopez, Napier, Prince's Twitter icon has become an instant tribute to the late artist,weblink 23 January 2024, The Next Web, 21 April 2016,

Political beliefs and activism

Prince rarely expressed partisan political beliefs directly for the majority of his career. However, he did not shy away from political themes and commentary in early songs such as "Partyup", "Ronnie Talk to Russia" (which directly addressed then-President Ronald Reagan), "America", "Sign O' the Times" and later "Money Don't Matter 2 Night", in part a protest against the Gulf War. His 2002 song "Avalanche" contained the lyric "Abraham Lincoln was a racist" and discussed the Thirteenth Amendment. In 2004, the music video for his single "Cinnamon Girl" depicted a young Muslim woman facing Islamophobia and racial abuse and then detonating a suicide bomb in a crowded airport, before revealing it had all been a dream.NEWS, Prince Video Courts Controversy,weblink 23 January 2024, CBS News, 15 October 2004, In a 2009 interview with Tavis Smiley, when asked for his opinion on the recent election of Barack Obama, Prince replied that he did not vote for him and has in fact never voted at all. He also expressed a belief in the chemtrail conspiracy theory during the same interview.MAGAZINE, Keeps, Daniel, Prince Does Rare TV Interview, Talks Obama, Chemtrails On PBS,weblink 23 January 2024, Rolling Stone, 28 April 2009, Towards the end of his life, Prince was a supporter of Black Lives Matter. According to Al Sharpton, he donated to the family of Trayvon Martin in 2012 and later arranged for Eric Garner's family to attend one of his concerts.NEWS, Burke, Kerry, Prince was a humanitarian who privately donated money to family of Trayvon Martin,weblink 23 January 2024, New York Daily News, 14 September 2018, Before handing out the Grammy for Best Album in 2015, he told the audience, "Albums — remember those? Albums still matter. Albums, like books and black lives, still matter.”NEWS, Gajewski, Ryan, Grammys 2015: Prince Says Black Lives "Still Matter",weblink 23 January 2024, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 February 2015, He organized a "Rally 4 Peace" concert in the city of Baltimore in the aftermath of the killing of Freddie Gray.MAGAZINE, Keeps, Daniel, Prince Books Rally 4 Peace Concert in Baltimore,weblink 23 January 2024, Rolling Stone, 6 May 2015, The following day, he released a single entitled "Baltimore" with lyrics that mentioned Gray and Michael Brown. The music video for "Baltimore" featured footage of Black Lives Matter protests in the city, and closed with a message from Prince:{{Blockquote|The system is broken. It’s going to take the young people to fix it this time. We need new ideas, new life.NEWS, Minsker, Evan, Prince's "Baltimore" Video Features Scenes From Baltimore Protests,weblink 23 January 2024, Pitchfork, 21 July 2015, }}

Animal rights

Prince was an animal rights activist who followed a vegan diet for part of his life but later described himself as vegetarian.WEB, Catherine Censor Shemo, A Prince of a Guy,weblink Vegetarian Times, May 6, 2016, 79–83, October 1997, AV MEDIA,weblinkweblink December 11, 2021, live, Prince at Lopez Tonight, April 15, 2011, April 21, 2016, YouTube, {{cbignore}}WEB,weblink Tracy, Saelinger, Off stage, Prince was a passionate and quirky food lover, too, April 22, 2016, Today (U.S. TV program), Today, May 5, 2016, He previously adhered to a pescetarian diet in the 2000sWEB, February 9, 2017, After-parties and Inside Paisley Park!,weblink September 14, 2021, The Iconic Prince, en, WEB, I Was Prince's Private Chef,weblink September 14, 2021, Food & Wine, en, and according to an interview with the Vegetarian Times, Prince first expressed curiosity in removing meat from his diet around 1987 when he ceased eating all red meat. Prince required Paisley Park guests and staff to maintain a vegetarian diet or pescetarian diet while present in order to keep the environment meatless. In honor of Prince's personal ethos, Paisley Park continues to require that individuals leave the premises if they would like to eat meat.WEB, June 7, 2018, Prince's Strict Food Rules Are Still in Force at Paisley Park,weblink August 28, 2021, The Daily Meal, en, The liner notes for his album Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic featured a message about the cruelty involved in wool production.NEWS, Six things about Prince you forgot or never knew, The Kansas City Star, April 21, 2016, April 21, 2016,weblink Elizabeth, Koh,

