A Prince Among Thieves

Rating

Album: A Prince Among Thieves
#	Song Title		Time
	Disc 1
1)	Tariq's Dilemma (Intro)	More Info...
2)	Pain (Feat. Breeze & Sha)	More Info...
3)	How It All Started	More Info...
4)	Steady Slobbin' (Feat. Breeze)	More Info...
5)	Just Another Day	More Info...
6)	What U Got - The Demo (Feat. Breeze)	More Info...
7)	The Hustles On	More Info...
8)	MC Hustler (Feat. Horror City)	More Info...
9)	The Call	More Info...
10)	The Other Line (Feat. Breeze & Heroine)	More Info...
11)	Crazy Lou's Hideout	More Info...
12)	Weapon World (Feat. Kool Keith)	More Info...
13)	My Big Chance	More Info...
14)	War Party (Feat. Horror City)	More Info...
15)	Count Macula	More Info...
16)	Macula's Theory (Feat. Big Daddy Kane)	More Info...
17)	Mr. Large (Feat. Biz Markie & Chubb Rock)	More Info...
18)	Can You Handle It	More Info...
19)	Put the Next Man On (Feat. Breeze, Sha & Superstar)	More Info...
20)	I Was In	More Info...

Album: A Prince Among Thieves
#	Song Title		Time
	Disc 1
1)	Tariq's Dilemma (Intro)	More Info...
2)	Pain (Feat. Breeze & Sha)	More Info...
3)	How It All Started	More Info...
4)	Steady Slobbin' (Feat. Breeze)	More Info...
5)	Just Another Day	More Info...
6)	What U Got - The Demo (Feat. Breeze)	More Info...
7)	The Hustles On	More Info...
8)	MC Hustler (Feat. Horror City)	More Info...
9)	The Call	More Info...
10)	The Other Line (Feat. Breeze & Heroine)	More Info...
11)	Crazy Lou's Hideout	More Info...
12)	Weapon World (Feat. Kool Keith)	More Info...
13)	My Big Chance	More Info...
14)	War Party (Feat. Horror City)	More Info...
15)	Count Macula	More Info...
16)	Macula's Theory (Feat. Big Daddy Kane)	More Info...
17)	Mr. Large (Feat. Biz Markie & Chubb Rock)	More Info...
18)	Can You Handle It	More Info...
19)	Put the Next Man On (Feat. Breeze, Sha & Superstar)	More Info...
20)	I Was In	More Info...

Performer Notes

Personnel includes: Prince Paul (rap vocals, guitar, percussion, scratches); T-Bone, Sheila Coley (vocals); Don Newkirk, Eddie "Goalfingers" Berkeley (keyboards); Breeze, Sha, De La Soul, Everlast, Chris Rock, Xzibit, Sadat X, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Keith, Chubb Rock, Biz Markie, Horror City, Heroine, Superstar, Sweet Dee, Kid Creole; Breezly Brewin, Monkey, Special Ed, Queen Bee, RZA, Dom Dom, Buckshot, Rodd Houston, Wendy Day, Karima, Phil Painson, Danny Madorski, Kamala Gordon, Evil Dee, Bobbito, DJ Mecca, Bobby Simmons, Andre "Bless Me" Smith, Ken "Special K" Spellman, DJ Atlas, Artist, Lynn Gonzales, Rotimi Rainwater, Michelle Willems, Patty Santos, Faradina Lael, Jackie Martinez, Shara, Queen, Big Pat, The Deadly Snakes.
Includes liner notes by Prince Paul.
The concept album has been something of a rare beast in hip-hop. There have been plenty of rap albums with a cinematic feel, but very few actually tie things together with a coherent narrative throughout. Leave it to Prince Paul, long one of hip-hop's most imaginative producers, to assemble the first successful rap opera in A Prince Among Thieves. Not only does it maintain a coherent story line via skits that actually aren't filler, it manages to stay musically compelling and focused throughout. And that's no mean feat, considering the array of guest stars and the huge range of styles Prince Paul employs for their characters' supporting tracks. Perhaps the most daring aspect of the record is that it frames the story as fiction, with no pretense of the realism (or illusion thereof) that hardcore prides itself on. The story concerns a young rapper named Tariq (played by the Juggaknots' Breeze), who needs $1000 to complete a demo tape for a pending record deal. For quick cash, he turns to his friend True (Sha), once his mentor in the rap game but now a drug dealer who secretly resents Tariq's good fortune. As True immerses Tariq in the underworld, a tragedy of cinematic proportions unfolds. The star-studded cast features Kool Keith as a weapons dealer, Big Daddy Kane as a pimp, Chubb Rock as a gang kingpin, Chris Rock and De La Soul as crack addicts, Everlast as a crooked cop, and Sadat X and Xzibit as prison inmates. Yet the much lesser-known Sha and Breeze shine even in this select company, which is part of the reason the album works. The main reason, however, is that Prince Paul sounds like he can do anything, and do it well. A Prince Among Thieves touches on every sound he's ever tried on record, and it's conceptually airtight; in both senses, it's his magnum opus, and the crown jewel of a brilliant career. ~ Steve Huey

Professional Reviews

Spin (9/99, p.164) - Ranked #89 in Spin Magazine's "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s."

Alternative Press (p.104) - "It's a recipe for awesomeness: Take Prince Paul, add legends such as Chubb Rock, Biz Markie and Special Ed, and enjoy."

CMJ (1/10/00, p.22) - Included in CMJ's "Beat Box '99 Top 5."

CMJ (2/15/99, p.5) - "...his most audacious accomlishment yet....Paul's unwavering vision mahages to succeed as both an R-rated radio play and a compelling hip-hop experiment..."

The Source (3/99, p.196) - 4 Mics (out of 5) - "...A PRINCE AMONG THIEVES takes us into the life of Tariq....For those looking for hip-hop's new frontier, this is definitely it..."

Rap Pages (7/99, pp.146-147) - "...the album's whole atmosphere showcase's Prince's moody productions....This album is incredible...its '80s aesthetics will draw the attention of old school lovers. Measuring this album against the many thieves of the industry, P.P. is crowned king of creativity."

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