Prince Paul - Psychoanalysis (What Is It?) (June 25, 1996)

At this point in his career, famed producer "Prince" Paul Huston was best known for his work with Stetsasonic, De La Soul, 3rd Bass, and the misunderstood Gravediggaz project. I gather that he was full of pent-up energy and frustration, and his Wordsound label was the instrument with which he would unleash it to the world.

Psychoanalysis is, in its simplest form, a bizarre hip hop album that isn't actually a "rap" album. In the liner notes, Paul himself refers to material as "skit-style", which would certainly explain the seemingly senseless, stream-of-consciousness samples, conversations, instrumental backdrops, and all around random nature of the album. The "skit-style" method is no misnomer, either; long hailed as the creator of the first "hip hop skit" (a skit that fits into the sequence of the album featuring music, actual acting, humor, and goofy sound effects), Paul knew what he was doing. In fact, it will take multiple listens in order to find the humor, since it sounds so dead serious on first listen.

You may not want to be stoned when you listen to this, though. Just looking out for you, my dear two readers.

1. INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOANALYSIS (SCHIZOPHRENIA)
In the words of the patient presented here: "It is fucked up when you get no ass."

2. BEAUTIFUL NIGHT (MANIC PSYCHOPATH)

Upon first listen, this "song" will give you nightmares. Listen to it over and over again, and it will fuck you up. Hilarious!

3. OPEN YOUR MOUTH (HYPOTHALAMUS)

Prince Paul and J-Zone are the only two producers that have the authority to use the most ridiculous vocal samples available.

4. YOU MADE ME (A.K.C.)

You have to close your eyes when you hear these skit-songs, so that you can see the film that Paul is imprinting on your mind. Or don't; see if I care.

5. VEXUAL HEALING (VACILLATION)

Yep, almost every album title has a parenthetical afterthought! Exciting, huh?

6. TO GET A GUN

A short story about a crooked cop. The drums are catchy.

7. J.O.B. - DAS WHAT DEY IS!

A parody of Schooly D's "P.S.K. - What Does It Mean?".

8. THE WORLD'S A STAGE (A DRAMADY)

For the person who feels he deserves an enraptured audience every time they tell a joke. Actually pretty brilliant, especially the ending, which plays on insecurities.

9. BOOTY CLAP

Prince Paul's Miami bass parody, which actually works well; so well, in fact, that it appears on future Prince Paul-produced albums.

10. THE BITCH BLUES (LIFE EXPERIENCES)

Sounds just like your average campfire blues jam. Notice how this isn't saying much.

11. IN YOUR MIND (ALTERED STATES)

The Popmaster character (who also appears on two tracks of MC Paul Barman's debut), well, pops up here. The backing track is great.

12. DRINKS (ESCAPISM)

This is what I believe to be the best aural representation of what it feels like to get drunk and forget your troubles. Hell, everyone does it; I know I do.

13. PSYCHO LINGUISTICS (CONVERGENT THOUGHT)

Sounds exactly like a Gravediggaz track, with the delivery and beat. Since the liner notes don't say otherwise, I have to assume Paul himself is spitting; if that's really him, he does a fantastic impression of a twisted rapper who would make a better producer.

14. THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT? (AVERSIVE CONDITIONING)

It's never good when you have to ask.

15. OUTRODUCTION TO DIAGNOSIS PSYCHOSIS

The album ends just as bizarrely as it began.

On October 21, 1997, after the album had received a fair amount of critical praise, Tommy Boy Records had the stones to re-release Psychoanalysis in an extended form, with more "skit-style" tracks to be enjoyed, dissected, and generally weirded out by, although it is missing "The Bitch Blues", which isn't that much of a loss. The re-release also features a Very Special Guest.

1. WHY MUST YOU HATE ME

Serves as the de facto "rap album intro" that was missing before.

2. BEAUTIFUL NIGHT (MANIC PSYCHOPATH)

3. OPEN YOUR MOUTH (HYPOTHALAMUS)

4. INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOANALYSIS (SCHIZOPHRENIA)

5. YOU MADE ME (A.K.C.)

6. VEXUAL HEALING (VACILLATION)

7. TO GET A GUN

8. J.O.B. - DAS WHAT DEY IS!

9. THE WORLD'S A STAGE (A DRAMADY)

10. BOOTY CLAP

11. DRINKS (ESCAPISM)

12. DIME PIECES

An interesting old-school parody, albeit one that gets really morbid near the end.

13. IN YOUR MIND (ALTERD STATES)

14. 2 B BLUNT (A TRUE STORY)

This song may help explain Paul's mindstate while he made the album (both versions of it).

15. PSYCHO LINGUISTICS (CONVERGENT THOUGHT)

16. THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT? (AVERSIVE CONDITIONING)

17. OUTRODUCTION TO DIAGNOSIS PSYCHOSIS

18. BEAUTIFUL NIGHT (AUTOMATOR REMIX)

This would be the aforementioned guest. The idea of the original track is preserved, but Dan Nakamura's backdrop gives it a new, even more horrific backdrop for you to imagine. Great fucking remix.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Psychoanalysis is, by far, the strangest, scariest, funniest, and least accessible hip hop album that I have reviewed in the past hour. Fans of Paul's production work may even be turned off by what is essentially an album-length skit with no known rappers to speak of. However, I like it, but it's not like I bump this in my car or anything.

BUY OR BURN? Depends on your level of interest in Paul Huston. If you're not a fan of the first three De La Soul albums, then you should probably stay away; Paul has released more accessible albums that you would enjoy. However, for fans of the creative process, and for those who like to know what makes a man tick, then you should be able to find this album with little to no problem. I would recommend the re-release, though, off of the strength of the Automator remix.

BEST TRACKS: "Beautiful Night (Automator Remix)"; "In Your Mind (Altered States)"

-Max

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