In this electrifying episode of Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley, Kirk Johnson—drummer for Prince and creative force behind Funky Bald Heads—opens up about his evolution from sideman to frontman. Recorded in 2001, this rare conversation dives into touring with Prince, crafting Emancipation, launching Kitchen Records, and forging a bold new sound. A must-listen for fans of funk, independence, and the Minneapolis music legacy.

🎙️ Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley features legendary and emerging funk, R&B, and Prince-associated artists. On air since 1982 and now spanning five decades, the show was personally spotlighted by Prince on his website in 2004. He also gifted us the One Nite Alone box set in 2002 — before any other media outlet.

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On Tuesday, June 12, up at Paisley park for Prince, a celebration, the Rainbow Children, a whole week long of great music up in Minnesota.

And one of the guys in his band who's going to be appearing on the same night June 12th at Paisley park is a guy I've wanted to speak with a long time.

He is a talented drummer, percussionist, producer.

He was the drummer in Prince and the New Power Generation.

He's appeared on various albums, Chaka Khan, Larry Graham, and done a whole host of things.

He's an integral member of the Minneapolis music scene.

And right now, he hosts and leads a band, Funky Bald Heads.

We welcome to the Upper Room with Joe Kelly, Mr. Kirk Johnson.

How you doing, my brother?

I'm doing wonderful.

Wonderful.

What's the word out there?

All the words.

All good.

And the official bootleg Funky Bald Heads, you gave us a little taste of what's been cooking up in your home kitchen records.

But, Kirk, what was your ideas in putting together the Funky Bald Heads?

Basically, you know, what I want to do is.

It's kind of funny because when I cut my hair.

After I cut my hair, I realized there was a whole bunch of musicians that were bald, too.

And I was like, man, you know what?

I think I'm gonna put a band.

It came right to me.

I said, I'm put a band called the Funky Ball Heads together.

This is like four or five years ago.

So.

So you're saying it's by genetics or by design?

You know, it just happens.

I think everything just happens for a reason.

Right, Right.

But I just cut my hair off for some reason.

I don't know.

I just.

It wasn't really genetic.

It was just like, you know, I got tired of.

You know, for one, I got tired of going to the barbershop, right?

Because the guy that I liked a lot was just too popular.

So I'd be sitting there for too.

Long so he wouldn't move you up.

Take that away.

I just cut all my hair off.

So now I just use Mach threes.

Right.

So you're all set with that, right?

I'm cool with that, yeah.

Now, how about putting together.

Of course, you know, you're giving the beat on there with percussion, of course.

You play a lot of different instruments, right, on this record.

Right.

Basically, I'm, you know, more so.

I mean, a drummer and.

But I, you know, program.

But, you know, you play enough keyboards to write.

But I leave the guitar and bass to the real players.

Now, what kind of musicians were you looking for to put together the Funky Bald Heads?

Sorry.

Say that again.

What kind of musicians were you looking for to put together?

What I wanted to do is I wanted to.

I wanted to keep some edge on it.

That was my main thing.

I just missed edge and music.

Everything was just so computerized.

I wanted to put something together that had some edge on it.

So I wanted two guitar players.

A bass player, a dj, a rapper and a singer.

And that's, you know, that's the way I seen it.

And I didn't really want no keyboards.

I just wanted to be all edge.

And I would use samples for keyboards and, you know, know, loops and stuff like that.

So.

So the first guy you recruited, I guess was Kevin Walker, right?

Kevin Walker was.

I met him through a mutual friend.

He actually lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

He was the bass player.

And I met him.

A guy told me about him.

We talked on the phone for a while and he.

He was like, oh, yeah, man, you know, I'd be willing to come and check it out.

He said like, I'm bald headed.

I'm like, okay, come on.

He came to Minneapolis.

We vibed for a while and this was like four or five years ago.

And he was like the first member.

And then I went from that to Fish.

Mike Herring, another guitar player.

Now, he had long hair before, right?

He had long hair, but then he had just like cut it off.

And Kevin told me about him.

He said, man, I know this guitar player, man.

He's playing for Nokio and them guys.

He's playing for Drew Hill, right?

He had been touring with them.

He's like, yeah, he's off right now.

Have him come over.

They came to Minneapolis, we met, we vibed, it worked.

So.

And then I already had Mike Scott, which was bald too.

He was used to being, you know, in the mpg.

So you were able to.

