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May 20, 2016 3:09PM ET

Lenny Kravitz: My 5 Favorite Prince Songs

Singer-songwriter picks key tracks by his late idol and mentor

By

Rolling Stone

Reporter

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Lenny Kravitz and Prince

From the very first time he heard Prince, as a high schooler in 1979, Lenny Kravitz was a huge fan. “Then he became a mentor,” he says. “When he left, a part of me went too.” The guitarist, singer and songwriter – who will hit the road for a few dates with his old friends Guns N’ Roses in July – spoke to Rolling Stone about the Prince tracks that move him most.

lenny kravitz and prince

Prince was hardly on the radio when this came out, but this song was a big hit on the street and at dance parties. The bass line was just so funky.

lenny kravitz and prince

This took everything to the next level. It sounded so funky and mysterious and scary. It was a monumental track for me.

lenny kravitz and prince

I love the minimalist quality of this. There's a drum machine going with an overdub of live drums, and real simple synths. It's so funky.

lenny kravitz and prince

It's a beautiful feeling that this song gives me. Wendy and Lisa on it – it was such a strong period when they worked together.

lenny kravitz and prince

There's funky bass, slamming drums, and the melody is just incredible. This was his sound. He owned the big drum machine. Nobody else could do it.

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