✦ U Make My Sunshine – Digital/Physical Single: 2000–2001

A soulful duet born online, wrapped in puzzles, controversy, and an aborted album

✦ Summary

U Make My Sunshine was first released on December 21, 2000 as a free digital single via NPGOnlineLtd.com, paired with When Will We B Paid? and credited jointly to Prince and Angie Stone. Fans could only access the download by solving a multi‑step puzzle, making it one of Prince’s most interactive digital rollouts.

A physical CD single followed on April 10, 2001, after Prince granted open licensing for manufacturing — a decision that led to an unauthorized retail CD featuring two Track Squad audio clips, included without his approval. The title track was originally intended for The Invasion, an album planned for early 2001 but ultimately abandoned. The single became Prince’s first non‑band co‑credit, marking a rare collaborative billing outside The Revolution or The New Power Generation. It peaked at No. 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 Sales Chart and No. 26 on the R&B/Hip‑Hop Sales Chart, but did not chart on airplay rankings.

✦ Highlights

• Released digitally Dec. 21, 2000 via NPGOnlineLtd.com

• Required solving a puzzle to access download links

• First Prince single co‑credited to another artist (Angie Stone) outside his band projects

• Physical CD released Apr. 10, 2001 with open licensing

• Unauthorized Track Squad clips appeared on some retail CDs

• Intended to precede the cancelled album The Invasion

• Peaked at No. 59 (US Sales) and No. 26 (US R&B/Hip‑Hop Sales)

✦ Track Details

Digital Single (Dec. 21, 2000)

1: U Make My Sun Shine — 5:52

2: When Will We B Paid? — 4:06

Physical CD Single (Apr. 10, 2001)

1: U Make My Sun Shine — 5:52

2: When Will We B Paid? — 4:06

US Retail CD Variant (WS‑00102)

1: U Make My Sun Shine — 5:52

2: When Will We B Paid? — 4:06

3: Throw Dat Leg Up (clip) — Track Squad

4: Sweet Punanny (clip) — Track Squad

US CD (23VA1 7135 UMAKE)

1: U Make My Sun Shine — 5:52

2: When Will We B Paid? — 4:06

Label: NPGOnlineLtd.com / NPG Records

Produced, arranged, composed, and performed by Prince

Co‑credit: Prince & Angie Stone

✦ Chart Performance

United States: No. 59 — Billboard Hot 100 Sales

United States: No. 26 — Billboard R&B/Hip‑Hop Sales

United States: Did not chart — Airplay

✦ Discography Sidebar

2000–2001 Digital Era Singles:

Cybersingle — Digital Single: 2000

U Make My Sunshine — Digital/Physical Single: 2000–2001

Supercute — Single: 2001

The Work, Pt. 1 — Single: 2001

✦ Prince Era Mini‑Timeline

June 2000 — NPGOnlineLtd.com launches

Dec. 21, 2000 — U Make My Sunshine released digitally

Apr. 10, 2001 — Physical CD single released

2001 — The Invasion quietly shelved

Late 2001 — The Rainbow Children marks a new artistic chapter

✦ Glam Flashback

U Make My Sunshine is a fascinating snapshot of Prince’s early‑2000s digital experimentation — a warm, gospel‑soul duet wrapped in puzzles, fan‑driven distribution, and the chaotic freedom of open licensing. Angie Stone’s presence adds emotional depth, while the B‑side’s social commentary nods to the Staple Singers’ legacy. Though modest in chart performance, the single remains a cult favourite for its rarity, its aborted album connection, and its place in Prince’s evolving online revolution.

✦ Sources

Prince Vault, Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, Billboard Chart History, Official Charts Company, YouTube, NPGOnlineLtd.com archive