Various bands together, like Mother Band TKO we had together.

So you were able to steal Mike away from Prince and Sounds of Blackness, right?

The thing about it, I already had Mike, okay?

He just, that's.

That's just his, you know, we weren't making no money, so he had to go make some money, you know.

But his heart was with me, so.

Right, right.

I mean, because I think everybody's looking for something different, you know, and not being the people in the back, you know.

One of the best things is being having your own project, right?

I think that's the ultimate for any musician, you know.

Now you've been involved in the Minneapolis scene and now this is your time to shine as being a leader.

How difficult was it to Jump up front and say, hey, guys, you gotta do it this way or you wanna do it this way.

Were you nervous at first?

I wasn't really nervous because I just, you know, I just have confidence in what I do.

But, I mean, it's always a little scary when you.

When you're by yourself, you know?

But I just got great support, great musicians, and you just go out there and do what you do and hope for the best.

But, you know, dancing in front of, you know, 60, 70,000 people, that's where I started at, you know.

Right.

With Prince, that helps, you know, get as far as the band situation goes.

I mean, because there's always going to be people out there that like you and there's going to be people that don't like you.

That's just how it rolls.

Yeah, exactly.

And, you know, I'm ready for that.

You know, experienced that.

But it's all good.

It weighs out to the people that like you better, so.

And you know what, Kirk?

We're going to give the folks here on the Upper Room a taste of what the Funky Bald Heads are all about.

This track, it jumps right out at you.

It's a funky Leica, one of your favorites.

One of my favorites.

We just actually did a remix on the new record.

So what did you add to it?

We put another rapper on there, Devious.

And I just kind of did a little more guitar on there.

Just kind of made a little more funky, you know.

Right.

And we're going to talk more about the Funky Bald Heads, their recent stint on the Hit and Run tours.

Kirk Johnson, of course, has been touring around this world for well over 10 years.

And we're gonna ask them all about that.

Of course, we'll talk about the upcoming Prince celebration June 11th through the 17th.

But right now, we get into the Funky Bald Heads.

This is funky like a. Funky like.

A.

Yo, yo Scientific, universal Funky like.

A bald head it's more like a.

Like a yo.

Hey, yo it's crazy how the son got his car parked at Paisley now your rappers can't fade me I walk the line if you wanna haze me I make the right move so you know I stay free I pass the quota I got this call from Kirk to come to Minnesota he heard that the sun was a flower I twist and let it dread but still I get Funky like a bald head I' ma do it till I'm dead I gotta stay grounded Keep my sound astounding Let the sun sh.

Why, your ass is dumbfounded I get position, box it out and Rebounded yo, I'm a 30 year survivor the party just got liver Fill it in your bones all the way to your fibers.

When we commence intense with the live instruments Level heads we all blessed with common sense.

Y' all do the science in the house Science in the house it's talking.

Like a.

Funkin like a y' all science in the house Science in the house.

You know what's funkin like a When we do it like this it's not a simple plan everything is interesting this was meant to be arranged Produced like a symphony Calculated with the math to the first degree Percussions and snares bright lights that glare Groupies hang around like we at the county fair we keep it underwood like I'm Blair you wanna know the truth with air these real lyrics make you scared I'm funky like a with the mic I peen like a junkie late at night to get my fix I wr you can call me a virgin cousin's type I'm feeling kind of hot so I think tonight tonight we can do it raw that's the bald head law lay it down track after trap without a floor get the meaning watch me shine while the ball heads gleaming Got the lady screaming we do our own singing I'm talking.

Like a Y I'm flowing like a.

Y' all yoga Science in the house Science in the house.

I'm so I'm flowing like a yeah, the science in.

The house Science in the house.

Y'.

All gotta move on in law.

The.

Science in the house Science in the house I know you not ready cause the ride we got is heavy hydraulics like a Chevy why you list like a celly nasty that's why we got the KY jelly rub it on your belly Bald head like jelly keep it old school like melo A word to describe the bald heads whooping helly transform a style out in space Another planet, a different place now you wanna try to run the race too late we at the finish line Refined in the mind Too much sack to be blind Funk it like us It's a dime, you can't hold it back it's the ball head time Ball head time it's the ball head time Ball head time it's the ball head time Ball head time it's the ball head time all that time.

Safety market Safety market Safety market Safety market Safety market Safety market Safety market Safety market.

I told you that song was nasty.

That's the funky bald heads.

