January 7

The Rainbow Children CD REVIEW The New Prince : Rainbow Children If you’re an old Prince fan (there probably hasn’t been a new Prince fan for a decade), you’re probably going to like this one. If you’ve never been into Prince before, be warned. This CD is not anything like the Prince you’ve heard about before. ‘The Rainbow Children’ is his second album since he got his name back, dropped Warner Brothers and pioneered a new kind of contract between artistes and record companies. But this album could be more important than his last five or six because it is not just a collection of great Prince tunes. It’s a concept album, a movie, a manifesto of the new perversion-free lifestyle and philosophy that the Purple One now professes and promotes. First off, you have to know that while this CD is chock full of funk, it is also full of the presence of a long-time friend of Prince called Jesus Christ. It might be the funkiest gospel album since Kirk Franklin made Christianity cool in the late 90s. Prince always used to big up JC. Some of his greatest non-hits, like ‘The Cross’ and ‘The Tears In Your Eyes’ are specifically about the greatest sacrifice of all time. The difference between this one and other Christ-loving collections by Prince (Love Sexy, Sign O’ The Times) is that nowhere, and I mean nowhere on this album does Prince resort to his trademark sexual innuendo and straight-out provocation. Like I said, it’s a Christian record, except with Prince’s distinctive touch. Your granny is going to love some of these songs. ‘The Rainbow Children’ is not a collection of hits. It’s a mix of a few long epics, some ordinary length ballads and a few very short interludes. If you want a record chock full of hits, go back and buy yourself the Purple Rain CD. This one is the kind of thing you listen to on your own time, or with a few intelligent friends, while discussing spirituality, the liberation struggle and the future of the human race. Or on the car stereo on the way to Indies. Or a prayer meeting, depending on your taste. It opens with a 10-minute title track that starts with a spoken word intro on the storyline. The soundtrack of this movie is live Afro-jazzy funk, but the story is about the battle between good and evil. The Rainbow Children battle the Banished Ones to restore the Palace. A storyline straight out of Revelations. The highlight song is ‘The Work, Part One’ where this wiser, God-lier Prince says ‘We’re living in a system the devil designed…but I’m willing to do the work.’ The work of God, that is. Another highlight is ‘Family Name’ where Prince connects his spiritual search with the black man’s struggle, basing colonialism, while erasing the notions of white and black. It could be a hit, if it wasn’t eight minutes long. And finally, it ends with ‘The Last December’ an epic number engineered to move your spirit. In between, ballads like ‘Muse to The Pharaoh’, ‘Mellow’ and She Loves Me 4 Me’ are aimed at promoting lifelong romance, instead of the passing sexual fancies that Prince songs have been known to promote. It’s still Prince - blasting horns, beats for your hips and your feet and funky, funky guitar. But you’ve never heard him like this before. He’s in a whole new zone. And it’s a better place to be than the strange no man’s land he has inhabited for the last few years. It might not sell 10 million, like Purple Rain, but you can bet on it that in a few years it will be known as one of the most important trend-setting records of the early 21st century. Or at least a defining moment in the career of one of the most important artistes in the history of soul, R&B, pop and rock music.

