PRETTY RICKY
MIAMI, FL
T
ell me about your new CD. Late Night Special is an extension from the first album, Bluestars. Bluestars was a lot of pre-recorded music and with this album we got a chance to take our time and actually give the ladies what they want. We’ve had more time to organize the album and we’ve been around the world. We’ve been through different experiences and stuff, so it’s gonna be crazy. We actually did two albums again this time; a clean album, one you can find at Wal-Mart and then one you can find in record stores. So for the parents that’s concerned out there, you can go get the Late Night Special from Wal-Mart for your daughter. We’re kinda beating them to the punch, so we don’t get that animosity that we always get where they say, “Aw, they raunchy.” So parents, you gotta pay attention to what your kids listen to, cause if you did, then you wouldn’t have no problems with Pretty Ricky. We’re just artists at the end of the day. But our new record is phenomenal. I’m gon’ say that myself. I think it’s gonna be the best album out this year. That’s a pretty bold statement. What exactly makes Late Night Special the best album of the year? We’ve actually stepped it up and we’re growing older now. We got a lot more to talk about and it’s a crazy album, but a different crazy. You’ll see. Record sales have been down a lot this year. Are you afraid at all of a sophomore slump, in terms of sales? I’m gon’ tell you the truth. I mean, our first album was a good album, but our second album is gonna top it a whole lot. We really ain’t stuttering that sophomore blues stuff because we’re talented young men and we make good music that our ladies love. We don’t really care about this album sales thing that’s going around because Pretty Ricky’s gon’ sell no matter what.
on a show. Okay, you guys are definitely known for making music the ladies want to hear, but do you have anything for the fellas on this new one? We always do something for the fellas. Everything we do is for them too, because the fellas ain’t gotta really say anything. All they gotta do is pop that Pretty Ricky CD in and press play and the girls just gon’ relate to it. It makes life easier for the fellas. So your first single “On the Hotline” has done pretty well so far? Yeah, the video is all over BET. It’s on the countdown and it’s hot. Baby Blue directed the video and we got a lot of input on this project, too. That’s why I can say the project is going a lot better, because it’s a 50/50 thing with us and Atlantic. We’re signed to our own record label which is Bluestar Entertainment International. A lot of critics have trouble defining your style, but would you say you’re more rap, R&B, or pop? We all three, we’re all three in one. That’s what’s so phenomenal about us... Words by Eric Perrin Photo by Ray Tamarra
The rest of this interview is featured in the March issue of OZONE Magazine - check it out online at www.ozonemag.com
I know last year at The Scream IV tour, you guys had some of the parents a little upset by “giving the ladies what they love” in terms of some of your stage antics. Everything was just over the top. People overreact to what we do, I mean, you’ve never seen some guys on stage with boxers on? I don’t really think that’s all that bad compared to somebody on the stage getting naked. I ain’t saying no names, but you know. Everything was taken a little hard on us. If we grind, people start overreacting, but we’re just artists putting
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