EDGE Interview: The Coronation of Prince Joshua

From the eye-popping screenshots of YouTube thumbnails to the thirst traps of Instagram, budding celebrities just want a chance to build a brand and showcase their talents to all who will pay attention. Whereas some of these potential superstars use a quiet approach, Prince Joshua is screaming from the algorithms to get his place at the table, and it seems to be working.

If you want to get a sense of who he is and what he does, look no further than the cover of his latest EP, "Crowned." He's wearing a BDSM chest harness with silver O-rings and soft epaulets; a gold necklace of metal thorns; a heavy Celtic crucifix, and an opulent crown perched just above his head as if he's about to be coronated. Prince Joshua, or Prince as he likes to be called, is showing you exactly who he is.

It's as if he is saying, "I'll be king someday." For now, he seems to be okay with being heir to the throne. It's a place where many entertainers have been and won their wars; they earned their medals and the respect of their loyal subjects.

Prince is building his own loyal following. He labels himself a rapper, dancer, and fashion enthusiast. It's a triple threat that started at the Art Institute of Phoenix where he got a BA in fashion marketing and management. While he was there, he discovered his love for entertaining crowds by being a cheerleader, stage actor, and go-go dancer. As happy as he was, something was missing.

"I recently began creating music and have found so much joy in combining my love for fashion, music, and dance all into one," he told EDGE. In the same sentence, he explains how he's lived in Hollywood for three years, been on a provocative reality TV dating show, and rubbed elbows with Katy Perry, Kesha, and Paris Hilton.

And yet through all of his success, it was Hollywood that threw him a terrifying curveball. On January 7, in a perfect storm of wind and drought, wildfires sparked in and around Los Angeles. And by the time the fires burned out, the city had amassed an estimated $20 billion in damage. Prince feared for his life.

"One thing about a crisis is you never believe it's going to happen to you," he says. "Once my fire alarms went off and I saw the fire on top of Runyon [Canyon] out my window I knew I had to get what was absolutely necessary before I evacuated. My checklist was as follows: important documents, phone charger, and as many of my Nike Jordans as I could possibly fit into my bags." To deal with the trauma, he creates some levity. "I'm a huge sneakerhead and couldn't go without having my favorite pairs. Who needs a computer when fashion comes first?"

The blaze put a halt to promoting his album. His song "Bar-King" had just been released. But once the danger had passed, Prince resumed.

"Bar-King" is about sexual objectification and how gay men vocalize their desires using catcalls and other forms of verbal assault. Sometimes it can go further than that and get physical. It mostly addresses go-go dancers in gay bars who must endure the abuse, but with "Bar-King," Prince gives all the power back to the dancer.

"I think gay men don't understand the seriousness of boundaries and consent," Prince says. "When a straight man is at a strip club there is no way he wouldn't get kicked out if he behaved the same way gay men treat gay go-go dancers. Everyone has different boundaries and that's something not to take lightly in order to show appreciation and respect to someone you desire or are enamored by. Even unwanted comments can lead to a man getting fired from his job, but in the gay community it would only be considered 'flirting.'"

"Bar-King" is not only an anthem of empowerment; it's also a pun. Prince is not shy about his sexual fetishes. He proudly says he is into pup play, hence "Bar-King" could be heard as "barking." It's a clever play on words.

"My pup name is Majesty and I have my own pup named Cobalt in Phoenix," he says, then adds, "Pup play is about freeing yourself to live in a headspace with predetermined boundaries and expectations. Consent is key to the dynamic in being dominant or submissive, both parties must agree on the desired actions which then gives them the ability to 100% enjoy and lose oneself in 'play time.'"

His personal life isn't completely devoid of intimacy thanks to playtime in Arizona. The question is: Is there a more permanent person in his life? Perhaps one that doesn't require a 400-mile journey? The short answer is no. Working at a job where you're sexualized professionally might seem like the world is your oyster, and it just might be, but for Prince, the interested guys don't want anything serious.

"I feel as though not many guys have the intention of going on dates, getting to know who I am, and looking to be a partner with me," he contends. "With that said, I'm not searching either. I'm happy in what I'm doing and believe a man will come into my life when he's supposed to. So, if you're reading this and think you're that man, shoot your shot!"

But Prince isn't just a brand. He's also a person. People think that what they see online is real, and that might be true to some degree, but some of it is pure fantasy.

For Prince the person and the fantasy intersect in and out of social media. Like some sort of method-acting technique, the entertainer becomes fully immersed in his persona while dancing or performing; it's like a light switch, but he admits not everyone knows it's part of an act. "Many people will tell me they didn't think they'd get along with me until they met me in person and realized I'm goofy, lighthearted, and don't take myself that seriously."

He is taking this year seriously, though. Building on his rising success as an entertainer, he's not slowing down for natural disasters or any inclement threats like the charged climate of a homophobic White House.

"In 2025 I hope to perform my music at more venues, events, festivals, or celebrations," he says. "I'm excited about the new music I'm already working on and want to keep leveling up in all areas from dancing to rapping."

You can listen to Prince Joshua's "Crowned" on your favorite digital music platform.