December 6

Press Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 6, 2001 PRINCE MAKES NEW SONG "SHE LOVES ME 4 ME" AVAILABLE FOR **FREE** DOWNLOAD Song Off Controversial New Album THE RAINBOW CHILDREN New York, NY--Prince is once again using the power of the Internet to make his controversial new album The Rainbow Children even more accessible to fans. Starting December 10th the album's song "She Loves Me 4 Me" will be able for **free** download at www.therainbowchildren.com. In April of this year, Prince gave fans an initial taste when he released the album's first track, "The Work- Pt. 1" as a cybersingle on Napster. The Rainbow Children was released on NPG Records on November 20th and is being distributed by Redline Entertainment. In this age of advertisement-driven product where the music seemingly matters the least, NPG employed a unique strategy to make people focus solely on the music. With no video, no single at radio and no promotion from Prince, The Rainbow Children has made the critical splash NPG had hoped for: USA Today: "[Prince takes] provocative discourse to a higher plane without abandoning his lust for greasy funk and bump-and-grind beats. Prince slams hypocrisy, racism, sexism and spiritual bankruptcy in his strongest sacred and social statements since 1987's Sign 'O' The Times. Peerless production, experimental glee and brilliant musicianship add up to one of Prince's most challenging and fascinating works to date." New Yorker: "The Rainbow Children is an album in the classic sense of the word, a 70-minute suite that comprises R&B ballads, funk workouts, instrumental interludes and even sermonizing. Here everything works, from the tapestry of guitar textures in "Family Name" to the fuzzy and deeply funky bass that kicks off 'The Everlasting Now.'" Chicago Tribune: "…some of Prince's strongest in years, a veritable fashion show of killer melodies dressed up in funk, gospel, soul and gypsy-rock finery. Prince is back at the top of his game." Billboard: "The album could easily be subtitled "How Prince Got His Groove Back," as it deftly balances sweet ballads, outer-space jazz, acid-rock and firecracker funk superior to almost anything he's offered since perhaps Sign 'O' The Times." Chicago Sun-Times: "[The Rainbow Children] adds up to make what is easily the richest and most rewarding Prince albums in a decade." About the NPG Music Club Prince gave his fans a first listen by making The Rainbow Children available for download on his NPG Music Club a full month before the album's November 20th release. Since it's inception in February 2001, the NPG Music Club has been connecting members like family. For an annual $100 fee premium members will get preferred seating at ALL Prince concerts as well as VIP passes to ALL after shows/parties. In fact, premium members enjoyed these VIP amenities at Prince shows last Spring. In addition, premium members and basic monthly members (basic monthly membership is $7.77 each month) receive a minimum of 3 tantalizing new NPG songs each month accompanied by corresponding music videos. All members receive a free one-hour radio show hosted by NPG members including Prince featuring music, commentary and original skits. Growing with the dawn of each day, the NPG Music Club will continue to develop creative incentives and rewards for its members. To become a NPG Music Club member, log onto www.npgmusicclub.com. PRESS CONTACT: Jessica Brenner Susan Blond, Inc. (212) 333-7728, ext. 103 jessica@susanblondinc.com