Charitable endeavors

Prince did not speak publicly about his charitable endeavors. The extent of his activism, philanthropy, and charity was only publicized after his death, and much of it remains undocumented.WEB,weblink The breadth and power of Prince's activism begins to be revealed after his death, Daily Kos, April 23, 2016, April 23, 2016, Einenkel, Walter, In 2001, he anonymously donated $12,000 to the Louisville Free Public Library system to keep the historic Western Branch Library (the country's first full-service library for African-Americans) from closure.WEB,weblink Prince made secret donation to support Louisville's historic Western Branch Library in 2001, Insider Louisville, April 21, 2016, April 22, 2016, Chipman, Melissa, April 22, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160422020623weblink">weblink dead, That same year, he anonymously paid off the medical bills of drummer Clyde Stubblefield, who was undergoing cancer treatment.MAGAZINE,weblink Monique, Melendez, Prince Paid Off 'Funky Drummer' Clyde Stubblefield's Medical Bills, Billboard, April 27, 2016, May 4, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160505015438weblink">weblink May 5, 2016, live, In 2015, he conceived and launched YesWeCode, paying for many hackathons outright and performing musical acts at some of them.WEB,weblink Prince remembered as innovator, advocate for Black youth, USA Today, April 21, 2016, April 22, 2016, Guynn, Jessica, He also helped fund the Green for All initiative.According to Australian musician Ed Le Brocq's autobiography Danger Music, written about Le Brocq's time as a music teacher in Afghanistan, Prince had "quietly donated to PARSA (Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Services for Afghanistan) for years" which had funded the revival of the Afghanistan Scout Association.BOOK, Ayers, Eddie, Danger Music, 2017, Allen & Unwin, 111,

Achievements

Prince sold over 150 million records worldwide,WEB,weblink How Prince Rebelled Against the Music Industry, Sisario, Ben, April 21, 2016, The New York Times, February 4, 2020, WEB,weblink Measuring Prince's Musical Impact: A Look At The Sales Numbers, Beech, Mark, April 21, 2016, Forbes, February 4, 2020, MAGAZINE,weblink Paisley Park, Prince's Lonely Palace, Petrusich, Amanda, June 18, 2018, The New Yorker, February 4, 2020, ranking him among the best-selling music artists of all time.WEB,weblink John Legend, Beck, Juanes and Alicia Keys on board for 'Grammy Salute to Prince' TV special, Daniels, Karu F., New York Daily News, January 9, 2020, January 19, 2020, He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2016.WEB,weblink Tavis Smiley, April 27, 2009, pbs.org, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090505210657weblink">weblink May 5, 2009, In 2016, he was posthumously honored with a Doctor of Humane Letters by the University of Minnesota.MAGAZINE,weblink Prince Will Receive an Honorary Doctorate From University of Minnesota, Lang, Cady, June 13, 2016, Time (magazine), Time, February 4, 2020, He was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022.MAGAZINE, Nazareno, Mia, December 17, 2021, Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, Jr. & More to Be Inducted at 2022 Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame,weblink February 17, 2022, Billboard, en-US, Prince was named the 14th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone in 2023.MAGAZINE, October 13, 2023, The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,weblink October 14, 2023, Rolling Stone, en-US, He has won seven Grammy Awards, seven Brit Awards, six American Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, an Academy Award (for Best Original Song Score for the film Purple Rain), and a Golden Globe Award.*WEB,weblink Prince {{ndash, Past Grammy Awards|website=Google.co.uk}}