And by the way, it's called Funky Laika.

And you can go to The Funky Bald Heads dot com website.

And we welcome back to the Upper room with Joe Kelly, Mr. Kirk Johnson, who is the leader Funky Bald Heads.

And you know, I have to give you compliments on your website, which is, let me give the spellings F O N K Y baldheads dot com.

And who came up with the idea to put it together like that?

Me.

Huh.

Everything is just kind of like just, you know, in my head, so I just throw it out there.

And I've had.

My sister's been a real help and her son, both of her sons are graphic artists and they help with the website.

We just kind of been doing it ourselves, you know.

Oh, that's the way to go.

You know, really self contained as much as possible.

You know, just, just get it done because there's a lot of talent right here, right under your nose and you sometimes you go outside of that, but got a whole bunch of talent right here in the family and friends and you know, it just, it came out cool.

Now your sister was also in the band Best Kept Secret.

Yep, Best Kept Secret.

My other two sisters, Kathleen and Kim and Rhonda, they're out touring right now and doing a lot and you know, they're actually working on their next record too.

Now as an independent artist with your record label, Kitchen Records, what are the ways that Kirky Johnson's getting the word out as an independent release?

Well, I mean, it's actually kind of difficult.

I mean, it's good that we have the Internet, but you can only go so far with the Internet.

I'm actually working on right now a couple little ventures with possibly Best Buy and some other independents and to be able to still keep my independence as much as possible because, you know, I've been influenced by one of the best.

Artists there is for independence.

Definitely.

Yeah.

And being independent is kind of nice because like you said, you, you make more money that way, even on a small level.

Mm.

But really just trying to get out there and play.

And I'm, I've had a lot of support from Prince being able to go on the road this last year, you know, for a couple weeks and introduce the Funky Ball heads to a few, few cities out there around the States.

And right now, I mean, it's still pretty new, so we're just still trying to get out there as much as possible.

Like I said, just trying to make do a couple ventures with somebody who's got more distribution and a little bit wider because, you know, there's only so far you can go when you're independent.

And you don't have a.

A bundle of money, you know?

Right.

So you just try to do what you can do and just play.

Play as much as you can.

That's.

That's really the idea.

Now, speaking of the recent hit and run tour that you went on with Prince and Millennia, what cities were really feeling?

The funky Bald heads?

Any.

Anyone stick out?

I think.

I think people sometimes, you know, being.

Being Prince fans, you don't care about anybody else.

You don't want to hear no opening band.

You don't want to hear nothing else but Prince.

Bring on Prince.

But I think we surprised a whole bunch of people.

Being an unknown band opening up for Prince has got to be one of the hardest things there is.

Sure.

So the response was.

Was really great.

You know, I mean, everywhere, I think we surprised a lot of people.

And, you know, after the words, we'd go out and do interviews and sign, you know, sign our pictures and posters and stuff like that, and people would send us responses to our Internet and was like, man, we really were surprised that, you know, you guys did so well, because what we bring to.

We bring a little different thing to it because we have a little rock and a little rap, you know, which is different from what Prince does.

So it's a whole different vibe, you know.

Plus, you got to make sure you have those CDs right in the lobby, right?

That's right.

That's right.

That's the one.

And actually, that's the one thing that we didn't have because the record wasn't done.

We was just mixing it before we left.

Oh, okay.

So now we just got through mixing it.

It would be.

It will be available at the celebration on the 12th.

So if you're not there, always check funkyball heads with a S dot com.

It'll be available there too.

And we spoke on.

On your recent stint on the Hit and Run tour.

One of the many.

And word has it you guys might go out again.

But I guess that's kind of like when the phone call rings, right?

Yeah.

You know, you just never know because Prince changes, you know how he does.

Oh, yeah.

From when you're doing this next minute, it's like you're not.

So we don't expect to go.

It's not really a planned thing.

We just, you know, if we roll cool.

If we don't, we're gonna keep on pushing.

So that's just how it works around there.

Now, I wanted to ask you because you've.

You've been doing tours with him for over 10 years, right?

Yeah.

I mean, I'm always amazed.

The concert.

Let's get back to the sound check.

You got a kind of grueling sound check.

I heard the one in Philadelphia.

Right.

Two, three hour concert, possible after show.

But, you know, you roll into, you know, an after party and then go to the next city and do the same thing over.

What's the secret to staying sane and also, you know, physically?

