The Prince Mixtape

When a Russian-born American citizen named Ilya Beloozerov is gunned down by the FBI in 2024, the authorities refuse to say why they’d killed him. CNN’s Isabelle Chapman embarks on a sprawling investigation that takes her from the Mississippi parking lot where he died to Washington, D.C. to unravel the mystery: Why did Ilya abruptly leave his family and his job and head for the border with laptops and cash? Why is there still no official explanation of his death? And maybe most importantly: Was Ilya a spy? 

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For our season finale, Nichole sits down with her good friends Mickey and Rashad to share how they continue to process their grief over Prince’s death and celebrate his unforgettable legacy. And we hear from several guests featured this season with their answers to the question “If you had five more minutes with Prince, what would you say or do?” 

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What makes Prince fans so intensely passionate? Our superfan host Nichole sits down with some other superfans to unpack their collective and individual love of Prince, and how he contributed to their sexual awakenings. Also, Nichole and Prince expert Anil Dash reflect on the surprising ways Prince connected with fans.

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How did Prince engage with the world? Prince was a quiet activist and some say a feminist. We talk to Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza about Prince’s activism. And professor Lynnée Denise helps us makes sense of Prince’s complicated relationship with women. 

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What made Prince such a unique performer? Musician and Prince muse Patrice Rushen, professor Kat Okedeyi, and writer Anil Dash explore how funk infused Prince’s performance style, including his Super Bowl Halftime Show and one of his last concerts ever. 

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What inspired Prince to scrawl the word “slave” on his face and change his name to an unpronounceable symbol? Prince’s first manager, Owen Husney, scholar Lynnée Denise, and writer Anil Dash unpack Prince’s battle with his label to own his masters. 

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How did Prince become synonymous with ruffled shirts and peekaboo lace? The women behind his most iconic looks lift the veil on what it was like to dress and design for a style superstar. We’ll meet Marie France, Prince’s costume designer during the Purple Rain and Under the Cherry Moon eras, and Stacia Lang, Prince’s costume designer responsible for his infamous booty cutout pantsuit. 

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How did Prince’s music end up being debated in the halls of Congress? Susan Rogers, the recording engineer on Prince’s Purple Rain album, shares what it was like making songs like “Darling Nikki” in Prince’s basement home studio. And scholar Lynnée Denise shares a personal story of how “Darling Nikki” impacted her life. 

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How did Prince Rogers Nelson become an international superstar? The story begins in Minneapolis in the 1970s. We speak to Prince’s first producer, Chris Moon, about helping Prince find his voice in the studio.

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The Prince Mixtape takes listeners inside the life of one of the greatest American music icons of all time through the people who knew him, worked with him or simply loved him from afar. Host Nichole Perkins digs deep into key moments of his life like when his sexually liberated lyrics gave birth to the Parental Advisory sticker, when he fought to own his masters, and when he rocked that infamous booty cut-out pantsuit. Just like a treasured mixtape from your favorite crush, this show is a reflection of the moments, the thrill and the passion, that made up Prince’s life.

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