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Prince Paul, one of the select few who can claim to of helped define the sound of an era. Prince Paul, a man with an album to punt.
DJ Moneyshot just about prised some words from the man recently...read on. Prince Paul: Oh, advice because then I could advise him what records to get, and a whole lotta things to avoid - it'd be insane how rich I could be now if I had that advice then.
© ukhh.com - 2003
interview 0137 added
13.04.03 words: DJ Moneyshot
Ukhh.com: Right, lets start at a leisurely pace: How many records do you think you own?
Prince Paul: Probably like 40,000 - I had to put them in a storage space, its too many
Ukhh.com: When you started to produce did you have an eclectic taste to begin with, or did you dig in the unusual creates in the record stores as you
went, in an attempt to be different?
Prince Paul: Initially my records came from my family's collection so I picked stuff from there - I guess my eclectic tastes is just indicative of my personality, I didn't decide to try to be different.
Ukhh.com: Do you still regularly DJ out, and if so how do you condense all your influences into one or two hours? Not to mention finding time for fresh tunes and your old and new productions.
Prince Paul: Yes I still DJ - I LOOOVE DJing. I don't necessarily put every major influence in my
DJ set but I do put records I like and that people can dance to.
Ukhh.com: Tell me everything about your new album.
Prince Paul: Buying it is a good start and have an open mind when you listen to it. Drink plenty of beer and smoke your favorite smoke, preferably in the nude - and it will all explain itself.
Ukhh.com: Has Hip-Hop lost its ability to tell stories?
Prince Paul: Yes - for the most part it has - people don't care about telling stories anymore, they care about making money
Ukhh.com: Do you think Hip-Hop is a claustrophobic genre to work in? Or does
its formulaic nature give you a desire to oppose it?
Prince Paul: For the most part its turned into that but I'm a rebel at heart so regardless of what genre of music I was in I would rebel against it, or rebel against what people expect of me anyway.
Ukhh.com: What makes you laugh at the moment?
Prince Paul: The Dave Chappelle show.
Ukhh.com: Why 'Prince Paul' as a name. Was it simple alliteration, the two 'P's' sounded nice? Or was it because you wanted to inherit the throne? If so have you succeeded?
Prince Paul: If I wanted to inherit the throne I would've started out as King Paul and took over the throne. Stetsasonic thought my original name
DJ Paul was too boring so they added Prince I guess to make it cool.
Ukhh.com: If you could time travel back to the Stetsasonic days and find the young Prince Paul what would you rather give to him: Records, or advice?
Ukhh.com: Do you prefer working closely with one group or artist developing their sound, or the diversity of inspiration a collaboration heavy albums affords you?
Prince Paul: Probably the first one.
Ukhh.com: Commercially visible rappers like Nas and Missy are heading back to the classic, trusted breaks. Do you think that Hip-Hop production has gone full circle (like the snake that eats its own tail) instead of evolving?
Prince Paul: People like to think that its evolving but Missy and Nas are a small minority in the scheme of hip hop in general - I'm sure they won't stick with it - its probably just for the moment.
Ukhh.com: Are there any more pools of untapped music genres left? Is someone finally going to open the crate marked 'Gregorian Monk Chanting' and go; "fuck this, I'm going to learn the guitar!"
Prince Paul: Oh, I've done it already.
Ukhh.com: Is each album a learning curve?
Prince Paul: Yes every album is a learning curve
Ukhh.com: Do you think that a artist only has x amount of albums in them before they're creatively spent?
Prince Paul: Depends on the artist and it depends on what you define as artist - not everyone that makes records is an artist.
Ukhh.com: When was the last time Hip-Hop surprised you?
Prince Paul: When I mastered my album.
Ukhh.com: Any final thoughts?
Prince Paul: Please please please buy my record if you know what's good for you - and visit
www.princepaulonline.com, if you know what's good for you.
Prince Paul, a new era begins?
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