The New Power Generation
The New Power Generation, also known as The NPG, was the backing band of musician Prince.
History
The phrase "Welcome to the New Power Generation" was mentioned on the opening track of 1988's Lovesexy. New Power Generation was used for the first time as a band name in the 1990 film Graffiti Bridge, and a song entitled "New Power Generation" appeared on the accompanying soundtrack album.
The New Power Generation debuted live during the Nude Tour in 1990 and on record on the 1991 album Diamonds and Pearls. The band consisted of holdovers from the Nude Tour: Michael Bland (drums), Levi Seacer, Jr. (guitar), Rosie Gaines (keyboards and backing vocals), Tony M. (lead raps and dancing), Kirk Johnson (percussion and dancing) and Damon Dickson (dancing), along with two new members Tommy Barbarella (keyboards) and Sonny T. (bass). Rosie Gaines left the band after the Diamonds and Pearls Tour and was replaced by keyboardist Morris Hayes.
When Prince began his formal dispute with Warner Bros. and changed his stage name to an unpronounceable symbol in 1993, the NPG became a side-project for Prince, allowing him to release music outside of his contract. The NPG was intended to appeal to a more urban audience than Prince's mainstream material.
New Power Generation (song)
"New Power Generation", or "N.P.G.", is a song by American musician Prince from the 1990 album and film, Graffiti Bridge. It is an anthem for his backing band, The New Power Generation, who were officially co-credited on his album covers for a time, and continue to back him up, albeit with a changing lineup. The song saw minimal chart attention, and was not as successful as its predecessor, "Thieves in the Temple".
"N.P.G." is a funk number featuring drumming by Morris Day, and vocal help by Rosie Gaines. The funk is cut by some carnival-like organ playing and distorted guitar. The song is generally a positive message of overcoming odds. The part two continuation of the song features contributions from a number of artists, as well as samples of several unreleased songs. Tevin Campbell and Mavis Staples sing in part two, and a rap is delivered by T.C. Ellis. Unreleased songs sampled include "My Tree", "Oobee Doop", and "Positive Place".
The B-side for the single was "New Power Generation, pt. 2", also from Graffiti Bridge.
The Exodus Has Begun
Have mercy, uh
The exodus has begun (The exodus has begun!)
Have mercy, uh
The exodus has begun
Now these are the names of the New Power Generation
(These are the names)
The funkiest suckers of the new gold nation
Polyvinyl acetate, New Power Soul
Guaranteed 2 stick 2 the roof of your Oldsmobile muthafucka
CHORUS:
Long live the New Power!
Have mercy
Generation after generation, the soul will never die
(The exodus has begun)
Long live the New Power!
Have mercy
We don't cry, we don't die, we just multiply
Polyvinyl acetate, New Power Soul (Mercy)
The exodus has begun
These are the names of the children of the sun
Pumpin' the love sign in the days of wild
Tearin' shit up with a vengeance and still they smile (Still they smile)
Though their lives were made bitter with hard labor and no pay
These are the children that will come 2 save the day
(These are the children)
The exodus has begun
Have mercy
CHORUS
La da da da, da da daaa (U ain't gonna hurt me)
Sho do do do do doo (Have mercy)
La da da da, da da daaa (U ain't gonna hurt me)
Have mercy
(Behold)
Behold the children of the New Power
Are more and mightier than U (Mighty, mighty)
U that have scorned and held back the inevitable
Must now come 2 grips with the truth
(All that is good in the eyes of heaven)
All that is good in the eyes of heaven
Will rebuke your powder monkey ways
(Have mercy, mercy, mercy)
And let that same heaven have mercy
When the wrath of the sun knocks upon your gate
Have mercy
The exodus has begun
(New... New Power!)
Uh, brothers and sisters
(Stop me if U want, it's between U and me)
The exodus has begun
Uh (New Power!)
Just..
Just cause..
Just cause it's.. (Have mercy)
Just cause it's nasty..