• WEB,weblink History, BRIT Awards, en, June 10, 2019,
• WEB,weblink Prince, American Music Awards,
• WEB,weblink MTV VMAs: Why Was There No Prince Or David Bowie Tribute?, www.inquisitr.com, August 30, 2016, June 10, 2019,
• WEB,weblink Nominees & Winners for the 57th Academy Awards, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100309202540weblink">weblink March 9, 2010, May 12, 2016,
• WEB,weblink Golden Globe Awards, goldenglobes.org, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20091215211445weblink">weblink December 15, 2009, February 27, 2010, Two of his albums, Purple Rain and Sign o' the Times, received the Grammy Award for Album of the Year nominations. 1999, Purple Rain and Sign o' the Times have all been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. At the 28th Grammy Awards, Prince was awarded the President's Merit Award.WEB,weblink Prince, November 19, 2019, GRAMMY.com, en, November 24, 2019, Prince was also honored with the American Music Award for Achievement and American Music Award of Merit at the American Music Awards of 1990 and American Music Awards of 1995 respectively. At the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, he was honored with the Billboard Icon Award.WEB,weblink A Fountain of Youth at the American Music Awards : Pop Music: Milli Vanilli, New Kids on the Block, Bobby Brown, Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson win a popularity contest., January 24, 1990, Los Angeles Times, en-US, November 24, 2019, MAGAZINE,weblink Prince to Be Honored at Billboard Music Awards on May 19, Billboard, November 24, 2019, WEB,weblink Prince's Awards – Grammys, Brit Awards, Goldies Parade, en-GB, November 24, 2019, In 2019, the 1984 film Purple Rain was added by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".MAGAZINE, Chow, Andrew R., December 11, 2019, See the 25 New Additions to the National Film Registry, From Purple Rain to Clerks,weblink Time, New York, NY, December 11, 2019,

Prince has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue,WEB, The Stars,weblink May 10, 2020, First Avenue & 7th Street Entry, April 18, 2020,weblink dead, recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.NEWS, Bream, Jon, May 3, 2019, 10 things you'll learn about First Avenue in new Minnesota History Center show, Star Tribune, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota,weblink May 10, 2020, Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis", according to journalist Steve Marsh.NEWS, Marsh, Steve, May 13, 2019, First Avenue's Star Wall, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota,weblink May 10, 2020, The Revolution also has a star on the mural, to the immediate right of Prince's. Originally painted silver like the other stars on the mural, Prince's star was repainted in gold leaf during the night of May 4, 2016, about two weeks after Prince's death.NEWS, Farniok, Ben, May 5, 2016, Prince gets a gold star at First Ave, Star Tribune, Minneapolis-St. Paul,weblink May 26, 2020, October 27, 2020,weblink dead, Originally anonymous, the artist was revealed a few months later to be graphic designer and graffiti artist Peyton Russell, who had worked for Prince at his club Glam Slam in the 1990s and wanted to pay tribute.NEWS, Wood, Drew, December 5, 2016, The Man Who Made It Gold, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota,weblink May 29, 2020,

Discography

{{See also|Category:Albums produced by Prince (musician)|l1=Albums produced by Prince|Category:Songs written by Prince (musician)|l2=songs written by Prince}}{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• For You (1978)
• Prince (1979)
• Dirty Mind (1980)
• Controversy (1981)
• 1999 (1982)
• Purple Rain (1984)
• Around the World in a Day (1985)
• Parade (1986)
• Sign o' the Times (1987)
• Lovesexy (1988)
• Batman (1989)
• Graffiti Bridge (1990)
• Diamonds and Pearls (1991)
• Love Symbol Album (1992)
• Come (1994)
• The Black Album (1994{{Efn|The Black Album was meant to be released in 1987, yet was canceled after Prince had a bad experience with ecstasy.WEB, Price, Simon, Battle Of The Black Album: Jay-Z vs Metallica vs Prince,weblink The Quietus, February 2, 2017, }})
• The Gold Experience (1995)
• Chaos and Disorder (1996)
• Emancipation (1996)
• Crystal Ball (1998)
• The Truth (1998)
• (The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale) (1999)
• Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (1999)
• The Rainbow Children (2001)
• One Nite Alone... (2002)
• Xpectation (2003)
• N·E·W·S (2003)
• Musicology (2004)
• The Chocolate Invasion (2004)
• The Slaughterhouse (2004)
• 3121 (2006)
• Planet Earth (2007)
• Lotusflow3r (2009)
• MPLSound (2009)
• 20Ten (2010)
• Plectrumelectrum (2014)
• Art Official Age (2014)
• HITnRUN Phase One (2015)
• HITnRUN Phase Two (2015)

