Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape [PA] by Me'Shell NdegeOcello (CD, Jun-2002, Warner Bros. Records Record Label)

I was most intrigued at purchasing this work because of a review from/in/thru Rolling Stone magazine that stated, "This is the album that Prince has always wanted to make." If you like Prince and know anything of NdegeOcello - a comparative mission was inevitable. Giving credit where credit is due, this album does exactly what any good musical work is supposed to do - it transports the listener inside the realm of the work using lyric and melody seamelessly to execute this magical journey that only "good" music can give purchase to. Suffice it to say, I was not dissapointed. I've taken the "Mixtape" journey many times now but must strongly dissagree with the Rolling Stone assessment of the work. Prince has made this album, not once, but three times in executing "Emancipation" and not being crass in saying - he didn't need to "remix" ANY tracks of the entire (3)three disc set to accomplish this feat. Me'Shell's mimicing use of the five second blank track was mastered by the "Purple Man" and the "remixed" final 3 tracks that were curiously renamed D/N Part 2, Interlude 6, and Pocketbook Remix - in my opinion only detracted from the total essence of the work. We'd already heard that. It would have been better to have left them off completely, leaving the listner wanting, wanting more and wanting to go further into this mixtape journey but I was only left wondering if she HAD anything more. I'm sure she does but I don't think this work lived up to the hype of the Rolling Stone review. Me'Shell and Prince could never have worked together no matter how much she wanted to "play" for him. They're both much too strong musically to "assist" but OOOOHHH what an amazing honor the world would have to hear them together. It would probably answer Princes' question on the track "Dolphins," - "How beautiful do the words have to be, before they conquer EVERY heart?" I eagarly await ANYTHING produced by these two, solo or together. wam