Record companies continued to consider Lenny's music "not black enough" or "too white", so Kravitz decided to self-record the entire album. In 1985, he met bassist and part-time sound engineer Henry Hirsch, with whom they created the first "demos" at a studio in Hoboken. They both enjoyed R&B, jazz and rock, and both shared an interest in using live instruments and vintage recording equipment when recording. In the future, Lenny will collaborate with Henry on most of his albums. Over the next year and a half, Kravitz and Hirsch worked on the compilation, with Lenny's father paying the studio rent. Kravitz also met saxophonist Karl Denson and invited him to participate in the recording of the track "Let Love Rule". Lenny was so impressed with Danson's playing that Carl appeared on other compositions and toured with Kravitz for the next five years.

On New Year's Eve 2000, he performed with Prince at a concert called Rave Un2 the Year 2000.