{{div col end}}Posthumous releases (excluding compilations and reissues):

• Piano and a Microphone 1983 (2018)
• Originals (2019)
• Welcome 2 America (2021)

Prince also released two albums credited to Madhouse, three albums credited to the New Power Generation, and one credited to the NPG Orchestra:Madhouse:

• 8 (1987)
• 16 (1987)

The New Power Generation:

• Gold Nigga (1993)
• Exodus (1995)
• Newpower Soul (1998)

NPG Orchestra:

• Kamasutra (1997)

Filmography

{| class="wikitable sortable"|+ Film!Year!!Film!!Role!!DirectorPurple Rain (film)>Purple RainThe KidAlbert MagnoliUnder the Cherry Moon>|PrinceSign o' the Times (film)>Sign o' the TimesHimselfPrinceGraffiti Bridge (film)>Graffiti BridgeThe KidPrince3 Chains o' Gold>|Prince{| class="wikitable sortable"|+ Television!Year!!Show!!Role!!NotesMuppets Tonight>|Episode 11New Girl>Prince (New Girl)>Prince"Let's Go Crazy: Grammy Salute to Prince>|

Tours

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Prince Tour (1979–1980)
• Dirty Mind Tour (1980–1981)
• Controversy Tour (1981–1982)
• 1999 Tour (1982–1983)
• Purple Rain Tour (1984–1985)
• Parade Tour (1986)
• Sign o' the Times Tour (1987)
• Lovesexy Tour (1988–1989)
• Nude Tour (1990)
• Diamonds and Pearls Tour (1992)
• Act I and II (1993)
• Interactive Tour (1994)
• The Ultimate Live Experience (1995)
• Gold Tour (1996)
• Love 4 One Another Charities Tour (1997)
• Jam of the Year World Tour (1997–1998)
• New Power Soul Tour/Festival (1998)
• Hit n Run Tour (2000–2001)
• A Celebration (2001)
• One Nite Alone... Tour (2002)
• 2003–2004 World Tour (2003–2004)
• Musicology Live 2004ever (2004)
• Per4ming Live 3121 (2006–2007)
• (The Earth Tour: 21 Nights in London|Earth Tour) (2007)
• 20Ten Tour (2010)
• Welcome 2 (2010–2012)
• Live Out Loud Tour (2013)
• Hit and Run Tour (2014–2015)
• Piano & a Microphone Tour (2016)

{{div col end}}

Books

• BOOK, Prince, Gydesen, Terry, 1994, Prince Presents: The Sacrifice of Victor, Minnesota, Paisley Park Enterprises, 9780967850115, 34307402,
• BOOK, Prince, Piepenbring, Dan, 2019, The Beautiful Ones, New York, Spiegel & Grau, 9780399589652, 1117550641,

See also

• List of bestselling music artists
• List of highest-certified music artists in the United States
• List of dancers
• Unreleased Prince projects
• List of artists who reached number one in the United States

