3121

Lore & Background

The album title refers to Prince's rental home at 3121 Antelo Rd, Los Angeles. Later homes rented by Prince were colloquially referred to as "3121", including a home owned by professional basketball player Carlos Boozer. A limited number of albums included purple tickets whose finders were flown in from Europe, Asia, Mexico and the US to attend a semi-private performance at Prince's home in Los Angeles.

In Their Own Story

The studio lights hum with a low, electric buzz as the year stretches into the future. Prince stands before his keyboard, fingers dancing over keys that seem to glow with an inner light. He closes his eyes, hearing a rhythm from three decades hence—a beat that pulses like a heartbeat in a neon city. With a sudden grin, he hits the first chord, and the room fills with a sound that is both ancient and brand new, bridging the gap between now and 3121.

Reader's Guide

The album's first single, "Te Amo Corazón", was released in the United States on December 13, 2005; the second single, "Black Sweat", was released on February 2, 2006. Album sessions started in November 2004 with the recording of the song "3121" at Paisley Park with Michael Bland and Sonny T. All tracks are written and produced by Prince.

Did You Know?

• 3121 is the only Prince album ever to debut atop the Billboard 200 during his lifetime, with over 180,000 copies sold in its first week.
• It knocked the soundtrack for High School Musical off the top spot and became Prince's first number one album since Batman in 1989.
• The album was eventually certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
• Tickets for Prince's The Earth Tour in 2007 at London's O2 Arena were priced at £31.21, echoing the title of this album.