In a career that spanned nearly four decades, Prince captivated generations of audiences with not only his talent for songwriting but his outré style and electrifying performances. His albums—a category-defying blend of rock, R&B, soul, funk, jazz, hip-hop, disco, and pop—have inspired countless artists and influenced the sound and trajectory of music for years to come. His hits, including “Kiss,” “Little Red Corvette,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Raspberry Beret,” “1999,” and the landmark song “Purple Rain,” from his semi-autobiographical movie, have been the life soundtrack for millions of fans. Now, in a tribute to the late Grammy- and Oscar-winning legend, TIME presents a lavishly illustrated special edition tracing Prince’s life and career. The commemorative edition combines classic and rarely seen photographs and text from the TIME archives, as well as the story behind the movie Purple Rain; a look inside Paisley Park, Prince’s famed home and studio; his unprecedented approach to the “business of Prince”; exclusive tributes from Sheila E., Seal, and Lenny Kravitz; and a rundown of 25 essential songs, plus a handful of lesser-known gems. Comprehensive and visually compelling, An Artist’s Life honors the life, legend, and musical legacy of an icon.
Tributes • Prince inspired all, but musicians grasped his true breadth
He Broke Down All Barriers
His Immaculate Rhythm
Nothing Compared 2 Him • Prince’s purple reign transformed music—and our lives. From humble beginnings he created the world he wanted to live in, a funky fantasy that inspired millions
Dearly Beloved … • We are gathered here today to get through this thing called Life
Some Princely Numbers
Behind the Gates of Paisley Park • Nearly as inscrutable as its owner, the gleaming white compound, rising from a field in suburban Minneapolis, hid within its walls Prince’s epicenter of creative cool
Take Me with U • Prince’s allure was as multifaceted as his music. A thrilling performer on stage and screen, he deployed his sexuality as if it were a weapon—perhaps harmless, but always on target
The Beautiful 1 • Prince’s magnetic onscreen presence is due for reappraisal
Underneath the Purple Rain • Alan Light’s book Let’s Go Crazy, about the making of the film, asks: Does Prince like women?
While His Guitar Gently Weeps • How Prince took over at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Dirty Mind • Prince knew what he wanted: sex, soul and you
All About the Music • Virtuoso guitarist, brilliant songwriter, soul-saturated vocalist. Just one talent would have been enough, but he had many more—as well as a revolutionary approach to the recording industry
Pop Life • Prince was a combustible fusion of rock, soul, sex and funk
17 Essential Prince Songs • From a repertoire spanning five decades, these are the tracks that cut right to the heart
11 Prince Gems That Deserve Your Undivided Attention • He was so prolific that only the most faithful could keep up. These underappreciated tracks are worth digging out of his vast catalog
The Fine 40 • A collection remarkable for its sound and a size to match his talent: vast
Freedom to Earn • Prince proved a prescient pioneer in the music biz
Politics You Could Dance To • Prince didn’t have to shout his convictions. Instead, he got us thinking with songs that grooved as they moved
Prince’s Protégés • An A-to-3 guide
In His Own Image • Prince never forgot that his excentric lifestyle was a part of the musical legacy and mystique he created.
Prince Tried to Convert Me • When the interview was over, he offered me eternal life
Charlie Murphy’s Hoops and Hotcakes • The greatest Prince story ever told
The Time Prince Fired Questlove...