Publication: Billboard [US]
Date: November 30, 1996
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Title: Billboard Review
Reviewed By: Staff

TAFKAP
Emancipation
PRODUCER: TAFKAP
NPG Records/EMI 54982

With the coming of "Emancipation," it's time all concerned parties were granted a pardon.

In fairness to Warner Bros., time and a Prince-negotiated 1992-96 product glut (" [INLINE] ," "Come," "The Black Album," "The Gold Experience," "Chaos And Disorder," "Music From The Motion Picture Girl 6") have proven that the Artist's former label was quite prudent in hesitating to issue all of his impulsive, often lackluster output. (Indeed, about the only truly memorable song in the six albums cited is "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World.")

In fairness to the self-enslaved performer--who still dances, composes, and concertizes better than any male contemporary in pop--"Emancipation" is mostly worth the price of his manipulations. Great tracks amid the grist are "Get Yo Groove On," the Cab Calloway-influenced "Courtin' Time," the rocking "We Gets Up," "In This Bed I Scream," "Soul Sanctuary," Springsteen-like "The Holy River," "The Human Body," "Style," "Sleep Around," "My Computer," "One Of Us," and the title track. Otherwise, the jaunty jams are pleasant but commonplace, and the cover versions are largely prim. Thus, the free-spirited but undisciplined Artist has passed up the chance to construct his best single-disc release since 1986's "Parade."