"Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic" is the twenty-third studio album by American artist Prince, released on November 9, 1999, under NPG Records and Arista Records. This album followed The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale (1999) and was released shortly after Prince's controversial decision to adopt the unpronounceable "Love Symbol" as his name. It marks a departure from the soul genres of his earlier works, embracing pop and R&B, and features several notable guest appearances, including Gwen Stefani, Eve, and Sheryl Crow. Prince also covers Crow's 1996 hit "Everyday Is a Winding Road" in a more sensual interpretation.
The album received mixed reviews, with some praising the guest collaborations, but others felt Prince's attempts to tap into the pop market seemed out of place. Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic was moderately successful commercially, peaking at number 18 in the U.S. and number 5 in Canada, becoming Prince's most successful North American album in over three years. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA by the end of 1999. The album's lead single, "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold," peaked at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100. Two planned singles, "So Far, So Pleased" and "Hot Wit' U," were cancelled due to the album's lukewarm performance. Instead, two promotional singles, "Baby Knows" and "Man'O'War," were released. To promote the album, Prince also hosted a pay-per-view event, Rave Un2 the Year 2000, which was later released as a DVD.
The album's creation began in 1988 under the working title Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic, but was initially abandoned due to unproductive sessions. Prince returned to the project in 1998, reworking the title track and recruiting several guest artists, including Stefani, Eve, and Crow. The recording took place in various locations, including Prince's Paisley Park Studios in Minnesota, Electric Lady Studios in New York, and O'Henry Sound Studios in California. The album was released as a digital edition with additional content on Prince's official websites.
Musically, the album is dominated by pop and R&B, with several tracks that explore a smoother, more commercial sound. The title track is one of Prince's most pop-oriented songs in years, while "Undisputed" features rap verses by Chuck D, a rare addition to Prince's work. The album also includes the sultry ballad "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold," the hip-hop influenced "Hot Wit' U" (featuring Eve), and the acoustic bass-driven "Tangerine." "So Far, So Pleased" features Gwen Stefani, and "Everyday Is a Winding Road" offers a more sexualized take on Sheryl Crow's original. Other highlights include "I Love U, but I Don't Trust U Anymore," which features folk singer Ani DiFranco, and "Silly Game," which incorporates strings performed by the NPG Orchestra.
Promotion for Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic was limited, with Prince opting to perform on European television programs instead of promoting the album in the U.S. To promote the album further, he aired a pay-per-view event, Rave Un2 the Year 2000, which included live renditions of the album's tracks and special guest appearances. In 2001, a remix album, Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic, was released exclusively to Prince's fan club, featuring remixes and an unreleased track, "Beautiful Strange."
The album's singles included the title track, "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold," which was released in October 1999, a month before the album. The single was accompanied by several remixes, some featuring Eve. Other singles, such as "So Far, So Pleased" and "Hot Wit' U," were planned but never released commercially due to the album's moderate commercial success. Promotional singles like "Baby Knows" and "Man'O'War" were issued in select markets, with "Baby Knows" being released in the Netherlands and "Man'O'War" in the United States.
Despite its mixed reception, Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic holds a place in Prince's discography as a significant moment of experimentation and transition in his career, blending pop and R&B with his trademark funk and soul. In 2019, a special edition box set called Ultimate Rave was released, which included both Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic and its remix companion Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic, along with the DVD of Rave Un2 the Year 2000. The box set charted in the Netherlands.
