New Power Generation
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| New Power Generation | ||
|---|---|---|
 Cover of the NPG's 1995 album, Exodus
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| Background information | ||
| Also known as | NPG | |
| Origin | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | |
| Genre(s) | Rock, pop, R&B, soul, funk, funk-rock, funk metal, New Wave, dance, psychedelic rock, hip-hop | |
| Years active | 1988–present (1993–1998 as an independent group) | |
| Label(s) | NPG Records | |
| Associated acts |
Prince Madhouse |
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| Website | npgmusicclub.com | |
| Members | ||
| Prince, Renato Neto, Rhonda Smith, John Blackwell, Maceo Parker | ||
| Former members | ||
| Levi Seacer, Jr., Kat Dyson, Rev. Michael Scott, Tommy Barbarella, Kip Blackshire, Mayte, Rosie Gaines | ||
The New Power Generation (or NPG for short) is the backing group of Prince. They debuted on the 1991 album Diamonds and Pearls (see 1991 in music). The name comes from a song on his 1990 album Graffiti Bridge; however, the phrase "Welcome to the New Power Generation" was mentioned on the opening track of 1988's Lovesexy.
Contents |
[edit] History
When Prince began his formal dispute with record company Warner Bros. and changed his stage name to 
in 1993, the NPG became a side-project for Prince, allowing him to release music outside of his contract. This concept was quite similar to The Time, and the NPG was intended to appeal to a more urban audience than Prince's mainstream material.
The NPG's debut album, Goldnigga, featured Tony M. as lead vocalist/rapper. The album relied heavily on rap, while the music itself was reminiscent of 1970s funk. Prince participated heavily in writing and performing the music, while Tony wrote and performed raps. Prince provided co-lead vocals on 2 songs, "Black M.F. in the House" and "Johnny", and the 2 were often performed by him in concerts and aftershows.
Prince trimmed down the NPG when he began performing as in early 1994. This reduced version backed on The Gold Experience and released Exodus in 1995. Now with Sonny T as lead vocalist, the focus was more on funk. Although several raps were recorded for the album, they were left out of the final release. again took a role behind the scenes, adopting the guise of the masked "Tora Tora" and performing lead vocals on several tracks, sometimes with an altered voice. His participation in this version of the NPG was much more apparent.
Three years later, another NPG album was released titled Newpower Soul (modifying a song name from Exodus). In fact, a spoken outtake from Exodus mentions the upcoming album, indicating its planning stages. Featuring an almost totally different version of the NPG (only Morris Hayes was retained), 's participation was not disguised at all this time. He features prominently on the cover and liner notes and provides lead vocals on all songs, begging the question why this was labeled an "NPG" release. Unlike the two previous releases, the album relies heavily on drum programming by Kirk Johnson and features input from Larry Graham and Doug E. Fresh. This combination did not sit well with many long-time fans and the album was viewed negatively by many. Indeed, many consider this album as the lowest point in Prince's career.
A fourth album, Peace, due to be released in 2001, never materialized, although a few songs have been made public through limited-release singles or through Prince's official website.
[edit] Band members
| Instrument | Name | Year(s) | Notes |
| Guitar | Levi Seacer, Jr. | 1991–1993 | Original member. Played bass before the addition of Sonny T. |
| Kat Dyson | 1996–1997 | ||
| Rev. Michael Scott | 1997–1998 | ||
| Keyboards | 1991–1996 | Original member. | |
| Kip Blackshire | 1999–2002 | Also provides additional vocals. | |
|
Renato Neto |
1999–2005 | ||
| Organ | 1991–1992 | Original member. Co-lead vocals on many tracks. Has also worked with Prince on various projects after her departure. | |
|
Morris Hayes |
1993–1999 | ||
| Bass guitar | 1991–1996 |
Original member. Was originally slated to join Prince's band when André Cymone left. | |
|
Rhonda Smith |
1996–Present | Took a break in 1999 while Larry Graham performed with Prince. | |
| Drums/Percussion |
1991–1996 |
Original member. | |
|
Kirk Johnson |
1991–1993, 1996–1999 | Percussion and additional vocals originally. Later became drummer and producer/drum programmer. |
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John Blackwell |
1999–Present | ||
| Horns |
Hornheadz |
1992–Present (though sporadic) | Previously known as the NPG Hornz. |
| 1991–Present (though sporadic) | Originally member of The Revolution. Provides saxophone and flute. |
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| 2000–2001 | |||
| Maceo Parker | 2001–Present | ||
| Additional vocals | 1991–1993 | Original member. Raps. | |
|
Damon Dickson |
1991–1993 | Original member. | |
| 1992–1996 | Provided background vocals and Spanish vocals. | ||
|
Marva King |
1997–1998 |
Please Note: since 1996, the NPG has had a variety of guest musicians, but this is a list of "official" members, more or less.