December 4

What the critics r saying about The Rainbow Children: "How fitting that Prince's resurrection as a pop visionary comes by way of a religious awakening. Having exhausted sexual taboos, the recently converted Jehovah's Witness bravely plunges into the forbidden zone of faith, taking provocative discourse to a higher plane without abandoning his lust for greasy funk and bump-and-grind beats. Preaching peace and harmony, Prince slams hypocrisy, racism, sexism and spiritual bankruptcy in his strongest sacred and social statements since 1987's masterful Sign 'o' the Times. Periodic slides into piety and dogma are forgotten in the heady rush of strikingly original music, a soulful symphony of rock, funk, gospel and jazz hybrids. Flawed only by its irritating Darth-like narrator, The Rainbow Children delivers salvation from mediocrity in an often-bewildering interplay of biblical references and sensual grooves. Peerless production, experimental glee and brilliant musicianship add up to one of Prince's most challenging and fascinating works to date, whatever your take on the enigmatic valentines to God." - Edna Gundersen, USA Today "He's finally changed his tune. Prince has given up on making booty funk for horny 14-year-olds. Sonically, this 14-track disc is his most sophisticated and jazziest -- yet it's still typically experimental. While the music intrigues, the lyrics challenge. The Rainbow Children is a concept album about God, spirituality and a world in which people of all colors get along." - John Bream, Minneapolis Star Tribune "Then again, with the finger removed from the dam, the subsequent flood of music may have simply been too overwhelming to process. Either way, Prince's latest salvo, the enigmatic concept album The Rainbow Children, is strong and strange enough that it calls for a reassessment of his most recent output. The album could easily be subtitled 'How Prince Got His Groove Back,' as it deftly balances sweet ballads, outer-space jazz, acid-rock, and firecracker funk superior to almost anything he has offered since perhaps Sign O' the Times." - Joshua Kline, Billboard "The unity of sonic vision throughout the set is impressive, yielding a smartly produced whole that is dense and cohesive but not cluttered. Drummer John Blackwell is as important to that end as Prince, powering the dynamic jazz of the title track and the smooth calypso groove of 'She Loves Me 4 Me' alike." - Thomas Kintner, Goldmine Magazine "Incorporating jazz and gospel more than ever before on cuts such as "Mellow" and "The Work Pt. 1," respectively, and even experimenting a bit with classical arrangements, Prince reminds you why he once called himself simply the Artist." - People Magazine "You could spend a week trying to untangle the plot and cast of The Rainbow Children, though that would be a deeply maddening seven days. Prince seems to be conjuring a biblical allegory of sorts -- there are many references to God and Christ -- as he declaims about race, love and enlightenment." - David Segal, Washington Post "The Rainbow Children is an album in the classic sense of the word, a seventy-minute suite that comprises R. & B. ballads, funk workouts, instrumental interludes, and even sermonizing. Here everything works, from the tapestry of guitar textures in 'Family Name' to the fuzzy and deeply funky bass that kicks off 'The Everlasting Now.' The drumming deserves special mention: like many studio wizards, Prince has often relied on drum machines, but, as Sheila E. proved back in the late eighties and John Blackwell reiterates here, there's no substitute for a flesh-and-blood drummer who can move from stutter-funk to Latin rhythms to straight-ahead rock and roll. The over-all sound is warm and welcoming; not only do the songs sound lived in but they sound as if Prince had lived in them long enough to decorate." - Ben Greenman, The New Yorker Magazine "Loaded with biblical references, the record opens with a stylish, jazzy groove under a sinister electronic voice setting the stage for the tale of a magical world, kind of a digital Garden of Eden populated by the Rainbow Children. It's deep, cryptic stuff although thought-provoking all the same, touching on race relations, sexual roles and spirituality. The upshot is that all races, all religions need to come 'together as one,' as a massive gospel choir sings in the elaborate closing song, Last December. Along the way, Prince is in fine form. He glides effortlessly from shades of James Brown to beautiful soul ballads to fantastical musical hybrids that defy comparison. The music here is bold, challenging and often wildly experimental. Production and musicianship is flawless. Standouts are too many to list." - Mike Ross, Sun Media/FYI London "It's been an age since Prince seemed to matter - though the influence of his early work on young acts as different as Basement Jaxx and Alicia Keys is obvious, and The Rainbow Children doesn't sound like it will find a home on MTV or Raio One's playlists. But it's so damned funky, filled with so many moments of beauty, and so utterly strange that it makes you want to go round knocking on people's doors telling him that the wee purple chap is back to his best." - UK Daily Telegraph "The release of The Rainbow Children is significant for several reasons: it's the first album Prince has released since reclaiming his given name after nearly seven years as a symbol, it's at once the most spiritually-minded and least commercially-minded collection he's ever produced (besting 1988's Lovesexy for each of these distinctions) and, most importantly, it's one of the greatest works he's ever created. Obviously recorded live in the studio, the album features some of Prince's most inspired electric guitar playing combined with the amazing drumming of secret ingredient John Blackwell. It's a marvel to behold as the pair effortlessly peels off dense jazz structures, butt-shaking funk, theatrical rock and feathery soul ballads -- all while tackling some pretty heavy issues." - David Stout, Q-Notes Newspaper "Prince isn't trying to revive his 1980s heyday here. He didn't hire the producers du jour to give his album just the right 'Total Request Live' sheen. Unlike Michael Jackson, that other 43-year-old whose commercial highpoint was achieved when Reagan was president, Prince seems less interested in competing with Kid Rock or Destiny's Child than in crafting songs that reflect the man he is now." - Rene E Graham, Boston Globe "The Rainbow Children is a jazz-, gospel-, and rock-fueled collection that reestablishes Prince's cred as a funk visionary walking the line between sin and salvation. Unlike his '80s pop nemesis, Michael Jackson, whose 2001 comeback, Invincible, followed in the footsteps of younger pop artists such as 'N Sync, Prince is not concerned with making music for the Total Request Live set. The Rainbow Children is his most spiritually -- and socially -- aware work since his 1987 masterpiece, Sign o' the Times, one whose gospel-powered lyrics will raise a few eyebrows." - Tracy Hopkind, Barnes&Noble.com

