"When you come to the concept of a rock star, he is that." - George Clinton Remembers Prince
"Damn, this motherf---er is all that."
If you've read George Clinton's memoir, Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard On You?, you know just high in regard Dr. Funkenstein holds the legacy of Prince. It was The Purple One, after all, that rejuvenated P-Funk's career in the mid-80s by hosting their sessions at Paisley Park, even signing them to his imprint and gifting them "Erotic City" for their time. But their cosmic connection doesn't begin or end in P-Funk's mid-80s slouch. As detailed by Clinton himself in a touching self-penned tribute to Prince, their streams first crossed in the late-70s, when Prince was but a tike in the era of the funk anthem, well versed in all things that came before him and deceptively well-prepared for the spotlight, which was set for an imminent refocusing as Prince broke out of Minneapolis and readied his debut album under the wing of Clinton and Detroit's legendary DJ, The Electrifying Mojo.
When you trace your fingers along the constellations of funk, those two stars stand side-by-side, neither a placeholder for the other. Prince may have followed in the footsteps of George Clinton, but his talent and presence were immutable to the funk forefather, and if there's any truth to Clinton's remembrance, his path was entirely his own, inspiring veterans and newcomers in the game with equal force. Hit the link below to read the full script and hold tight as the rest of the galaxy readies their own salutes to the eternal purple glow of Prince.
>>>Read George Clinton's touching tribute to Prince (via Billboard)
