The Once and Future King

"People automatically think that when they see a triangle next to your record, you're making tons of money," he says. "To me, making tons of money is shaving off the top. You could sell a ton of records but have a lot to recoup. My whole thing is that I make records and spend very little money making them. It's a good feeling when people accept you on your own terms.

"I'm more into getting respect than working with people who say, 'Yo, I see you've sold a million records, and I don't know what you do, but I want you to work with me,'" he continues. "I've had that before when I worked with De La Soul -- label execs who had no idea what I do but just think I'm hot and want to have their artists work with me to have their name next to mine. To me that's an insult. It's a good way to make money. I work with people who like me because I'm me. I don't have to wear Fubu to have everyone like me. I can dress like a bum and be Prince Paul and make records. That's the greatest thing in the world. I'm in the position I always wanted to be in.