NOVEMBER 5

Observer article on Prince and The Rainbow Children Reader Damian F reports that the on-line version of the Observer (UK) has an article on Prince and The Rainbow Children. Click here 2 access the article directly.

OCTOBER 30

In4mation on The Rainbow Children Cover Art Reader Brian H. Marston reports: The Reine Keis Quintet by C'babi Bayoc graces the cover of The Rainbow Children. C'babi, 29, is a St. Louis-based painter and illustrator whose name is an acronym for Creative Black Artist Battling Ignorance, Blessed African Youth of Creativity. You can read an interview with him in the September issue of The Commonspace, an e-zine about grassroots civics and culture in St. Louis. .

OCTOBER 12

Prince's Controversial New Album 'The Rainbow Children' Available Exclusively to NPG Music Club Members www.npgmusicclub.com NEW YORK, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The artist who first blurred the lines between sexy and innocent, male and female, slavery and freedom is once again the topic of heated conversation. Prince's long-awaited controversial new album "The Rainbow Children" will be exclusively available for download in its entirety to NPG Music Club members on October 17th. The album, adorned with challenging lyrics like, "accurate knowledge of Christ and the Father will bring the everlasting now" will leave the listener contemplating, "Accurate knowledge? Everlasting now? ... hmmm!" "The Rainbow Children" was not created to neatly fit into today's limiting guidelines, but instead was created as a conversation piece that will incite thought, discussion and ultimately revelation among its listeners. In April 2001, Prince and the NPG Music Club gave music-lovers a taste of "The Rainbow Children" when they released the first track, "The Work- Pt. 1" as a cybersingle on Napster. On October 17th NPG Music Club members will now have the exceptional opportunity to download Prince's new album "The Rainbow Children" in its entirety. Since it's inception in February 2001, the NPG Music Club has been connecting members like family. For an annual $100 fee premium members will get preferred seating at ALL Prince concerts as well as VIP passes to ALL after shows/parties. In fact, premium members enjoyed these VIP amenities at Prince shows last Spring. In addition, premium members and basic monthly members (basic monthly membership is $7.77 each month) receive a minimum of 3 tantalizing new NPG songs each month accompanied by corresponding music videos. All members receive a free one-hour radio show hosted by NPG members including Prince featuring music, commentary and original skits. Growing with the dawn of each day, the NPG Music Club will continue to develop creative incentives and rewards for its members. To become a NPG Music Club member, log onto www.NPGMusicClub.com .

