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Tay Topp

@taytopp

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“Kiss” is one of Prince’s most noted and popular songs. Many consider it an essential song to know Prince’s aesthetic, genius, and popularity. However, since its release in 1986, there’s been a great and ongoing discussion of whether or not “Kiss” fits and, for that matter, helps the album, Parade, and the film, Under the Cherry Moon. Specifically, many fans and scholars of Prince’s work assert that “Kiss” does not fit sonically with either the album or film and that it mostly disrupts, if not distracts, from the sound, flow, and meaning of both works. To this point, during the January 17, 2026, episode of What Did Prince Do This Week?, graphic designer, Prince scholar, and NYU Professor—De Angela Duff (who also coordinates the NYU Prince Symposiums), Prince scholar and host of Podcast Juice: A Prince Podcast—Michael Dean, Prince scholar and host of The Music Snobs—Arthur Turnbull, noted bass player, music teacher, and host of Ted Talks Bass—Ted Gould, and poet, short story writer, and Prince scholar—C Liegh McInnis discuss if Prince’s song, “Kiss,” should be in the film, Under the Cherry Moon, and on the Parade album, or should it have been replaced by “Neon Telephone” or “🧡 or $.” Y’all can watch their discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYflN42JgZg

What makes this discussion great is that it’s not a group of people arguing to see who’s right. It’s a serious discussion about how the sound and lyrics of a song determine if it fits within a particular collection or project and how presenting a cohesive collection of works aids in the effectiveness and popularity of a work. Moreover, the discussion provides even more insight to Prince as a master songwriter (musician and lyricist), poet, storyteller, and producer. With that, please enjoy this discussion highlighting Prince’s overall genius and be sure to like and comment in the chat. Let them know what y’all think! by @taytopp

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9 months ago

Here is the link to a wonderful conversation about Prince between poet, short story writer, and Prince scholar C Liegh McInnis and Dr. Megan Holt, Director of the New Orleans Words and Music Festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUKfxuZfBZw&t=1394s. #prince #100menhall #onebookonenola #onebookoneneworleans #clieghmcinnis #cleighmcinnis #paisleypark by @taytopp

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a year ago

Here is the link to a great review of the Sign "O" the Times Film by poet, short story writer, and Prince scholar C Liegh McInnis: https://psychedelicl.substack.com/p/sign-o-the-times-back-in-theaters?r=8dgoe. #prince #signothetimes #signothetimestour #signothetimesmovie #clieghmcinnis #cleighmcinnis by @taytopp

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a year ago

Here is the link to watch testimonials from students who attended the Prince Masterclass conducted by poet, short story writer, and Prince scholar C Liegh McInnis, who is the author of The Lyrics of Prince: A Literary Look at a Creative Musical Poet, Philosopher, and Storyteller: https://youtu.be/hvY5rF82WUs.
#prince #clieghmcinnis #cleighmcinnis#100menhall by @taytopp

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a year ago

Poet, short story writer, and Prince Scholar C Liegh McInnis will be teaching a Masterclass on Prince from July 14 – July 18, 2025, at the historic 100 Men Hall in Bay St. Louis, MS, (part of the original chit’lin’ circuit) which will include four days of three-hour classes dedicated to the study of Prince’s lyrics, music, movies, and fashion within the context of American popular culture and African-American history and culture. Rather than focusing on one album or era, this class will provide an overview of Prince’s entire catalog to study and illuminate the wide and eclectic range of Prince’s genius, especially his work as an African-American artist, struggling against the confines of an industry that for so long has attempted to limit the output, imaging, and control of what an African-American artist can be. The Masterclass will culminate in a conversation between C Liegh and Mississippi native and award-winning fiction writer and memoirist Kiese Laymon on July 17, followed by vocal lessons for the students and a tribute concert by Berkley the Artist on July 18. Shoutout to Rachel Dangermond who has done the heavy lifting to make this Masterclass a reality. All events except the concert are free and open to the public, but y’all must register to attend. To read the full description of the Masterclass on Prince, go here. To read more about the conversation between Brother Laymon and me, go here. And, to read more about the tribute concert by Berkley the Artist with his band Unfazed, go here. For more information, contact Rachel Dangermond at rachel@dangermond.org or C Liegh McInnis at clieghmcinnis@bellsouth.net.

McInnis is a poet, short story writer, Prince scholar, 2025 Finalist for the Mississippi Poet Laureate, co-founder of the Jackson State University Creative Writing Program, the former editor/publisher of Black Magnolias Literary Journal, and the author of eight books, including four collections of poetry, one collection of short fiction (Scripts: Sketches and Tales of Urban Mississippi), one work of literary criticism (The Lyrics of Prince: A Literary Look at a Creative, Musical Poet, Philosopher, and Storyteller), one co-authored work, Brother by @taytopp

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a year ago