Prince (September 14, 2015) – Hitnrun Phase One Album Release

Hitnrun Phase One is the 38th full‑length studio album by Prince. Initially announced as a Tidal exclusive on 7 September 2015, it was released one week later as a surprise CD/download on 14 September 2015, appearing on Amazon.fr before official listings were updated.

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Although the title references Prince’s long‑running “hit n’ run” one‑off shows dating back to Spring 1986, the album was recorded over an extended period and does not reflect a quick recording process.

Much of the album was tracked in early‑to‑mid 2015 at Paisley Park Studios, with several songs originating from earlier sessions dating back to 1992, 1993–94, 2013, and 2014.

Track Listing (CD Format)

All songs written by Prince and Joshua Welton.

• Million $ Show — Prince, Joshua Welton — 3:10

• Shut This Down — Prince, Joshua Welton — 3:03

• Ain’t About 2 Stop — Prince, Joshua Welton — 3:38

• Like A Mack — Prince, Joshua Welton — 4:04

• This Could B Us — Prince, Joshua Welton — 4:11

• Fallinlove2nite — Prince, Joshua Welton — 3:12

• X’s Face — Prince, Joshua Welton — 2:38

• Hardrocklover — Prince, Joshua Welton — 3:42

• Mr. Nelson — Prince, Joshua Welton — 2:27

• 1000 X’s & O’s — Prince, Joshua Welton — 4:27

• June — Prince, Joshua Welton — 3:21

Total length: 37:53

Album Details

Released: 14 September 2015

Recorded: 1992; 1993–94; 2013; 2014; early–mid 2015

Studios: Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed)

Length: 37:53

Labels: NPG Records

Producer: Prince; Joshua Welton

Reception

Album reached #7 on Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums and #70 on Billboard 200. Failed to reach top 10 in Europe, Australia, Japan.

Personnel

Prince   All vocals, bass, guitar (except where noted)

Joshua Welton   Keyboards, drum programming; vocals on X’s Face

Judith Hill   Co‑lead vocals on Million $ Show

Michael B. Nelson   Trombone on Million $ Show, Fallinlove2nite

Steve Strand   Trumpet on Million $ Show, Fallinlove2nite

Dave Jensen   Trumpet on Million $ Show, Fallinlove2nite

Kenni Holmen   Tenor sax on Million $ Show, Fallinlove2nite

Kathy Jensen   Baritone sax on Million $ Show, Fallinlove2nite

Stringenius   Strings on Million $ Show, Fallinlove2nite

Rita Ora   Vocals on Ain’t About 2 Stop

Curly Fryz (Charli Curiel, Danielle Curiel)   Rap/vocals on Like A Mack

NPG Hornz (Keith Anderson, Marcus Anderson, Lynn Grissett, Joey Rayfield)   Horn section on Like A Mack

Donna Grantis, Hannah Welton, Ida Nielsen (3rdEyeGirl)   Guitar solo + background vocals on Ain’t About 2 Stop

Lianne La Havas   Lead vocals on Mr. Nelson (sampled from Clouds)

Additional Personnel

• Michael B. Nelson — horn/string arrangements

• Adi Yeshaya — string arrangements

• Martin Homent — cover illustration

Technical

• Prince — co‑producer, co‑arranger, mixer

• Joshua Welton — co‑producer, co‑arranger, mixer

• Michael B. Nelson — string production

• Adi Yeshaya — string arrangements

Singles from Hitnrun Phase One

Fallinlove2nite — Released prior to album Hardrocklover — Released ten weeks before album

This Could B Us — Released two weeks before Tidal release

Charts

USA

Billboard 200 — #70 Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums — #7 Billboard R&B Albums — #2 Billboard R&B Album Sales — #2 Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Album Sales — #7 Billboard Top Album Sales — #34 Billboard Internet Albums — #11

Europe

Belgium Flanders — #27 France — #32 Netherlands — #11 UK — #50

Asia

Japan ORICON — #47

Pacific

Australia ARIA — #50

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SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

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