Studio Album · No. 24
3121 Songwriting Credits by Prince
Produced by Prince · Engineered by Ian Boxill, L. Stu Young
Holds writing credit on 12 of 12 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 12 / 12 documented
Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Prince carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Prince wrote and produced 3121 himself, building a varied set that moves across funk, R&B, rock, and electronica while taking its title and party motif from the song '3121.' He introduced singer Tamar (Tamar Davis) as a featured protege on the record, and the Spanish-language ballad 'Te Amo Corazon' showed his reach toward Latin audiences. Released through NPG with a one-album distribution deal via Universal, it became the only Prince album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 during his lifetime, his first chart-topper since Batman in 1989.
Released March 21, 2006 (a date chosen to match the album's numerical title) through NPG Records and Universal Music, 3121 was Prince's thirtieth studio album and marked a sustained commercial resurgence following the success of Musicology. Prince solely produced the album and wrote all tracks, recording from November 2004 through early 2006 at Paisley Park Studios and a secondary location also referred to as 3121, the address of his Los Angeles rental home at 3121 Antelo Road. The fifty-three-minute album blends R&B, funk, rock, and electronica, incorporating both English and Spanish-language songs to reflect an eclectic, internationally minded sensibility. Critical response was mixed-to-positive with a Metacritic score of 69/100, ranging from an A from Newsday to a 6.0/10 from Pitchfork. Most significantly, 3121 became the only Prince album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 during his lifetime, selling over 180,000 copies in its first week and earning RIAA Gold certification, his first number-one album since the Batman soundtrack in 1989.