I wonder U : how Prince went beyond race and back /

Publication Type:

Book

Source:

New Brunswick : Rutgers University Press,, United States, p.vii, 173 pages : (2020)

ISBN:

1978805179

Call Number:

ML420.P974

Other Number:

16135537

Keywords:

(OCoLC)fst01030486, (OCoLC)fst01114481, 20th century., fast, History, Music and race, Music and race., Sex in music, Sex in music., United States

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.Introduction -- Incognegro -- On the black hand side -- Enfant terrible -- Cherry bomb -- Chaos and crossroads -- Don't call it a comeback... -- Dearly beloved : an epitaph.Revealing how he continually subverted cultural expectations, I Wonder U examines the entirety of Prince's diverse career as a singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, record label mogul, movie star, and director. It shows how, by blending elements of R&B, rock, and new wave into an extremely videogenic package, Prince was able to overcome the color barrier that kept black artists off of MTV. Yet even at his greatest crossover success, he still worked hard to retain his credibility among black music fans. In this way, Adilifu Nama suggests, Prince was able to assert a distinctly black political sensibility while still being perceived as a unique musical genius whose appeal transcended racial boundaries.