Tommy Boy Tuesday: Prince Paul - 'A Prince Among Thieves'
With a career that spans decades and having played a hand in some of hip-hop’s most legendary and admired groups, there is no doubt that Prince Paul’ legacy will live on for years to come. While he may be best known for his work with groups like De La Soul, Stetsasonic and Handsome Boy Modeling School, it is often his solo work that fans turn to when craving that unadulterated Prince Paul sound.
Released in 1999, his sophomore album, “A Prince Among Thieves,” has since become an undeniable classic amongst hip-hop enthusiasts and record collectors alike. Featuring an all-star ensemble of Golden Era MC’s like Sadat X, Xzibit, De La Soul, Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane and more, this ambitious piece of humorous hip-hop storytelling is like an odyssey of 90’s rap, even earning praise from music essayist Robert Christgau, who called it “The closest thing to a true rock opera you’ve ever heard.” What lies beneath, however, is biting satire which plants listeners right in the thick of the struggle, the hustle, the rough underground from which great hip-hop is so often inspired.