A Prince Among Thieves
A Prince Among Thieves is the second studio album by hip hop artist Prince Paul. A Prince Among Thieves was well received by music critics. Music essayist Robert Christgau has called it "the closest thing to a true rock opera you've ever heard".
Background
The concept follows the story of an aspiring young emcee named Tariq, played by emcee Breezly Brewin, who needs to collect money to record a demo tape before a meeting with Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA. The story follows a desperate Tariq, who skips work at his low-paying job and turns to his friend True, played by emcee Big Sha, who introduces him to drug dealing. The two make their way through the drug world, a police ambush, jail, and, finally, a deadly showdown.The album features cameos by Kool Keith, Big Daddy Kane, Chubb Rock, Biz Markie, De La Soul, Everlast, Sadat X, Xzibit, Kid Creole, Special Ed, Chris Rock, RZA and Buckshot.
While recording, Prince Paul tried to get Vanilla Ice to appear on the album delivering a verse as one of the convicts in the jail scene, but was turned down by Ice's manager.
A single version and video in the style of a film trailer was also produced. Although conceived as a story that would be filmed, a movie never came about. In a 2013 interview, Prince Paul said:
Track listing
| # | Title | Producer | Performer | Length |
| 1 | "Tariq's Dilemma " | *Interlude* | 0:38 | |
| 2 | "Pain" | Prince Paul | Sha, Breeze | 2:14 |
| 3 | "How It All Started" | *Interlude* | 1:19 | |
| 4 | "Steady Slobbin'" | Prince Paul | Breeze | 2:55 |
| 5 | "Just Another Day" | *Interlude* | 2:19 | |
| 6 | "What U Got " | Prince Paul | Sha, Breeze | 2:29 |
| 7 | "The Hustles On" | *Interlude* | 1:38 | |
| 8 | "MC Hustler" | Prince Paul | Horror City | 3:51 |
| 9 | "The Call" | *Interlude* | 0:52 | |
| 10 | "The Other Line" | Prince Paul | Breeze, Heroine | 2:51 |
| 11 | "Crazy Lou's Hideout" | *Interlude* | 1:49 | |
| 12 | "Weapon World" | Prince Paul | Kool Keith | 3:27 |
| 13 | "My Big Chance" | *Interlude* | 1:54 | |
| 14 | "War Party" | Prince Paul | Horror City | 3:10 |
| 15 | "Count Macula" | *Interlude* | 0:22 | |
| 16 | "Macula's Theory" | Prince Paul | Big Daddy Kane | 2:36 |
| 17 | "Mr. Large" | Prince Paul | Chubb Rock, Biz Markie | 1:06 |
| 18 | "Can You Handle It" | *Interlude* | 0:21 | |
| 19 | "Put the Next Man On" | Prince Paul | Breeze, Sha, Superstar | 3:46 |
| 20 | "I Was In" | *Interlude* | 0:41 | |
| 21 | "My First Day" | *Interlude* | 2:29 | |
| 22 | "More Than U Know" | Prince Paul | De La Soul | 4:24 |
| 23 | "Room 69" | *Interlude* | 1:49 | |
| 24 | "Mood for Love" | Prince Paul | Newkirk, Sweet Dee, Breeze | 3:16 |
| 25 | "The Bust" | *Interlude* | 0:45 | |
| 26 | "The Men in Blue" | Prince Paul | Everlast | 3:33 |
| 27 | "Central Booking" | *Interlude* | 2:04 | |
| 28 | "Handle Your Time" | Prince Paul | Sadat X, Xzibit, Kid Creole | 3:53 |
| 29 | "The Rev" | *Interlude* | 0:29 | |
| 30 | "Sermon" | *Interlude* | 1:01 | |
| 31 | "Showdown" | *Interlude* | 2:56 | |
| 32 | "You Got Shot" | Prince Paul | Sha, Breeze | 3:07 |
| 33 | "Every Beginning Must Have an Ending" | *Interlude* | 1:43 | |
| 34 | "The New Joint " | *Interlude* | 0:56 | |
| 35 | "A Prince Among Thieves" | Prince Paul | Sha | 4:42 |
;Sample credits
- "Pain" samples "Pain" by The Watts Prophets.
- "Steady Slobbin'" samples "Reach Out" by Average White Band.
- "What U Got" samples "I'll Play the Blues for You" by Albert King.
- "The Other Line" samples "You Better Get It" by Joe Tex.
- "Weapon World" samples "Get Outta My Life Woman" by The New Apocalypse.
- "War Party" samples "Love Without Sex" by Gwen McCrae.
- "Macula's Theory" samples "Wind, Blow Her Back My Way" by Syl Johnson.
- "More Than U Know" samples "I Like It by Extra T's.
- "Mood for Love" samples "Impeach the President" by The Honeydrippers.
- "The Men in Blue" samples "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss.
- "Handle Your Time" samples "Having You Around" by Skull Snaps and "Why Can't People Be Colors Too?" by The Whatnauts.
- "You Got Shot" sample "Midnight Theme" by Manzel and "Brooklyn Zoo" by Ol' Dirty Bastard.
Personnel
The cast
- Tariq: Breezly Brewin
- True: Big Sha
- Mother: Monkey
- Officer O'Maley Bitchkowski: Everlast
- Crazy Lou: Kool Keith
- Mr. Large: Chubb Rock
- Mr. Large Security: Ken Spellman
- Breakneck: Special Ed
- Diehard: Biz Markie
- Hooker: Sweet Dee
- Crackhead: Chris Rock
- Crackhead Girl: Queen Bee
- RZA: Himself
- Count Macula: Big Daddy Kane
- The Reverend: Dom Dom
- Convicts: Sadat X, Xzibit, Kid Creole
- Buckshot: Himself
- Thug Group: Horror City
- Paramedic 1: Rodd Houston
- Paramedic 2: Wendy Day
- Tariq's Sister : Karima
- Police Officer 2: Phil Painson
- Police Captain: Danny Madorski
- Wu Receptionist: Kamala Gordon
- Tammy: Heroine
- Customers: De La Soul
The DJs and VJs
- DJ Evil Dee
- Bobbito
- DJ Mecca
- Bobby Simmons
- Andre Smith
- Ken Spellman
- DJ Atlas
- Artist
- Lynn Gonzales
- Rotimi Rainwater
Background extras
- Michelle Willems
- Patty Santos
- Faradina Lael
- Jackie Martinez
- Shara
- Queen
- Big Pat
- The Deadly Snakes
- Bobby Simmons
- Regina Moore
- Lady Leo
- Mel Vives
- Mr. Dead
- Don Newkirk
- Bimos
- Michael Preston
- Richard Preston
- Nyce
- Edward Huston
- El-P
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
| US Billboard 200 | 138 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 46 |
| US Top Heatseekers | 5 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Hot Rap Singles |
| 1999 | "More Than U Know" | 45 |