Okay, well, you got.

For one, you got to eat, right?

You guys keep your mind.

And when you like what you do, you seem to make it work.

When you're around someone as energetic as Prince, you seem to just fall into it, you know, and sometimes you just like world.

Because when I was dancing a lot first.

When I first started, I was dancing more, so I danced, you know, the sound check and then we'd do the show and then we'd have an after show too.

So, I mean, that was a lot of dancing.

There was a lot of pressure on my knees and stuff.

But once you got in me of front, front of the people, it's the people that make it fun and give you the energy.

That's one of the best things about doing music is the response you get from people.

So that's what really helps also, even when you're tired.

So are the tours different now as as opposed to during the Diamonds and Pearls days, stuff like that?

It's different because, you know, you have different music, but still the energy is the same because, you know, you don't know who's really out in the crowd.

It's just a lot of folks cheering for you.

You know, that's.

That's the one thing that's nice.

And then when you get responses back, even at my level, you know, on the Funky Ball Heads, when you get a response back to say, we just love what you do, I mean, that keeps you going, too.

That's.

That's, you know, that's like its own energy.

Makes that bus ride a lot, a lot easier, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, we should remind folks out there that the Funky Bald Heads with Kirk Johnson at the helm will be appearing June 12 at Paisley park with the time is also on the bill.

So that's gonna be smoking.

Yeah, It'll be a lot of fun.

And people can go to, as mentioned before, funkyballedheads.com and also the mpgonlineltd.com and they'll direct you to all the information on the celebration.

The Rainbow Children.

Have you had a hand in any of the new joints from Prince?

Yeah, I did some programming.

I'M always doing some programming on his records.

There's a couple things on there.

You know, sometimes I forget what I do because we do so much.

So it's kind of funny I haven't been in the band.

Like.

Well, every once in a while I'll play percussion with him and stuff.

Right.

But, yeah, speaking of that, when you were on Leno, I wanted to ask you that.

I heard a little steel drum in there.

I don't know, a Ballad of Dorothy Parker.

Yeah.

Was that you or.

I was playing congas.

But, you know, when I play him, and then when I do the.

The finger.

Okay.

Slide, you know, gives it that.

That sound.

I heard it for, like, two, three seconds.

I'm like, man, that's a good touch to the song.

Yeah, yeah, it's cool because, like I was saying, you know, every once in a while, I'll play, you know, percussion with him or something like that.

And just.

I mean, you know, we just have good energy together.

So he has me come in and, you know, I'll dance and whatever, you know.

Right.

So it's real cool.

But a lot of times we go in the studio and I'll just program something and leave and it'll come back, you know, it'll be a whole different song, you know.

So I guess it's to be determined what's Kirk Johnson and what kind of configuration be.

But this should be real exciting, though.

Yeah, yeah, it's some nice stuff on the record.

You know, I did about three or four programming things on there.

Well, Kirk, we're gonna get into another track with your group, the Funky Bald Heads.

And why don't we delve into Don't Cut Me Loose?

What was going on in the.

In the kitchen.

Don't Cut Me Loose Me and.

Actually, me.

And one of the artists who used to be in a greasy mill was Julius Collins.

Put that together, and I gave him the track and he threw it down.

Then we had a couple other people sing out.

Tiffany Phillips from Arkansas, Mark Ledford, sing on it.

So some more bald heads there that I was working with.

It just worked out.

All right, we're gonna get into it right now.

This is Kirk Johnson and the Funky Bald Heads all the way out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, in.

And it's called Don't Cut Me Loose.

Kirk Johnson.

We welcome him back to the upper room.

And thanks for taking time out of your schedule.

No doubt.

And I know a lot of Minneapolis music fans and people who've been following your journey through.

Well, I got.

I just want to say one Thing I want to, you know, give all my shouts out to all my funky bald heads out there and to the fans, you know, Prince fans that have been following me and supporting me, you know what I'm saying?

I really appreciate y' all too.

So I'm just going to keep on trying to give y' all some good music, you know what y' all like, you know what I'm saying?

So you're still working out real good.

I know you used to pump that iron, right?

Oh yeah, uh huh.

I'm working out real good.

See, actually I started this new thing.

Now I'm be a jazzerciser teacher.

It's kind of funny, it's really kind of interesting because it's a good workout, right?

And that's gonna be.

That's my new thing.

I'm have everybody in there, all the musicians, all the guys.

