Holy shit, man. I do believe that is just about the most inspired title I have ever heard of, by sheer weight of its gut-stomping idiocy. What in the hell was this man thinking, this man who penned such classic song-titles as We Can Funk and 7?
He tries so hard to be edgy, to be threatening, and then he expects you to take such malarkey seriously when he's just flung sexy and funk into a word from Mary Poppins?
The song about 2 Nigs, another gloriously inept title, is seven mostly instrumental minutes worth of sharp bass gymnastics and posturing, and also some stuff about some Frankie or other.
Who the hell is this Frankie they seem so concerned with?
The hell if I know, is what The Duke has had to conclude about the identity of this Frankie.
Frankie's, of course, have often been utilised as the basis for popular song since way back when these two adolescents by the name of Frankie And Johnny got together for to sex. Since then, Frankie's have gone to Hollywood and even been sexually molested, as in Fuck Frankie by The Marilyn Manson Family.
This song by Prince, though, it doesn't want to discuss the importance of Frankie's in popular song. Instead, it wants to jam excessively for much longer than is acceptable by the standards of any culture.
I'm guessing even the ancient Aztecs, whom Cortez himself is noted to have referred to as "Fond as all hell of an extended funk workout", even they would have said "Get the fuck out of Mexico if you think we wanna hear this nonsense for a second longer."
It makes sense though, in so far as providing a glimpse into the future, with particular emphasis on the section of the future what deals with the career of Prince.
Of course, had it been released back then, folks would have maybe thought, "Oh, it looks like he's gonna be a little more aggressive in his pop-smithery from now on. I'm guessing there'll be more female vocalists." No one in their right mind would have said, "Hey, man, I'm guessing what's gonna happen is Prince is gonna release a couple dozen albums of this kinda stuff right here, this endless, pointless fuck-about what yacks about Frankie and is called something about Nigs or some shit."
The difference, of course, is that in the future time, this kind of pretentious piffle would last 46 or maybe even 49 minutes at a time. That's more bass-solo "funk" than any motherfucker has any right to be producing, especially when it's not so much "funk" as, I believe, "a load of old cock".
Article comments
1 - Rodney Welch
I'll say one thing, Duke: for someone who can't stand TV dinners you sure do eat enough of those motherfuckers.
2 - Al Barger
This is an absolute must-hear classic album. I'll give El Duke the point about a couple of cheesy pickup lines, but even those were on purpose.
He didn't even mention probably the two best songs on the album, "Dead On It" and "Rock Hard in a Funky Place."
Then there's the heart of darkness that is "Bob George."
OK Duke, now go in there and put on that new wig I bought you. NO, NO- the reddish brown one.
Bob- ain't that a bitch?
3 - Rodney Welch
I agree with Al. It's little but it's LOUD.
4 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Hey folks. As i hinted at the end, this record does grow on you, but however aesthetically adventurous it is, you gotta admit its pretty hard to love.
But its certainly interesting, often brilliant.
I don't think i did a very good job with this here. It was, what, half five in the AM. a fella needs sleep at such an hour, not to be yacking about such a monumental record. Sorry folks. Although theres some good jokes in there, Duke, odn't be too hard on yourself.
5 - Jim Carruthers
What really helped "The Black Album" was for the longest time, it was only available as a bootleg. Nothing like creating demand through denial.
As for "Lovesexy", the initial CD version was mastered as one track, so you couldn't go from track to track. Somebody brought their copy back to Sam the Record Man on Yonge St. and complained: "There's something wrong with my Lovesexy", the clerk said: "Go tell Dr. Ruth".
6 - Jesse Haskell
For one thing, in your review, the whole opening diatribe is based on a misunderstanding of the lyrics. It's not "Where'd you get that booty, Mama?", it's "Where'd you get that beauty mark?" Which refers to Cindy Crawford's very famous beauty mark - she's the whole subject of the song. Hello?
7 - rev. d
wow... so... so very riddled with errors. damn. 4 example, the misquoted lyrics, as jesse haskell pointed out. not 2 mention the fact that warner bros. was intent on releasing it, prince stopped it. derr hey. very repetitive and over-critical. but i suppose that's why the review showed up on a blog. it's obvious that you listened to it and offerred an honest opinion which is commendable but be sure to check facts next time and maybe try to create a better foundation to build upon. sort of superficial, altho the album is. but i guess that's sort of why it's so good. also, b sure 2 keep in mind that prince was trying to parody rap after being criticized for not playing for "black audiences" anymore after the transition to rap music so yes, it is pretty goofy. there's nothing wrong with having a little fun. after all, if you can find anything deep about a john wayne movie, it loses it's purpose and charm, duke.
8 - sharad
This was the most briliant thing I'd heard amidst all the other stuff on the radio in 1988. My friends were listening to the Cure or Depeche Mode or the dismal top 40 of the time, and I hear a bootleg of this... and learn what creativity means.
Bob George was influenced by hip hop? Can you name a track pre-1988 that this was influenced by? NWA came out after didn't it? Even Public Enemy was later, wasn't it? Or simultaneous?
Superfunky's title was a riff of Parliament track (George Clinton) and Mary Poppins... have you listened to what's being said in the song?
I love this strange, addictive, and aggressive album. It might have had the most ear opening effect on me since I discovered the Beatles catalog for myself as a youth.