HITNRUN Phase One
Anchored by his trademark sonic curiosity, Prince’s 2015 album is a glorious free jam of styles. The master’s lascivious R&B lies at its core, but there’s an EDM flirtation that’s endlessly intriguing. Rita Ora assists on the fuzzed-up, defiant “Ain’t About 2 Stop,” “Mr. Nelson” takes it cues from several international dance floors, while “1000 X’s and O’s” (a song originally intended for Rosie Gaines) is an effortless slow jam fit to grind with Prince’s very best.
Prince's new effort, exclusive to Jay Z's Tidal service (for now), is billed as being an "experimental" effort. But the reality is something far less earth-shaking: a casual, slightly-weirder-than-usual release with one very good R&B song (that's reportedly been kicking around in his vault for a while), stranded in the album's penultimate slot.
Prince's new effort, exclusive to Jay Z's Tidal service (for now), is billed as being an "experimental" effort. But the reality is something far less earth-shaking: a casual, slightly-weirder-than-usual release with one very good R&B song (that's reportedly been kicking around in his vault for a while), stranded in the album's penultimate slot.
In reference to Prince’s new HITNRUN Phase One, co-producer and engineer Joshua Welton told Entertainment Weekly: “I know [Prince] has different types of fan bases and this is kind of for the [hardcore] Purple Collective, the ones who say ‘I don’t care what he puts out! I love Prince.’”
In reference to Prince’s new HITNRUN Phase One, co-producer and engineer Joshua Welton told Entertainment Weekly: “I know [Prince] has different types of fan bases and this is kind of for the [hardcore] Purple Collective, the ones who say ‘I don’t care what he puts out! I love Prince.’”
Prince inhabits familiar characters, from sensualist to dreamer to campaigner and even humorist. Could this be the enduring classic we’ve been waiting for?
Prince inhabits familiar characters, from sensualist to dreamer to campaigner and even humorist. Could this be the enduring classic we’ve been waiting for?