In 1999, Morris Hayes Prince's keyboradist, and a close friend of Blackshire's family, invited Kip to a private Prince jam session with Santana and Larry Graham (from Sly and the Family Stone) to Paisley Park Studios in Minneapolis. "I guess I was pretty sheltered while growing up, I had no idea who Santana or Sly and the Family Stone were, Prince looked at me like I was crazy! I grew up listening to KC and Jojo." Little did Blackshire know he was destined to be there. While Singing to himself in the restroom at Paisley Park, Prince overheard him. Prince was so impressed that he invited Blackshire to sing alone with the jam session. FIVE WEEK'S later, Kip was singing backup vocals for Prince, on tour for sold out arenas all across the world! "It was a dream come true. Who would of guessed, one day I am in a restroom minding my own business, then the next day I am learning the keyboard parts and back-up vocals for a major national tour... I thank God every day for that moment!" Kip has shared the stage (while working with Prince) with such famous musicians like George Clinton, Lenny Kravitz, Macy Gray, Erykah Badu, Gwen Stefani, Sheryl Crow and many, many more. Now, Blackshire is taking center stage converging with his "Rock'n B" (Rock with R&B/Soul) style, which makes him shine in any spotlight. Along with Kip, we have the Bass of Surge Akou, on Keys Brain Ziemniak, Rhythm Guitar Kyle Wood, Drums Kirk Johnson, Lead Guitar Troy Norton, and the assistance of 2 backup vocalist, Brandon Wilson aka "Young" & Rafael Wilson aka "El" on the to be major hit: "I Got What U Need".