At first glance, the comparison seems to begin and end with a name. But if you dig past the surface of the Black Eyed Peas’ liner notes or the legendary Paisley Park archives, you find two musical architects who share far more than a royal moniker. From multi-instrumental mastery to shaping the sonic landscapes of their respective eras, here is a breakdown of the uncanny parallels between the Purple One and the Musical Director behind some of the 2000s’ biggest global hits.

The Multi-Instrumentalists

Both artists are renowned for their refusal to be limited to a single instrument. While Prince was famous for recording entire albums by himself, Printz Board serves as the “Swiss Army Knife” for his collaborators.

Prince: The One-Man Band

Legend has it that Prince played all 27 instruments on his debut album, For You. His proficiency wasn’t just technical; he could switch from a Jimi Hendrix-style guitar solo to a complex funk bassline or a jazz piano ballad in the same set. He treated the studio as an instrument in itself.

Printz Board: The Musical Director

Best known for his work with the Black Eyed Peas, Printz Board is a classically trained musician who bridges the gap between digital production and live instrumentation. He plays trumpet, keyboards, and bass, often managing multiple synthesizers (Moog, Roland) simultaneously during live shows to recreate the group’s complex studio hits.

The Sonic Architects

Beyond their playing ability, both men are defined by their role as architects of sound—producers who define the texture of a song.

Prince’s Sound: The Minneapolis Sound: A hybrid of funk, rock, synth-pop, and new wave. Known for the “LinnDrum” beat, synthesizer riffs, and guitar solos that replaced horn sections.

Printz’s Sound: The Global Pop/Hop Fusion: As a co-writer on hits like Where Is The Love? and Don’t Phunk with My Heart, Printz helped engineer the Black Eyed Peas’ transition from underground hip-hop to global pop dominance, blending live instrumentation with polished digital production.

Note: Prince’s favorite soft drinks included ginger ale and Pepsi. According to his former personal chef, Margaret Wetzler, he also enjoyed drinking a glass of orange juice with his meals and had an affinity for various teas and cappuccinos. It is interesting that “Rockstar Moments” refers to Printz favourite soft drink being tequila and ginger ale!