A Prince Among Thieves
Encyclopedia
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 album
s of its time. 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 could be filmed, an accompanying movie was never made. 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".
Sample credits
Singles
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artist Prince Paul. It is considered an apex in the hip hop world, and was one of the most acclaimed concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
s of its time. 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
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
leader RZA
RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
. 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
Kool Keith
Keith Matthew Thornton, better known by his stage name Kool Keith, is an American rapper from The Bronx, New York. A founding member of Ultramagnetic MCs, Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both as a solo artist and in group collaborations. Kool Keith is the self-proclaimed inventor of...
, Big Daddy Kane
Big Daddy Kane
Antonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MC's in Hip Hop...
, Chubb Rock
Chubb Rock
Chubb Rock is a New York-based rapper who released several commercially successful hip hop albums in the early 1990s...
, Biz Markie
Biz Markie
Marcel Theo Hall better known by his stage name, Biz Markie, is an American rapper, beatboxer, DJ, comedian, singer, reality television personality, and commercial spokesperson. He is best known for his single "Just a Friend", an American Top 10 hit in 1989...
, De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
, Everlast, Sadat X
Sadat X
Sadat X is an American rapper, most famed as a member of Alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat....
, Xzibit
Xzibit
Alvin Nathaniel Joiner , better known by his stage name Xzibit , is an American rapper, actor, and television host. He is known as the host of the MTV show Pimp My Ride, which brought him mainstream success...
, Kid Creole, Special Ed
Special Ed
Special Ed is the performing name of Edward Archer , an American hip hop musician of Jamaican descent. Hailing from Brooklyn in New York City, he was raised in Flatbush before moving to Canarsie, and is identified with East Coast hip hop...
, Chris Rock
Chris Rock
Christopher Julius "Chris" Rock III is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. He was voted in the US as the 5th greatest stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central...
, RZA
RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
and Buckshot
Buckshot (rapper)
Buckshot is an underground rapper, famous as the leader of Hip Hop supergroup Boot Camp Clik, and the group Black Moon. He has released one solo album, two with producer 9th Wonder, four albums with Black Moon and four albums with the Boot Camp Clik.- Biography :Born and raised in Brooklyn...
. A single version and video were also produced, which have the feel of a film trailer. Although conceived as a story that could be filmed, an accompanying movie was never made. A Prince Among Thieves was well-received by music critics upon its release. Music essayist Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
has cited it as "the closest thing to a true rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
you've ever heard".
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 Kool Keith Keith Matthew Thornton, better known by his stage name Kool Keith, is an American rapper from The Bronx, New York. A founding member of Ultramagnetic MCs, Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both as a solo artist and in group collaborations. Kool Keith is the self-proclaimed inventor of... |
| 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 Big Daddy Kane Antonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MC's in Hip Hop... |
| 17 | "Mr. Large" | Prince Paul | Sha, Chubb Rock Chubb Rock Chubb Rock is a New York-based rapper who released several commercially successful hip hop albums in the early 1990s... , Biz Markie Biz Markie Marcel Theo Hall better known by his stage name, Biz Markie, is an American rapper, beatboxer, DJ, comedian, singer, reality television personality, and commercial spokesperson. He is best known for his single "Just a Friend", an American Top 10 hit in 1989... |
| 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 De La Soul De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres... |
| 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 Sadat X Sadat X is an American rapper, most famed as a member of Alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.... , Xzibit Xzibit Alvin Nathaniel Joiner , better known by his stage name Xzibit , is an American rapper, actor, and television host. He is known as the host of the MTV show Pimp My Ride, which brought him mainstream success... , 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 KingAlbert KingAlbert King was an American blues guitarist and singer, and a major influence in the world of blues guitar playing.-Career:...
's recording "I'll Play the Blues for You." - "Macula's Theory" contains a sample of Syl JohnsonSyl JohnsonSyl Johnson is an American blues and soul singer and record producer.-Biography:Born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi, United States, Johnson sang and played with blues artists Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf in the 1950s, before recording with Jimmy Reed...
's recording "Wind, Blow Her Back My Way." - "You Got Shot" contains a sample of Ol' Dirty BastardOl' Dirty BastardRussell Tyrone Jones was an American rapper and occasional producer, who went by the stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard or simply ODB...
's recording "Brooklyn Zoo."
The cast
- Tariq: Breezly Brewin
- True: Big Sha
- Mother: Monkey
- Officer O'Maley Bitchkowski: Everlast
- Crazy Lou: Kool Keith
- Mr. Large: Chubb Rock
- 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
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| Year | Album | Chart positions | ||
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
||
| 1999 | A Prince Among Thieves | #138 | #46 | #5 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Hot Rap Singles Hot Rap Tracks Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single... |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "More Than U Know" | 45 |