“A Love Bizarre: The Minneapolis Sound Meets Rap in Krush Groove” explores the intersection of Prince’s signature Minneapolis Sound and the emerging hip-hop movement in the 1985 film Krush Groove. This presentation examines how Sheila E.’s electrifying performance of “A Love Bizarre” in the movie helped propel the song to #2 on the R&B chart, solidifying its place in 1980s pop culture. By blending funk-infused synths, driving percussion, and hip-hop’s rising influence, “A Love Bizarre” exemplifies the genre-blurring sound that defined the era. The film showcased the growing synergy between funk, pop, and rap, cementing the Minneapolis Sound’s impact on hip-hop’s evolution and the expansion of what would later become known as “Hip-Hop Soul.”

Aisha K. Staggers had her first major publication, an album review, in The New Haven Register while just a sophomore in high school. Another series of reviews published in The Hartford Courant followed. By the time she reached college, Aisha was writing for the literary magazine and interning at a local radio station, ABC-affiliate as a writer in the news department and in the A&R department of an independent record company.

As a graduate student at Fisk University, Aisha asked Dr. Raymond Winbush to chair her thesis because 1) he was one of the most renowned voices in black culture and academia, and 2) he was a Prince fan. His scholarship and guidance led Aisha to an early career as a professor of social sciences and later an administrator in higher education.

Aisha has also served as a director of education and policy research centers and on the staff of legislative commissions. She previously served on the Executive Board of the CT Young Democrats’ Women’s Caucus as an avid campaigner and has remained active in politics and public policy. 

Currently, she is the co-host of “Primetime Saturday with Aisha and Lala” airing Saturdays on The Dr. Vibe Show and Indie Soup Media.