There's not too many guy teachers that are guys, you know what I'm saying?

So who can keep up with you in the Paisley Circle exercise wise?

Nobody.

Nobody.

That's why I gotta get him all in shape.

So what would Prince, you give him a workout, right?

On the court?

Yeah, the workout.

See, he's actually really good in basketball.

I can play some basketball.

That's when we have fun.

Everybody gets out there and just play some ball sometimes we'll go play softball, you know, get real sometimes.

So it's kind of fun.

But he's a, he's really a good all around athlete.

You got to get Prince, yourself and Jelly Bean on the court, right?

That's a good start.

We get everybody out there, Morris Hayes and Kip and everybody in the band.

Kip's a real good player too.

Kip's singing in the ball heads right now.

Yeah, that's right.

We forgot to mention Kip.

Yeah.

Arkansas guy, right?

Yep.

And I got Kevin Walker, his name is Kato, he's from Baltimore.

I got fish from Philadelphia, Louisiana.

And Mike Scott is from D.C. originally, but he's here.

And then I got Devious, the rapper, that's up front, which is from here too.

Then we got a scratcher, his name is Dustin.

DJ Dustin.

So how do most of them like living out in Minnesota area?

The ones that came out here, beautiful, man.

I mean if you can get through the winters.

Summers are great.

It's nice and green, it's fresh out here, you know.

It's nice.

I think people, when they come and visit, they actually like it a lot, you know.

It's real nice now.

We wanted to, I guess, track back and talk A little bit about, you know, Prince and yourself working together.

A lot of the drum programming and working especially on Emancipation.

When did you know he was going to entrust you with a lot of the work?

And what was that?

Working as a team?

Because when I was in the band, I actually was out of the band.

And I was just doing a lot of production for him and just remixed it and stuff.

And we would just be recording together, coming up with a lot of different stuff, a lot of different grooves and stuff.

And he was working on the Emancipation record, and we just kept programming.

I think we did about 60 songs around that time.

It was like a year straight just in the studio, and we just had a good vibe.

We was working good together, and things just worked.

We just started getting tight and we just kept going.

Like I said, I would come up with, you know, grooves and songs and give it to him.

He'd move things around, sing over them, change them, send it back.

And we just, you know, threw it down before, you know, we had three, you know, three CDs worth of music.

That was a real productive period.

Definitely.

Yeah.

And then that's actually when I started playing in the band, because I was out of the band then.

And since he had, you know, let most of his band go, he's like, well, since, you know the music, man, you might as well play in the band.

I was like, nah, I don't want to play.

You know, I didn't really want to do it because I just kind of enjoyed producing and writing.

He's like, you might as well.

Come on, man.

This will be a good challenge for you.

So I just jumped on into it, you know.

Now, your drum setup.

From articles I've read, Prince has talked about, you know, having a different feel with the drum.

What was your approach to bringing to his music?

My thing was, you know, doing it, trying to bring the record alive, you know, doing a more electronical side.

Because, like I said, I'm.

I'm not a solo guy.

I'm a straight Funkster, you know, I'm straight down the pocket.

And that's what I bring to it is the funk side of things and just keeping it, you know, keeping the electronic thing going.

And that's what he wanted.

He wanted to reduplicate that off the record.

So that's what we were going for.

So you hit it real good.

It worked out.

Yeah, it worked out real cool.

And then I just, you know, was there for a while and I decided I kind of wanted to do my own thing and, you know, still part of the whole family, but it's working out great.

Now.

I saw you in 98 over at Madison Square Garden in New York, and you worked overtime that night.

You played with Larry and Shaka and Prince that night, right?

Yeah, it was.

It was a three band hitter for me.

Right.

What's that like going on on there?

You know, it's cool because, I mean, playing with Larry and Shock, I mean, I grew up with that.

So to be able to play with it, it was like, no problem.

I'm in there, whatever y' all want me to do, and then be able to work on their records.

And I wrote a couple of things with Shaka, so it was kind of nice to do that.

And it just kind of worked out because everything kind of came out at the same time.

So since I was there, it's like, well, let's get rid of their bands and we might as well play for them.

Kirk, you might as well just play for all three.

And it was cool, you know, I was wore out, but it was all good.

As long as the money was there at the end of the night for you.

They could have not paid me at all, Right.

It was all the same for me.

Be heaven, right?

If it was one person or 10 people, you know, it didn't.