AUGUST 8

Prince receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Black College Radio A reader reports: Prior to the first performance in Atlanta back in April, Prince drop by the Black College Awards Dinner to pick up their Lifetime Achievement Award. With representatives from Black College Radio from across the US in attendance. The attendees we very inspired by the short message, given by Prince, educating them on the realities of the music industry. The hall was colorfully decorated with large banners celebrating and showing love for the NPGMC. You can check out the detailed report and photos at www.blackcollegeradio.com

AUGUST 6

India.Arie thanx Prince during MPLS show Nicole Altamirano reports: India.Arie, whose Motown debut ACOUSTIC SOUL is more than a breath of fresh air, opened for Sade in Minneapolis, Saturday, August 4th. Toward the end of her performance she said: "I don't know if Prince is in the house tonight, but I can't leave Minneapolis without saying 'Thank you very much for all of the nice things you have been saying about me and my music'." She was so cute and the crowd was really into her. She started promptly at 7:30pm to an almost packed crowd at the Target Center. She thanked us all for showing up early to see her. Personally, she could have played for another hour.....she was just THAT GOOD! If you have a chance to see her, where ever you are, find a way to GET THERE!!! (Check her site under the 'Rhythms' section for tour dates) She's a joy to watch and will definately move your soul. She's also been nominated for (2) Lady of Soul Awards! Make sure to go out and buy her CD. I played it non-stop for a week and carried it everywhere I went.....in fact I'm still carrying it around! Her writing style reminds me of Stevie Wonder and her 'woman-empowering' lyrics speak to me like no artist out there.

JULY 27

Kevin Smith writes about the Rainbow Children Documentary On Kevin Smith's website, last June he discussed the latest developments of his next film and mentioned being out at Paisley Park during the Celebration. Visit www.ViewAskew.com 2 read the story.

JUNE 26

Interview with Prince in Detroit Free Press The June 23rd edition of the Detroit Free Press includes an interview with Prince on the occasion of the Detroit show. Click here 2 access the interview directly.

JUNE 18

Kevin Smith shooting documentary 4 Paisley Park As those of u who were at Paisley Park last week might have noticed, Kevin Smith of Dogma fame is shooting a documentary for Paisley Park. This article on the FilmForce web site has more on this.

JUNE 14

Interview in Pioneer Press The Pioneer Press has an interview with Prince, which is also posted on the twincities.com web site.

Prince interview in Yahoo! Internet Life The current issue of Yahoo! Internet Life (June 2001) features an interview with Prince as its cover story. Prince discusses the NPG Music Club, Napster, etc. READ IT NOW at the magazine's website.

APRIL 2

Prince and the NPG Music Club 2 debut and promote new song on Napster The following press release was issued 2day: PRINCE & THE NPG MUSIC CLUB TO DEBUT AND PROMOTE NEW SONG ON NAPSTER Redwood City, CA ­ April 2, 2001 - Napster announced today that Prince & The NPG Music Club will debut and promote a new song to the Napster Community through the company's Featured Music Program, beginning Friday, April 6th. "The Work - Pt. 1," is the first track from Prince's upcoming album, The Rainbow Children, to be released later this year. Although Prince has released several cybersingles in the past through his own website, this marks the first time he has teamed up with a digital music company to promote his music. "What record companies don't really understand is that Napster is just one illustration of the growing frustration over how much the record companies control what music people get 2 hear - over how the air waves, record labels and record stores, which r now all part of this system’ that recording companies have pretty much succeeded in establishing, r becoming increasingly dominated by musical products’ 2 the detriment of real music," said Prince. "Prince is truly a visionary," said Napster founder Shawn Fanning. "I'm honored that he is working with Napster to promote his music." "Napster is very pleased to be working with a legendary artist like Prince," said Milt Olin, Chief Operating Officer of Napster. "His music has always been innovative and forward-thinking, and his connection with his fans is second to none." "The Work, Pt. 1" will be featured prominently on the Napster homepage. In addition to being able to search for and share the song, fans will have the opportunity to link directly to Prince's NPG Music Club. The NPG Music Club (http://www.npgmusicclub.com) is a monthly subscription-based service. The service launched in February of this year. Members get new Prince songs, videos and an hour-long radio show every month. In addition, premium members get VIP access 2 concerts and new CDs in the mail. About Napster Napster is the world's leading person-to-person file sharing community. Napster provides music enthusiasts with an easy-to-use, high quality service for discovering new music and communicating their interests with other members of the Napster community. Napster's software application enables users to locate and share music files through a user-friendly interface, and features instant messaging, chat rooms, and Hot List User Bookmarks. In October 2000, Bertelsmann AG and Napster announced the formation of a strategic alliance to further develop the Napster person-to-person file sharing service. In January 2001, edel Music and TVT Records joined the alliance. Last year, Napster won several Wired Magazine Readers Rave Awards, including Best Music Site, Best Innovative Start-up, and Best Guerilla Marketing. CONTACT: Girlie Action Media Jill Mango 212-334-3200 x111 Tobey Dorschel 212-334-3200 x106

