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

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

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

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

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.

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