Rolling Stone Music Now is supported by Sony Pictures Classics, presenting

Neecap. The Riotist and mostly true story of three friends who start a rap group

that creates a movement in this fiercely original comedy that according to the rap

obliterates the musical biopick.

The group kneecap stars themselves alongside Michael Fastbander

laying down a global rallying cry for the defense of native cultures and getting into

plenty of trouble along the way.

Kapp is now playing, only in theaters.

I'm Brian Hyatt. This is Rolling Stone Music Now. The album and the movie Purple Rain, double

triumphs in the 80s by Prince. Just celebrated their 40th anniversaries. It felt like the perfect time to take a deep dive into not only the making of that album and movie, but the long road up to it.

Bobby Z. was the drummer for the revolution up until 1986, and he was also by Prince's side for the whole start of his career, even going back to before his first album, For You, from 1978.

Bobby was kind enough to join me to trace the whole journey from 78 to 84

and it turned out to be a really revelatory conversation.

Here's my interview with Bobby Z from the Revolution looking back at his time with Prince.

Bobby as we were saying you go back practically before anyone.

You first met Prince, you were driving for him

before you were drumming for him.

That's correct.

I was working for Owen Husney, his first manager.

I had grown up with Owen and my brother David playing in rock bands in the 60s.

And Owen had an ad agency and I was the driver of delivery content, print media back in the day.

And when he started to manage Prince,

...