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}

Sources

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• BOOK, Austen, Jake, TV-a-Go-Go: Rock on TV From American Bandstand to American Idol, 2005,weblink Chicago Review Press, 1556525729,
• BOOK, Bream, Jon, Prince: Inside the Purple Reign, 1984, Macmillan Publishing, 9780020604105,
• BOOK, Buckley, Peter, The Rough Guide to Rock, Rough Guides Ltd, 2003, 978-1-84353-105-0,
• BOOK, Cashmore, Ellis, 1997, The Black Culture Industry,weblink London, Routledge, 978-0415120821,
• BOOK, Cole, George, 2005, The Last Miles: The Music of Miles Davis, 1980–1991,weblink Ann Arbor, Michigan, University of Michigan Press, 978-0472032600,
• BOOK, Corson, Keith, 2016, Trying to Get Over: African American Directors after Blaxploitation, 1977-1986,weblink Austin, Texas, University of Texas Press, 978-1477309087,
• BOOK, Draper, Jason, 2011, Prince: Chaos, Disorder, and Revolution,weblink Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Hal Leonard Corporation, Backbeat Books, 9780879309619,
• BOOK, Draper, Jason, Prince: Life & Times, 2008, Jawbone Press, 978-1-906002-18-3,
• BOOK, Gregory, Hugh, 1995, Soul Music A–Z,weblink registration, Da Capo Press, 9780306806438,
• BOOK, Gulla, Bob, Icons of R&B and Soul: An Encyclopedia of the Artists who Revolutionized Rhythm, 2,weblink Greenwood Publishing, 2008, 978-0-313-34046-8,
• BOOK, Hahn, Alex, Possessed: The Rise And Fall Of Prince, 2004, Billboard Books, 0-8230-7749-7,
• BOOK, Hawkins, Stan, Niblock, Sarah, 2012, Prince: The Making of a Pop Music Phenomenon,weblink Abingdon-on-Thames, UK, Routledge, 9780754668763,
• BOOK, Heatley, Michael, Michael Heatley, Where Were You... When the Music Played? 120 Unforgettable Moments in Music History, Penguin Books, 2008, 978-0-7621-0988-3,weblink
• BOOK, Hill, Dave, Prince: A Pop Life, 1989, Harmony Books, 9780517572825,weblink
• BOOK, Lavezzoli, Peter, 2001, The King of All, Sir Duke: Ellington and the Artistic Revolution,weblink registration, New York, Continuum International Publishing Group, Continuum, 978-0826414045,
• BOOK, Light, Alan, Alan Light, 2014, Let's Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain,weblink Simon & Schuster, Atria Books, 2015 reprint, 978-1476776750,
• BOOK, Matos, Michelangelo, 2004, Prince's Sign O' the Times,weblink New York, Continuum International Publishing Group, Continuum, 33 1/3, 9781441141767,
• BOOK, Moskowitz, David V., Moskowitz, David V., The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World,weblink Greenwood Press, Santa Barbara, California, 2015, 2, Prince and the Revolution (1979–1986), 978-1440803390,
• BOOK, Nilsen, Per, Dance Music Sex Romance: Prince: The First Decade, SAF, 2003, 0-946719-64-0,
• BOOK, Perone, James E., The Sound of Stevie Wonder: His Words and Music, 2006, Greenwood Publishing Group, Praeger Publishers, 0-275-98723-X,weblink
• BOOK, Reynolds, Simon, Simon Reynolds, 1990, Blissed Out: The Raptures of Rock, Serpent's Tail, 1-85242-199-1,
• BOOK, Ro, Ronin, Prince: Inside the Music and the Masks, 2011, St. Martin's Press, 978-0-312-38300-8,weblink
• BOOK, Touré, 2013, I Would Die 4 U: Why Prince Became an Icon,weblink New York, Simon & Schuster, Atria Books, 978-1476705491, Touré (journalist),
• BOOK, Uptown, The Vault – The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince, 2004, Nilsen Publishing, 91-631-5482-X,
• BOOK, Werner, Craig, A Change is Gonna Come: Music, Race & the Soul of America, 2006, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 0-472-03147-3,weblink registration,
• BOOK, White, Charles, The Life and Times of Little Richard: The Authorized Press, Omnibus Press, 2003, 0-306-80552-9,

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Further reading

• MAGAZINE, Browne, David, May 5, 2016, Prince in the Nineties: An Oral History,weblink October 1, 2023, Rolling Stone, en-US,
• BOOK, Jones, Liz, 1998, Purple Reign: The Artist Formerly Known as Prince,weblink Secaucus, N.J., Birch Lane Press, 978-1-55972-448-7, 632309219,
• BOOK, Ro, Ronin, 2016, Prince: Inside the Music and the Masks, New York, St. Martin's Press, 978-1-250-12754-9, 1054996845,
• BOOK, Wall, Mick, 2016, Prince: Purple Reign, London, Trapeze, 9781409169208, 1064253410,

External links

{{sister project links|d=Q7542|c=Category:Prince (musician)|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|species=no|q=Prince (musician)|s=no|display=Prince}}

• {{official website}}
• {{IMDb name|nm0002239|Prince}}
• {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5182|label=Prince}}
• [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=prince|chart=all}} Prince] at Billboard.com
• Performance at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at his induction in 2004

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