Prince Paul (producer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Prince Paul
|
|
|---|---|
Prince Paul in 2000
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Paul Edward Huston |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | April 2, 1967 Amityville, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels |
|
Paul Edward Huston (born April 2, 1967), known as Prince Paul, is an American record producer and disc jockey (DJ). He is from Amityville, New York.
Prince Paul started his music journey as a DJ for the group Stetsasonic. He has worked on albums for many famous artists. These include Boogie Down Productions, Gravediggaz, MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane, and 3rd Bass. He became widely known for producing De La Soul's first album, 3 Feet High and Rising (1989). On this album, he created new ways to make hip hop music. He mixed sounds and samples in fresh ways. He also added funny comedy sketches to the songs.
His first solo album, Psychoanalysis: What Is It?, came out in 1997. His second solo album, A Prince Among Thieves, followed in 1999.
Contents
Life and career
Early life
Paul Edward Huston was born on April 2, 1967, in Amityville, New York. He loved music from a young age. He started collecting vinyl records when he was only five years old. His mother said he was very grown-up for his age. He often spent time with older friends.
When he was in fifth grade, he began DJing. He used a simple setup with two turntables. In 1981, at age 14, Paul performed a DJ set that helped him get noticed. He played a routine with the song "Pump Me Up." He later called this his "claim to fame." After this show, Paul started doing parties and making tapes with Biz Markie. Around the same time, his music teacher introduced him to Maseo from De La Soul.
1980s and 1990s
Prince Paul started performing with music groups as a teenager. He first joined a group called Soul Brothers. In 1984, he became one of the first members of Stetsasonic. He joined after impressing Daddy-O with his DJ skills. Daddy-O was amazed by Paul's energy.
Prince Paul helped produce songs like "The Gas Face" for 3rd Bass's 1989 album, The Cactus Album. The original version of "The Gas Face" was made by accident. Paul wanted to change the beat, but the group members liked it and told him to keep it.
Paul also worked on De La Soul's first three albums. These were 3 Feet High and Rising (1989), De La Soul Is Dead (1991), and Buhloone Mindstate (1993). De La Soul is Dead received a perfect review from The Source magazine. Paul said that 3 Feet High and Rising was made quickly and on a small budget. He felt that working with De La Soul was a perfect fit.
In 1990, Russell Simmons offered Prince Paul his own record label. However, the only album released, by Resident Alien, was never officially put out. It can still be found as an unofficial release.
Prince Paul also formed the group Gravediggaz. He joined with Frukwan, Too Poetic, and the RZA. They released their first album, 6 Feet Deep, in 1994. Before signing with Gee Street, Eazy-E wanted to release the album. Paul met with Eazy-E but did not like the contract.
Paul worked on other projects too. He produced three songs for Boogie Down Productions' 1992 album. He also worked with guitarist Vernon Reid in 1995. In 1996, he appeared on the album America Is Dying Slowly. Paul also started a group called Horror City. He produced an album for them, but he couldn't find a record label to release it. So, in 2010, Paul decided to give the Horror City album away for free online.
In 1996, De La Soul and Prince Paul decided to stop working together. Even though Paul was not involved in their next album, Stakes Is High, he praised it. He said the album helped him through a tough time in his life.
After leaving De La Soul, Paul released two solo albums. These were Psychoanalysis: What Is It? (1996) and A Prince Among Thieves (1999). These albums featured many rappers. When Paul made Psychoanalysis, he thought his music career might be ending. Many of the voices on the album were his friends, not famous musicians.
Paul said he first thought of A Prince Among Thieves in the early 1990s. He wanted to make a "movie on wax." He watched many old movies for ideas. He also used some beats he had made for Horror City on this album. He even asked Vanilla Ice and The Notorious B.I.G. to be part of the album.
Prince Paul also formed a duo called Handsome Boy Modeling School with Dan the Automator. Their first album, So... How's Your Girl?, came out in 1999. It featured many different artists.
21st century
Paul continued to work on many projects in the 2000s. He contributed to Deltron 3030's album in 2000. He also worked on the first album by MC Paul Barman.
Prince Paul's 2003 album, Politics of the Business, had many guest artists. These included Chuck D and Ice-T. He also made a song for The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie soundtrack. His second Handsome Boy Modeling School album, White People, came out in 2004.
His next solo album was Itstrumental (2005). This album used many old samples. It also had funny skits about his feelings of sadness. As of 2023, Itstrumental is Paul's most recent solo album.
Paul kept working with other artists. In 2005, he produced an album for the Dix. In 2007, he released an album called Turn My Teeth Up! with the group Baby Elephant. He also produced Montezuma's Revenge for Souls of Mischief in 2009. For this album, Paul used old music equipment.
In 2006, Prince Paul won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. This was for his work on Chris Rock's album Never Scared.
In 2012, Paul talked about making another De La Soul album. He said he had asked them to work together since 1999. He felt it would be hard to make a new album now. This is because of strict rules about using samples from other songs. He said it was nice to think about, but he liked how they left things.
Paul has continued to work on projects in the 2010s and 2020s. In 2016, he worked with BROOKZILL! on an album. In 2017, he helped create music for a podcast called Mogul. In 2020, he helped produce the Gorillaz song "Pac-Man."
In 2017, Prince Paul joined the Creators Advisory Board of Tracklib. He said that Tracklib helps producers use samples without worrying about legal problems.
Equipment
Paul often talks about how much he likes old music equipment. One of his favorite pieces is the Akai S900. He says it has a special sound. He feels that new technology makes music sound too "clean." He believes old equipment gives music a unique hip hop feel.
Record collection
Prince Paul is known for using samples from many different types of music. Rapper Biz Markie once said that Paul showed hip hop artists they could use records that were not just by James Brown or simple drum beats.
Style and influences
Paul says that The Bomb Squad and Public Enemy greatly influenced his early work with De La Soul. He admired how they layered sounds and arranged their music. Besides The Bomb Squad, he also looks up to George Clinton, Dr. Dre, Rick Rubin, and Bernie Worrell.
Paul still uses samples in his music. But now, he also uses live instruments like guitar and keyboards. He sometimes re-plays samples with instruments. This way, he can make them sound like they came directly from an old record.
Paul also learned a lot about producing from working with Dan the Automator. This was for their Handsome Boy Modeling School project.
Discography
Solo albums
- 1996: Psychoanalysis: What Is It?
- 1999: A Prince Among Thieves
- 2003: Politics of the Business
- 2005: Itstrumental
- 2005: Hip Hop Gold Dust
Collaborative albums
- 1986: On Fire (Stetsasonic)
- 1988: In Full Gear (Stetsasonic)
- 1989: 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul)
- 1991: Blood, Sweat & No Tears (Stetsasonic)
- 1991: De La Soul Is Dead (De La Soul)
- 1992: It Takes a Nation of Suckas to Let Us In (Resident Alien)
- 1993: Buhloone Mindstate (De La Soul)
- 1994: 6 Feet Deep (Gravediggaz)
- 1995: Prince Paul presents Horror City (Horror City)
- 1999: So... How's Your Girl? (Handsome Boy Modeling School)
- 2000: It's Very Stimulating (MC Paul Barman)
- 2004: White People (Handsome Boy Modeling School)
- 2005: The Art of Picking Up Women (The Dix)
- 2008: Baby Loves Hip Hop presents The Dino 5 (Dino 5)
- 2012: Negroes on Ice (Negroes on Ice)
- 2016: Throwback to the Future (BROOKZILL!)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Never Scared | Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album | Won |
Images for kids
-
Prince Paul in 2000
See also
In Spanish: Prince Paul para niños
