http://www.factmag.com/2014/06/14/meteor-shower-the-universe-according-to-funk-shapeshifter-meshell-ndegeocello/

It’s funny that you mention Prince. You recently tweeted: “in 2002 Prince called me a “house nigga” for making a record for Warner Bros. Past is prelude ain’t it.” But you’ve always praised his music, and you’ve often covered him live. How do you reconcile your personal history with him as an influence?

Oh yeah, he’s not a nice person. But I just have to accept that. It’s just something between he and I that I try to rise above. Maybe one day we will have a good experience, I don’t know. Everyone’s not meant to be friends. But I have no doubt in my mind that the reason I play music is because of him. And I really appreciate all his works.

I felt bad for tweeting, and it taught me a lesson – I can’t let my hurt override my sanity. I asked him to play the guitar solo on ‘Trust’, and that’s when we had that fated phone call. But it’s OK. I try to have empathy. I don’t know what his life is like; I don’t know what made him the person he is.