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Mad was offered as an mp3 download as part of NPG Music Club Edition # 1 (along with Funky Design, Peace, Splash, When  Lay My Hands On U and NPG Ahdio Show #1).
The track originates from 1994, however, and the studio version was played at The New Power Generation Store in Minneapolis in November 1994 (along with Funky Design and Snow Man). The song contains repeated vocal samples of "He’s always on some medication" from Ninety-9’s track Simlac (containing input by Prince) - it is unknown if this sample was added immediately or at a later date. Mad also uses a prominent loop of the song "Bebop Ta Hip Hop" by Headshock.
In 1998, a live version was included on the Beautiful Strange TV special (released in 1999 on VHS). An excerpt of the track had also been streamed on NPGOnlineLtd.com on 17 July 2000, before the full track was released in 2001.
Despite being released after Prince reverted to using the his own name, rather than  , the track was credited to , as it was recorded while using that name.
Specific recording dates are unknown, but it is likely that basic tracking took place in November 1994 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Sonny T. also overdubbed vocals (replacing ’s) for a version included as the tenth track (sixth song) on a 2 December 1994 configuration of the New Power Generation’s second album Exodus. This version remains unreleased, however.
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