Rick James Quotes

I'm trying to change the root of funk, trying to make it more progressive, more melodic and more lyrically structured.

She's the kind you don't take home to mother.

After I saw Kiss on stage, I wanted my show to look like the fourth of July. The persona of Rick James was wild and crazy, sex, drugs and rock and roll.

I wrote and produced millions and millions of selling records, so my publishing company alone was worth millions of dollars. I didn't have to work anymore in life because when the rappers started sampling... I'm the most sampled artist in history.

When I'm about Rick James, it's all about get out there and kill 'em.

KISS hammered home the importance of high drama...I decided to design my show with the same goal; I wanted my fans to remember my show for the rest of their lives.

Whether you're rich or poor, life's still cold-blooded.

I can't hang out as loose as I used to, but I can still go down Jefferson Avenue and look in the faces of winos, pimps and junkies, all the things I'm made of.

I'm still James Johnson. Rick James is a stage name. James Johnson keeps Rick James on the ground... Kind of sort of.

I'm not part of the Hollywood scene. I don't run around with 30 women. I have a very calm household. I'm surrounded by my grandkids and wonderful friends, and I consider myself very lucky.

I went to India, lived, and studied.

I get some letters from girls that if their mothers knew what they were writing me in these letters, they'd get their butts whipped.

Prison was a blessing. Going to prison was the greatest thing that happened to me. It showed me that I wasn't infallible. It showed me that I was just human. It showed me that I can be back with my ghetto brothers I grew up with and have a good time. It taught me to cool out. It taught me patience. It taught me that I didn't ever want to lose my freedom. It taught me that drugs bring on the devil. It taught me to grow up.

I just live one day at a time.

Funkers are people who dig the funk; Little funkers, Big funkers, Old funkers, Young funkers, Foxy funkers, Mother funkers, Papa funkers.

I had $20 million in the bank, girls are following me all over the f - place, people call my name everywhere I go. What would I change? And then one day you get onstage and you see two little girls who look like they are 11 years old sticking their tongues out and pulling their bras down and you quit touring. That's what happened to me.

I try to make the audience forget all their problems -- for an hour and a half or so get them out of themselves, and space, and time, and consciousness.

I'm good. Or maybe people just like me.

You can't outdo 'Street Songs' and I didn’t even try. [It] had that special magic that comes with timing and good vibrations and you can't even try to capture that exactly again.

I believe everything happens under God's plan anyway.

Anybody that's old and closed-minded does not like Rick James... They don't like the fact that I'm free and I'm wide open.

I was going to get drafted, but I didn't really want to go into the Army.

I didn't even think I would make it that long. I thought I would drug overdose, like Jimi Hendrix. I thank God every day to even be here.

I'm in love with mary jane. she's my main thing. she makes me feel alright. she makes my heart sing. and when I'm feeling low, she comes as no suprise. turns me on with her love, takes me to paradiiiiise do you love me mary jane, yeah now do you think you love me mary jane don't you play no game.

My music is pretty honest. I can't rap on science fiction. Punk is from the street.

I wanted to play the Apollo Theater because I didn't think I was going to be on the earth long.

I'm finally locked into the now, and it's great.

I mean, Rick James was just a man-made image, the image I created. Just trying to live Rick James almost killed me.

I dont have aluminum foil on my windows anymore.

I was angry about the fact that my father would beat my mother on a daily basis, that my mother would like take it in turn and beat on me. I was an abused child. I was mad about all those things, very bitter and very angry.

Now is my time. Everything I've done up to this point is just a warm up. This is where it all begins.

If anything I consider myself non-violent. I'm from the hippy era, peace, love, groovy.

I decided to build up my band in Buffalo because Buffalo was where I had originally built up my own musical strength.

My teacher said I would either be a hoodlum, or a great entertainer.

You can't have rock and roll without drugs, you can't have rock and roll without sex.

I feel that I have to say something in a song and that it's not just enough to lay down the music.

I don't think the white establishment will ever respect or appreciate a black man who speaks the truth.

Punk Funk means to be one with yourself. To be rebellious, aggressive, able to do and say what you feel at all times, without inflicting mental or spiritual pain.

I'm really not tailored for responsibility.

I think rap definitely has its place in the art world. I think it is an art form. But, just like any art form, you can misuse it.

I wanted my show to look like the fourth of July.

Off stage it's cool-out time. You can't funk and roll ALL the time.

I'm a long way from Ike Turner.

You and I, we'll be together 'til the six is nine.

If I told you Jesus Christ was black you're going to be afraid of me because I'm telling you the truth. That's where I always come from.

I had always been a free spirit, and always gotten what I wanted.

That girl is pretty kinky, the girl's a super-freak, I'd really like to taste her.

I'm too old to do crazy things anymore.