Just cause it's nasty it don't..
Just cause it's nasty it don't mean..
Just cause it's nasty it don't mean a.. {loop}
Just cause it's nasty it don't mean a thing
All that is good is nasty
All that is good, all that is good (Have mercy)
All that is good in heaven (The exodus has begun)
All that is good, all that is good (Have mercy)
All that is good in heaven (The exodus has begun)
Long live the New Power! (Long live)
Have mercy
Generation after generation, the soul will never die
The exodus has begun
Long live the New Power! (Long live)
Have mercy (Live a little while)
We don't cry, we don't die, we just multiply
Spatch cocks in black face offer us pennies (Offer us pennies)
When it's millions and millions upon millions they reap
(When it's millions, when it's millions) (Pluck his eye again!)
How in the world can we call ourselves equal
When their wages outweigh
When their wages outweigh the time that they keep?
(Pluck his eye again!)
And if they stood up and behaved like the humans they're supposed 2
As opposed 2 the way they are not
Then this New Power Soul would not be so soulful
(Then this New Power Soul would not be soulful)
And the water they're in would not be so hot
(And the water would not be so hot)
The exodus has begun (The exodus has begun!)
Have mercy
Uh (The exodus has begun!)
The exodus has begun
Now sing
Long live the New Power!
(Long live a New Power where all that is good in heaven)
Brothers and sisters
Long live the New Power!
(The exodus has begun!) (Have mercy!)
(Long live a New Power where, where... mercy!)
Come on
(The exodus has begun!) Uh
(Long live) Have mercy
Play muthafuckas (The exodus has begun!) Uh
(New Power) Have mercy
(Long live the New Power!) Yes muthafuckas, yes
The exodus has begun!
(Generation after generation, the soul will never die) Have mercy
(Long live the New Power!) Yes muthafuckas, yes
The exodus has begun!
(We don't cry, we don't die, we just multiply) Have mercy
La da da da, da da daaa (Yes muthafucka, yes)
Sho do do do do doo (Have mercy) Uh
La da da da, da da daaa (Yes muthafucka, yes)
(New Power) Have mercy
Oh yeah, U can sing
But what the fuck are U complainin' about baby?
Oh yeah, I will read your big ass
Cuz I think U're thinkin' about readin' me
And when the people ask U everywhere
Is that really all your hair?
Tell'em U don't tell a lie
Bald-headed son of a motherfuckin' housefly
And like George said (What?)
Get satisfied
Let's get satisfied, let's get satisfied
(Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha...)
La da da da, da da daaa
Sho do do do do doo (New Power!) (Have mercy)
La da da da, da da daaa
(Long live the New Power!) Whoo, yeah, yeah
(Stop me now)
Stop this muthafucker like we intend 2 finish, yeah
(New Power!) (Have mercy)
Mercy
(Long live the New Power!) A New Power
(The exodus has begun!) (Have mercy)
(Generation after generation, the soul will never die) Oh, yeah
(Long live the New Power!)
Shit, y'all can't fuck with me (The exodus has begun!)
(We don't cry, we don't die, we just multiply)
La da da da, da da daaa (The exodus has begun!) Oh, oh
(New Power!) (Have mercy) Oh
La da da da, da da daaa (The exodus has begun!) Oh, oh
{refrain repeats in BG}
(Wait a minute, let me check my messages)
Spatch cocks in black face offers us pennies
When there's millions and millions that they reap
Millions and millions that they reap
What the fuck is that about?
What the fuck is that about?
What the fuck is that shit about?
We don't play that muthafuckin' shit!
U think we got a muthafuckin' joystick up our ass or somethin'?
Fuck that!
I don't know what U thinkin' about
But the exodus has begun muthafuckas!
(New Power!)
The exodus has begun
U ain't gonna hear that shit nowhere else
Ha, ha, ha
This shit is dedicated 2 the memory of His Royal Badness
I know his name, that muthafuckin' Prince
Rest in peace nigga!