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.

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

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

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.

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

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.