The venerable R&B/rock star Prince is among the hopefuls picked as a nominee for the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This is the first time he has been eligible for induction. In order to be a nominee an artist must be 25 years past their first major recording.

Minneapolis native Prince (real name: Prince Rogers Nelson) released his debut album, For You, in 1978. Since then he has been a prolific superstar with a long list of hits, including "Adore," "Little Red Corvette," "Controversy," When Doves Cry," "Diamonds & Pearls," "Kiss," "1999", "Let's Go Crazy" and so many more. Not too mentioned he has produced, performed, and or written songs for the Bangles, Apollonia 6, Shelia E and rapper Benzino (yes, that corny motherfucker who co-owns The Source) among others.

Prince also can be heard playing guitar on Common's CD Electric Circus. He currently has a new DVD in stores titled Prince Live at the Aladin Las Vegas. A music video was released from the DVD - a performance clip of "Gotta Broken Heart Again." You can catch that video on BET's Midnight Love - my favorite late-night video show.

I don't know what the criteria is for an artist to be finally inducted, but it would be wise for the RRHOF voting committee to induct Prince into the Hall of Fame. I mean, let's keep it real - Prince is a musical genius. He is the Beethoven of R&B, and it's about time that we show "The Purple One" some love. Prince is the one who really put the "R" in R&B.

We'll see in December - that's when the inductees will be announced.

And speaking of R . . .

In the October issue of Blender magazine, embattled R&B singer R. Kelly - who was indicted last year on child pornography charges - now compares himself to the reclusive terrorist Osama bin Laden.

"People can say whatever they want about you without knowing the facts," says the R. "They can criticize you without even knowing you, and hate you when they don't even know you. All of a sudden, you're, like, the bin Laden of America. Osama bin Laden is the only one who knows exactly what I'm going through."

Not really, pied piper. You see, Osama is in hiding because he knows that our President, George Bush, wants his old-ass dead. As for us, we just want to cut your balls off.

"I have three to four years' worth of work you've never heard in the vaults. I've come up with at least 20 to 25 albums."

That's good to know. So when you get sent to prison for child pornography; and you're getting cozy with your cellmate Bubba, Jive Records can release one album per year for the next 25 years. Hey, that's not a bad deal!

Holla!