>If dude wanted an album that could chart the tops today, he
>could invite Raphael Saadiq, Questlove, Jermaine Dupri

full stop for LOL @ the notion that any of those 3 could help Prince deliver a chart-topping album in 2012, when none of those 3 have offered significant help on a chart-topper in several yrs.

>Madonna and Prince had no problems with seeking out the
>hottest producers of the moment and letting them craft the
>sound (Madonna more than MJJ but yeah).

and how'd that work out for them?

MJ chased trends on Dangerous, HIStory, and Invincible. w/significantly diminishing results each time. (i ignored BOTD).

Madge also chased trends through the 90s and also had diminishing results. Erotica was a disappointment. so was Bedtime Stories. she came back w/Ray of Light though. a few yrs later she was back in the bargain bin thanks to American Life.

point: working w/'hot' producers didn't really extend either of their peaks. MJ's peak period ended around 1992 w/Dangerous and those molestation allegations. the album made a big splash but it wasn't as big as Bad's or Thriller's (in the USA). largely b/c of Hip-Hop and NJS. yes, it had some hits on it ('Black or White' and 'Remember the Time'), but there wasn't the sort of mania around those songs as we'd seen w/some of his previous singles. ppl were moving on.

Madge's lasted until 1992 when she hit that backlash w/the Erotica/Sex project. same thing w/her...w/each album her sound was a bit more uninteresting. her thing wasn't as compelling as it had been in the mid to late 80s. ppl were moving on.