A Prince Among Thieves
A Prince Among Thieves is the second studio album by hip hop artist Prince Paul. It is considered an apex in the hip hop world, and was one of the most acclaimed concept albums of its time. A Prince Among Thieves was well received by music critics upon its release. Music essayist Robert Christgau has cited it as "the closest thing to a true rock opera you've ever heard".[9]
Background
The concept follows the story of an aspiring young emcee named Tariq, played by emcee Breezly Brewin, who needs to collect money to record a demo tape before a meeting with Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA. The story follows a desperate Tariq, who quits his low-paying job and turns to his friend True, played by emcee Big Sha, who plugs him into the world of drug dealing. The two make their way through the drug world, a police ambush, jail, and, finally, a deadly showdown.
The album features cameos by Kool Keith, Big Daddy Kane, Chubb Rock, Biz Markie, De La Soul, Everlast, Sadat X, Xzibit, Kid Creole, Special Ed, Chris Rock, RZA and Buckshot. A single version and video were also produced, which have the feel of a film trailer. Although conceived as a story that would be filmed, an accompanying movie was never made. In an interview concerning this, Paul said:
"That was the intention. When I first made it I was inspired by Master P's I’m Bout It, I was like this movie is so poorly shot and it’s popular. I could do that with more star power. I tried to pitch it to Tommy Boy, and they apparently didn’t see the vision. I was like we could make so much money, but they were like 'Yeah, yeah Paul, we’re going to put this million dollars in whatever group' that they had. Then at some point Chris Rock bought the rights to it, but he didn’t do anything with it. So it sits and it sits. If I had the opportunity, if somebody said hey I have a small budget or wanted to get a Kickstarter going, I’d love to put that together."[10]
Track listing
| # |
Title |
Producer(s) |
Performer (s) |
| 1 |
"Tariq's Dilemma (Intro)" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 2 |
"Pain" |
Prince Paul |
Sha, Breeze |
| 3 |
"How It All Started" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 4 |
"Steady Slobbin'" |
Prince Paul |
Breeze |
| 5 |
"Just Another Day" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 6 |
"What U Got (The Demo)" |
Prince Paul |
Sha, Breeze |
| 7 |
"The Hustles On" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 8 |
"MC Hustler" |
Prince Paul |
Horror City |
| 9 |
"The Call" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 10 |
"The Other Line" |
Prince Paul |
Breeze, Heroine |
| 11 |
"Crazy Lou's Hideout" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 12 |
"Weapon World" |
Prince Paul |
Kool Keith |
| 13 |
"My Big Chance" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 14 |
"War Party" |
Prince Paul |
Horror City |
| 15 |
"Count Macula" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 16 |
"Macula's Theory" |
Prince Paul |
Big Daddy Kane |
| 17 |
"Mr. Large" |
Prince Paul |
Chubb Rock, Biz Markie |
| 18 |
"Can You Handle It" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 19 |
"Put the Next Man On" |
Prince Paul |
Breeze, Sha, Superstar |
| 20 |
"I Was In" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 21 |
"My First Day" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 22 |
"More Than U Know" |
Prince Paul |
De La Soul |
| 23 |
"Room 69" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 24 |
"Mood For Love" |
Prince Paul |
Newkirk, Sweet Dee, Breeze |
| 25 |
"The Bust" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 26 |
"The Men in Blue" |
Prince Paul |
Everlast |
| 27 |
"Central Booking" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 28 |
"Handle Your Time" |
Prince Paul |
Sadat X, Xzibit, Kid Creole |
| 29 |
"The Rev" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 30 |
"Sermon" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 31 |
"Showdown" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 32 |
"You Got Shot" |
Prince Paul |
Sha, Breeze |
| 33 |
"Every Beginning Must Have an Ending" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 34 |
"The New Joint (DJ's Delite)" |
|
*Interlude* |
| 35 |
"A Prince Among Thieves" |
Prince Paul |
Sha |
- Sample credits
- "Steady Slobbin'" is a parody of Ice Cube's song "Steady Mobbin'," and both contain a sample of Average White Band's recording "Reach Out."
- "What U Got" contains a sample of Albert King's recording "I'll Play the Blues for You."
- "Macula's Theory" contains a sample of Syl Johnson's recording "Wind, Blow Her Back My Way."
- "War Party" contains a sample of Gwen McCrae's recording "Love Without Sex".
- "MC Hustler" contains a sample of Magnum's recording "Witch Doctor's Brew".
- "You Got Shot" contains a sample of Ol' Dirty Bastard's recording "Brooklyn Zoo."
- "Central Booking" contains a sample of Lloyd Price's recording "What Did You Do With My Love?"
Personnel
The cast
- Tariq: Breezly Brewin
- True: Big Sha
- Mother: Monkey
- Officer O'Maley Bitchkowski: Everlast
- Crazy Lou: Kool Keith
- Mr. Large: Chubb Rock
- Mr. Large Security: Ken (Special K) Spellman
- Breakneck: Special Ed
- Diehard: Biz Markie
- Hooker: Sweet Dee
- Crackhead: Chris Rock
- Crackhead Girl: Queen Bee
- RZA: Himself
|
- Count Macula: Big Daddy Kane
- The Reverend: Dom Dom
- Convicts: Sadat X, Xzibit, Kid Creole
- Buckshot: Himself
- Thug Group: Horror City
- Paramedic 1: Rodd Houston
- Paramedic 2: Wendy Day
- Tariq's Sister (Starkeisha): Karima
- Police Officer 2: Phil Painson
- Police Captain: Danny Madorski
- Wu Receptionist: Kamala Gordon
- Tammy: Heroine
- Customers: De La Soul
|
The DJs and VJs
- DJ Evil Dee
- Bobbito
- DJ Mecca
- Bobby Simmons
- Andre (Bless Me) Smith
- Ken (Special K) Spellman
- DJ Atlas
- Artist
- Lynn Gonzales
- Rotimi Rainwater
Background extras
- Michelle Willems
- Patty Santos
- Faradina Lael
- Jackie Martinez
- Shara
- Queen
- Big Pat
- The Deadly Snakes
- Bobby Simmons
- Regina Moore
|
- Lady Leo
- Mel Vives
- Mr. Dead
- Don Newkirk
- Bimos
- Michael Preston
- Richard Preston
- Nyce
- Edward Huston
|
Charts
- Album
- Singles
References
- ↑ Huey, Steve. "A Prince Among Thieves – Prince Paul". AllMusic. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ↑ Langer, Andy (May 14, 1999). "Prince Paul: A Prince Among Thieves (Tommy Boy) / Dr. Doom: First Come, First Served (Funky Ass)". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ↑ Baker, Soren (April 3, 1999). "In Solo Debut, Krayzie Bone Shows Eclectic Talent, Tastes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ↑ "A Prince Among Thieves". NME. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ↑ Stovall, Natasha (March 18, 1999). "Prince Paul: A Prince Among Thieves". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 657. ISBN 0-743-20169-8.
- ↑ "Prince Paul: A Prince Among Thieves". The Source (114): 196. March 1999.
- ↑ Kulkarni, Neil (March 1999). "Prince Paul: A Prince Among Thieves / The Roots: Things Fall Apart". Spin 15 (3): 142. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- 1 2 Christgau, Robert (March 23, 1999). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ↑ Yohance Kyles (2013-11-07). "EXCLUSIVE: Prince Paul Discusses His "All Purpose Show," Art vs Business & Refusing To Sell Out". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
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