This presentation will examine how His Royal Badness used his fourth studio LP, Controversy, specifically through tracks like “Ronnie, Talk to Russia” and “Annie Christian,” as his debut vehicle to deliver social commentary and critical analysis on hot topics.

Christopher A. Daniel, M.A. is an Atlanta-based, award-winning journalist, cultural critic, ethnomusicologist, professional development coordinator, and multimedia journalism professor at Clark Atlanta University. An alumnus of Johnson C. Smith University and The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Mass Communication, Christopher’s work is featured on NBCBLK, Shondaland, The Root, Shadow & Act, Billboard, Atlanta Magazine, ESPN The Undefeated, Huffington Post, Albumism, soulhead.com, Rolling Out, Blues & Soul Magazine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Daily Beast, CBS News, Food & Wine, BET.com, and GRAMMY.com.

A Prince enthusiast, Christopher has conducted, moderated, and published interviews with many artists to emerge out of the His Purple Majesty’s camp as well as collaborators including André Cymone, all the original members of the Revolution, Sheila E., Morris Day, Monte Moir, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and Najee. He was a panelist curated by the African American Film Critics Association [AAFCA] at the Auburn Avenue Research Library that concentrated on Prince as a film icon. Christopher is also instrumental in the City of Atlanta honoring both Sheila E. and Morris Day with proclamations.