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

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

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

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

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

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.