This article includes the discography of American band New Power Generation, credited as a separate entity from Prince.
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album Cover | Album | US | UK | Worldwide Sales (when available) | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 |  |
Graffiti Bridge | 6 | 1 | 2.2m | Unnamed New Power Generation members provided backing vocals on the song "New Power Generation". |
| 1991 |  |
Diamonds and Pearls | 3 | 2 | 6.5m | Album by Prince and the New Power Generation. |
| 1992 |  |
a.k.a. Love Symbol |
5 | 1 | 2.7m | Album by Prince and the New Power Generation. |
| 1993 |  |
Goldnigga | - | - | - | Album by the New Power Generation. Tony M. performs lead vox. |
| 1995 |  |
Exodus | - | - | - | Album by the New Power Generation. Sonny T. performs lead vox. |
| 1996 |  |
Girl 6 | 75 | - | - | Includes "Count the Days", from Exodus and title track is credited to the New Power Generation, with on lead vox. |
| 1998 |  |
Newpower Soul | 22 | - | - | Album by the New Power Generation. Not a "Prince" release, though is now the band's lead singer. |
| 2004 |  |
The Chocolate Invasion | - | - | - | The New Power Generation is credited for the track "Gamillah". |
| 2004 |  |
The Slaughterhouse | - | - | - | The New Power Generation is credited for the tracks "Peace", "2045: Radical Man" and "The Daisy Chain". |
| 2006 |  |
3121 | 1 | 9 | 3.0m | The New Power Generation is credited for "shouts" on the song "Lolita". |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Song | US | US R&B | US Dance | UK | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "New Power Generation" Provided backing vox | 64 | 27 | - | 26 | Graffiti Bridge |
| 1991 | "Gett Off" by Prince and the New Power Generation | 21 | 6 | 1 | 4 | Diamonds and Pearls |
| 1991 | "Cream" by Prince and the New Power Generation | 1 | - | - | 15 | Diamonds and Pearls |
| 1991 | "Diamonds and Pearls" by Prince and the New Power Generation |
3 | 1 | - | 25 | Diamonds and Pearls |
| 1992 | "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" by Prince and the New Power Generation |
23 | 14 | - | 19 | Diamonds and Pearls |
| 1992 | "Insatiable" by Prince and the New Power Generation | 77 | 3 | - | - | Diamonds and Pearls |
| 1992 | "Thunder" by Prince and the New Power Generation | - | - | - | 28 | Diamonds and Pearls |
| 1992 | "Sexy M.F./Strollin’" by Prince and the New Power Generation | 66 | 76 | - | 4 | |
| 1992 | "My Name Is Prince" by Prince and the New Power Generation |
36 | 25 | 9 | 7 | |
| 1992 | "My Name Is Prince" (remixes) by Prince and the New Power Generation |
- | - | - | 51 | - |
| 1992 | "7" by Prince and the New Power Generation | 7 | 61 | - | 27 | |
| 1992 | "The Morning Papers" by Prince and the New Power Generation |
44 | 68 | - | 52 | |
| 1992 | "Damn U" by Prince and the New Power Generation | 108 | 32 | - | - | |
| 1993 | "2gether" | - | - | - | - | Goldnigga |
| 1993 | "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Prince and the New Power Generation | - | 62 | - | - | The Hits/The B-Sides; B-side to "Peach" |
| 1995 | "Purple Medley" The New Power Generation contributes "additional music" | 84 | 74 | - | 33 | - |
| 1995 | "Get Wild" | - | - | - | 19 | Exodus |
| 1995 | "The Good Life" | - | - | - | 29 | Exodus |
| 1995 | "Count the Days" | - | - | - | - | Exodus |
| 1996 | "Girl 6" | - | 78 | - | - | Girl 6 |
| 1997 | "The Good Life" (re-issue) | - | - | - | 15 | Exodus |
| 1998 | "The War" | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 | "Come On" | - | - | - | 65 | Newpower Soul |
| 2001 | "Peace / 2045:Radical Man" | - | - | - | - | The Slaughterhouse |
| 2001 | "The Daisy Chain / Gamillah" | - | - | - | - | The Slaughterhouse/The Chocolate Invasion |
[edit] See also
- List of number-one hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