It didn't move.

It was just, I love to do what I like to do, so I didn't have no problems.

Now, do you have a favorite tour with Prince and the Crew?

I think when I first went out with Emancipation, that was my favorite because I told myself I wanted to go around the world as a drummer and to be able to do it with him was, you know, a dream come true.

But I think now being able to open with my own band is even better because it's mine.

I'm still traveling and doing what I like to do, but I'm opening up for him.

So that was a wonderful thing.

And plus, I'm sure the competition is there where you guys trying to push each other artistically, right?

Well, you know, he can just.

He can.

He can play one note and people love him.

But we got to work real hard, right?

Sure, we got to work real hard.

So it's kind of cool to be able to have to compete.

And it was funny because one person said, man, you guys sound better than he did.

See, there you go.

And I was like, whoa, okay.

You just must not like him.

But we did kick some butt, let me tell you, right?

So it worked out well.

What do you got planned up at Paisley park for June 12, June 12.

You know, we're just going.

We gonna.

We gonna rock it out.

You know, we're gonna put some edge on there, put a little rap on there, put a little R B and just try to have some fun.

Just do what we do.

You know, we got a new record coming out.

It's like eight cuts on.

It's not a whole record we got.

That'll be available on the 12th and on the website funkyballheads.com we're gonna play a lot of stuff from there and just have fun, you know, Just have fun.

I think the fans just want to see just live music, so that's what we gonna give them.

So Paisley park is hopping right now.

They're getting everything ready.

Getting everything ready.

It's crazy over there right now.

You know, everybody's rehearsing, and, you know, everybody's trying to get stuff together and plan it out so when everybody comes, it flows correctly.

Where do you rehearse your band?

At your home?

I do a little bit at home, and then I go to Paisley and rehearse it.

Okay.

I like rehearsing here because I have a studio at the house, and I have a room that we rehearse and get tight in a small area.

And then when you go on stage, it just.

You know, and then it's just about doing everything else on a bigger stage, you know?

Right.

So it's gonna be real nice.

I know.

I know people traveling all over to see you guys.

Yeah, it should be.

It should be fun.

Mm.

I think they'll have fun because it's gonna be a nice variety of people playing that whole week, you know?

And also, Prince will be playing at the.

The latter part of the week over at the Excel.

He'll be at the Excel Center.

And then that'll be the big.

The big ending for everybody.

So they should.

They should enjoy it.

Hopefully.

They.

The weather stands up nice, so it ain't no rain or nothing.

It's been kind of nice here, so it should be beautiful.

So the funky bald heads and the time.

I mean, it doesn't get any better than that.

June 12th, it's gonna be a funky night.

And I even saw on Maceo's website, he had something for June 12th coming out, so I don't know if he's gonna surprise y'.

All.

Yeah.

I don't know if he's gonna play, too, or not.

I mean, like, you never know what's gonna happen when you're in Paisley Park.

Right.

All kinds of things just go on.

Just show up and enjoy it, right?

Show up and enjoy.

And enjoy yourself.

And try to, you know, just try to have a good time.

So have all kinds of things available.

T shirts, all kinds of stuff available.

So just bring a whole bunch of money with you.

Bring some extra scratch, and pick up both of the Funky Bald Heads releases, which will be ready.

And you can go to the website funkyballedheads.com f o n k y baldheads.com and they'll hook you up and definitely enjoy the music.

You know, live performance is what you guys are about.

Thanks for bringing the funk and keeping it there.

Sure enough.

Appreciate you.

And, Kirk, you know what we're gonna do?

We're gonna get into something.

I asked you one of the songs you really love that you put your drum expertise on.

Emancipation Somebody.

Somebody.

What was happening with you and the band and Prince creating this one?

Well, actually, it's funny because I did the track, you know, programming in the bass line and everything, and then, you know, he came in and sang on it, and it was like.

It just came alive, you know?

So it was, you know, one of my favorites.

Just the groove and everything about it was real cool.

So there you go.

I loved it.

Love playing it live, too.

And we're gonna listen to it right now.

Thanks, Kirk.

We're gonna keep on playing the Funky Ball Heads and can't wait for the new CD to drop.

Appreciate it.

It'll be there next week.

Next week up at Paisley Park.

All right.

All right.

Thanks, Kirk.

This is.

Take care.

Kirk Johnson and Prince from Emancipation.

Somebody's Somebody.