NPG Music Club launch party in Chicago: Chicago Sunday Times article The April 2, 2001 edition of the Chicago Sunday Times includes a report on last Friday's NPG Music Club launch party at Park West (March 30). Click here 2 access the article directly.

Inside article on Prince and the NPG Music Club The latest issue of Inside magazine features a story on Prince and the NPG Music Club. Click here 2 access the story directly.

MARCH 13

Articles on NPG Music Club Launch Here r links 2 articles published on the occasion of the launch of the NPG Music Club: "Prince, Metallica, And BR5-49 In LAUNCH Newsbites" (February 13) "Prince Opens NPG in New York" (February 14) "Prince in Tune with Web Fans" (February 11)

FEBRUARY 9

Prince announces world-wide launch of NPG Music Club - Press Release An official press release announcing the launch of the NPG Music Club was issued 2day: February 9, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRINCE ANNOUNCES WORLDWIDE LAUNCH OF NPG MUSIC CLUB THE MUSIC CLUB WHERE MEMBERS ARE CONNECTED LIKE FAMILY New York, NY -- Offering the ultimate fam experience, Prince will launch the online NPG Music Club where members will be connected like family. NPG Music Club members will receive unique perks such as VIP access to ALL Prince concerts, never-before-heard rehearsal tapes and live webcasts of rehearsal jams at Prince s legendary Paisley Park Studios. NPG Music Club will launch on February 14, 2001 with a celebration in New York City at the newly reopened Upstairs at Studio 54 on February 13th. At the stroke of midnight on February 13th, guests at the NPG Music Club launch party will be able to sign up via computers located throughout at the venue. Guests attending this event will include fams, celebrities and NPG members including Prince. Prince is flying in his own DJ from Paisley Park to debut the new NPG music and videos that will be offered by the NPG Music Club. There are 2 types of NPG Club membership: Basic Monthly Membership entitles members to: a minimum of 3 new NPG songs each month accompanied by corresponding music videos and a free one-hour radio show hosted by NPG members including Prince featuring music, commentary and original skits. Basic Monthly Members will also receive unique multimedia experiences such as "Make Your Own Mix" where they can create their own mixes using NPG music. Basic monthly membership is $7.77 per month. Premium Annual Membership entitles members to: preferred seating at ALL Prince concerts as well as VIP passes to ALL after shows/parties. They will receive a special edition of Prince's Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic, an album featuring 14 remixed tracks from his Arista Records album Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic. This will be mailed to the members free of charge. Premium Annual Members will receive more original NPG music and videos than Basic Monthly Members as well as special NPG Music Club merchandise. Premium Annual Membership is $100. before February 14, 2001: Interested fams can go to www.NPGMusicClub.com before the official launch to register and get a glimpse into what they can expect as an NPG Music Club member. In doing so, they can listen to new NPG songs, view a new NPG video and listen to a portion of the one- hour radio show. Upon registering, they will also begin receiving email alerts regarding the NPG Music Club. Currently, there are over 7,000 registrants for the NPG Music Club. www.NPGMusicClub.com -- Jessica Brenner Senior Publicist Susan Blond, Inc. (212) 333-7728, ext. 103 jessica@susanblondinc.com www.susanblondinc.com

EMALE NEWZ

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