“He Was Testing Me” — Babyface Recalls the 5 Surprising Seconds On Stage When Prince Handed Him His Guitar — And What He Had To Do Immediately

For most artists, sharing a stage with Prince would be the highlight of a lifetime. But for Babyface, that moment turned into a test — one that came without warning, words, or time to prepare. In an exclusive interview, the 12-time Grammy-winning producer and R&B legend looked back on a night he’ll never forget: the five seconds that changed how he viewed music, performance, and confidence forever.

“He was testing me,” Babyface said with a laugh. “And I knew it. It was one of those moments where you either freeze — or you fly.”

🎸 The Night Everything Stopped — For Five Seconds

The story took place in the early 2000s at a benefit concert in Los Angeles, where Babyface was invited to perform alongside Prince in an impromptu jam session.

“We were in the middle of this groove — Prince doing what only Prince could do — just tearing up the guitar,” Babyface recalled. “Then out of nowhere, he walks over, holds out his guitar to me, and stares right into my eyes.”

For about five seconds, the world stood still.

“He didn’t say a word. He just looked at me like, ‘Let’s see what you’ve got.’”

Those five seconds, Babyface said, “felt like five hours.” The crowd was silent, the lights glowed purple, and every musician on stage waited to see what would happen next.

🎶 “I Just Played What I Knew”

With no time to think, Babyface made a choice.

“I grabbed it — and I started playing the first thing that came to my mind,” he said. “It was this little blues riff I used to jam on with my brothers when we were kids.”

The moment his fingers hit the strings, Prince gave a quick nod — then jumped back on the mic and started singing over the groove. The band followed instantly, turning a split-second decision into a spontaneous musical moment that electrified the crowd.

“That’s when I knew I’d passed the test,” Babyface said, smiling.

👑 “Prince Was a Genius, But He Was Also a Teacher”

What might have seemed like a showmanship stunt was, to Babyface, a profound lesson in artistry.

“Prince wanted to see if I could feel the room — not just play notes,” he explained. “He always believed real musicians don’t just think; they listen.”

After the show, Prince gave him a brief but unforgettable piece of advice backstage.

“He told me, ‘Never be afraid to take the lead — even when you didn’t ask for it.’ That stuck with me.”

It was classic Prince — part mentor, part mystic, and always pushing others toward their best selves.

💫 The Lesson That Stayed

That five-second challenge became one of the defining moments of Babyface’s long and decorated career.

“It taught me that preparation only takes you so far,” he said. “Sometimes, you just have to trust your instincts — and your soul.”

Over the decades, Babyface has produced and written hits for Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Boyz II Men, and dozens of others. But even now, when he finds himself overthinking in the studio, he remembers that night under the lights.

“Whenever I get nervous, I picture Prince looking at me with that same stare,” he said. “It’s like he’s still saying, ‘You belong here.’”

🎤 Five Seconds, A Lifetime of Wisdom

What began as a fleeting exchange on stage has become one of Babyface’s most cherished memories — and a lasting reminder of what it means to rise to the moment.

“Prince was testing me,” he repeated, smiling. “But he wasn’t testing my talent — he was testing my courage.”

And in those five unforgettable seconds, Babyface didn’t just play a guitar solo — he proved to himself that when greatness calls, the only right answer is to play your heart out.