Pretty Ricky

Pretty Ricky is an American R&B/hip hop group originated from Miami, Florida. Pretty Ricky originally consisted of four brothers: Corey "Slick'em" Mathis, Ala Diamond "Baby Blue" Smith, "Spectacular" Blue Smith, and Marcus "Pleasure P" Cooper who is the group's only singer since the rest of them take roles as rappers. They all have the same father, Joseph "Blue" Smith Sr., but only Spectacular & Baby Blue have the same mother. The name of the band was taken from a character in Martin Lawrence's comedy series, Martin (1992-1997). "We all used to dress alike, really different to everyone else. We wore fur in the summer when everyone else was in t-shirts," Pleasure explained. "On the show was a character called 'Pretty Ricky.' He was slick and always dressed different to everyone else, so all the girls at school started calling us 'Pretty Ricky'." They had great success with singles such as "Grind With Me" and "On The Hotline" with albums such as "Late Night Special" and "Bluestars". Pleasure P left the group in 2007 to embark on a solo career. Since then, Pretty Ricky has replaced the lead singer numerous times with ex members 4Play, Mowet, and Lingerie. Since 2015, Pleasure P has reunited with the group releasing their latest single "Puddles" and preparing a final album and tour for 2017.

Early life

1997-2003: Beginnings, Departure of J.Long, Group Name Change & What They Call Em

In 1997 while performing together in Miami, Florida Pretty Ricky was signed to Bluestar Entertainment by CEO Joseph "Blue" Smith. Supported by their father, Joseph "Blue" Smith Sr., who also served as the band's manager and taskmaster, these four boys, also was joined by their older brother, Joseph "J.Long" Smith Jr., set out to develop their music career in 1997 under the name of "Pretty Rickie and The Maverix". According to a 1999 story in The Miami Herald, At first, it was J.Long who was called "Pretty Rickie" while the other four brothers were "The Maverix". But upon his departure from the group, plus the objection issued by an American country band "The Mavericks" to change their name, the remaining personnel decided to apply their original idea of the band's identity using back the name "Pretty Ricky" as the remaining four brothers decided to change 'ie' to 'y' for reasons of it sounding "more masculine". With the help from a producer named Jim Jonsin of Unusual Suspects production team, Pretty Ricky began to gain a desirable attention through their local performances. However, it was not until 2002 that the group encountered their initial success as their song, "Flossin'", became a huge hit on Miami radio station Power 96. Their career ended almost in year 2007 when the singer Pleasure P left the group. They released their first single Flossin in 2002 & their second single So Fresh So Clean in June 2004. Both singles were set to be the first singles on their original debut studio What They Call Me which was scheduled for 2003. The album was never released.

Music career

2004–05: Bluestars

In 2004, Pretty Ricky released their first single "Grind With Me", it went on to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at #7; it also went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA. The single made its way to popularity on Power 96 shortly after it was first played during Love Hour program, the station's Program Director, Tony the Tiger (Ira Wolf), afterwards sent the single to Craig Kallman, Co-Chairman and also Chief Operating Officer of Atlantic Records. Upon his arrival in Florida by December, he was amazed by the commotion the band had ignited at a Martin Luther King, Jr. parade in Hallandale. "It was complete pandemonium," Kallman stated. "Hundreds & hundreds of screaming, shrieking girls basically stormed the stage & bum rushed the guys as they came off, chasing them down the field, jumping on the van, trying to climb on the van." Invited by Kallman to have an audition with Ira Wolf looking on in his hotel room at Loew's Miami Beach, Pretty Ricky was offered a record deal on the spot.^[1]

On May 17, 2005 Pretty Ricky released their debut album entitled Bluestars, it debuted at #16 on the Billboard 200 album chart selling 56,000 copies in the first week within several months, Bluestars was certified Gold by RIAA.^[2] On June 15, 2005 Pretty Ricky released their second single from the album entitled "Your Body", it went on to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at #12.

In the summer of 2005 The group toured with fellow artist Omarion, Bow Wow, Chris Brown, Bobby V, and other acts in the Scream Tour IV concert series.

2006–07: Pleasure P's departure and Late Night Special

On November 9, 2006, Pretty Ricky released their first single entitled "On the Hotline" from their sophomore album, it went on to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at #97, it also went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA.

On January 23, 2007, Pretty Ricky released their second album entitled Late Night Special, it sold over 132,000 copies in the first week, topping the Billboard 200 album charts.^[3] In March, 2007 Pretty Ricky released their second single entitled "Push It Baby", featuring reggae artist Sean Paul.

In 2007 After the release of Late Night Special, the group's lead vocalist at the time, Pleasure P, exited the group. The group later revealed in a statement posted to their website "...we did kick him out of the group, he did not leave on his own free will."^[4] Pleasure P moved on to begin a successful solo career. He was replaced by up-and-coming singer 4Play, who wrote most of Pretty Ricky's songs.

2008: 4Play's arrival/departure and Eighties Babies

In 2008, after replacing lead vocalist Pleasure P with upcoming singer 4Play, Pretty Ricky started working on a new album entitled Eighties Babies.^[5] Eighties Babies release date was due for October 14, 2008, but due to leaking and creative differences amongst the members, Pretty Ricky shelved the album, and new lead vocalist 4Play disbanded from the group the following year.^[6][7]

2009: Lingerie's arrival and Pretty Ricky

In 2009 after replacing lead vocalist 4Play with upcoming singer Lingerie.^[8] On August 26, 2009 it was announced that Pretty Ricky had departed from Atlantic Records & had signed with independent Atlanta-based record company Big Cat Records & their new album was entitled Pretty Ricky.^[9]

On November 17, 2009, Pretty Ricky released their self-titled third album Pretty Ricky debuted at #97 on the Billboard 200 album chart, selling over 10,000 copies in the first week. Only two singles were released from the album: "Tipsy (In Dis Club)" and "Say a Command"..

2010–2011: Lingerie's departure, mixtapes and Bluestars 2

On July 27, 2010, Pretty Ricky released their single entitled "Cookie Cutter".^[10] On August 10, 2010 Pretty Ricky released an extended play entitled Topless.^[11] On December 27, 2010 during an interview Pretty Ricky announced that they are currently working on their fourth album and it would be entitled Bluestars 2, which would be a sequel to their critically acclaimed album Bluestars.^[12]

On August 12, 2011, Pretty Ricky released a mixtape entitled Sex Music Vol. 1: Streets N The Sheets.^[13][14]

2015–present: Pleasure P's return and Reunion album

After a 3-year hiatus, on February 16, 2015, Pretty Ricky released a promotional reunion single entitled "Puddles". The single marked the return of former lead vocalist Pleasure P to the group. "Puddles" had been the most requested song on South Florida's major radio station, 99JAMZ, in the days following its release.^[15][16][17] On February 25, 2015, during an interview, Pretty Ricky announced that they were working on a new album and they would be releasing it on their newly founded record label Pretty Ricky Records.^[18] On november 2016, Rico love have announced that he will be executive producing the new pretty ricky album ^[19] to be released in 2017. The first official single off the album is rumored to be `What that mouth do`.

Discography

Studio albums

Eighties Babies (Shelved) (2008) Bluestars 2 (2011)

EPs

Mixtapes

Singles

References

External links

What They Call Em|http://www.allmusic.com/album/what-they-call-em-mw0000037385

• Official website