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Pretty Ricky is an American R&B/hip hop group originated from Miami, Florida. Pretty Ricky originally consisted of four brothers: Baby Blue, Spectacular, Slick'em, & Pleasure P. They have had numerous success with singles such as "Grind With Me" and "On The Hotline" with albums such as "Late Night Special" and "Bluestars". Pleasure P left the group in 2007 to embark on a solo career. Since then, Pretty Ricky has replaced the lead singer numerous times. Since 2015, Pleasure P has reunited with the group releasing their latest single "Puddles".
Music career
Beginnings
In 1997 while performing together in Miami, Florida Pretty Ricky was signed to Bluestar Entertainment by CEO Joseph "Blue" Smith. Joseph Smith is the father of the original 4 members, but only Spectacular & Baby Blue have the same mother. According to a 1999 story in The Miami Herald, the brothers were originally called Pretty Rickie & The Maverix, until the country group The Mavericks objected, & the brothers decided 'y' endings are "more masculine" than 'i.e.'.
2004-05: Bluestars
In 2004, Pretty Ricky released their first single "Grind With Me", it went on to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at #7; it also went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA. The single made its way to popularity on Power 96 shortly after it was first played during Love Hour program, the station's Program Director, Tony the Tiger (Ira Wolf), afterwards sent the single to Craig Kallman, Co-Chairman and also Chief Operating Officer of Atlantic Records. Upon his arrival in Florida by December, he was amazed by the commotion the band had ignited at a Martin Luther King, Jr. parade in Hallandale. "It was complete pandemonium," Kallman stated. "Hundreds & hundreds of screaming, shrieking girls basically stormed the stage & bum rushed the guys as they came off, chasing them down the field, jumping on the van, trying to climb on the van." Invited by Kallman to have an audition with Ira Wolf looking on in his hotel room at Loew's Miami Beach, Pretty Ricky was offered a record deal on the spot.
On May 17, 2005 Pretty Ricky released their debut album entitled Bluestars, it debuted at #16 on the Billboard 200 album chart selling 56,000 copies in the first week within several months, Bluestars was certified Gold by RIAA. On June 15, 2005 Pretty Ricky released their second single from the album entitled "Your Body", it went on to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at #12.
In the summer of 2005 The group toured with fellow artist Omarion, Bow Wow, Chris Brown, Bobby V, and other acts in the Scream Tour IV concert series.
2006-07: Pleasure P's departure and Late Night Special
On November 9, 2006, Pretty Ricky released their first single entitled "On the Hotline" from their sophomore album, it went on to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at #97, it also went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA.
On January 23, 2007, Pretty Ricky released their second album entitled Late Night Special, it sold over 132,000 copies in the first week, topping the Billboard 200 album charts. In March, 2007 Pretty Ricky released their second single entitled "Push It Baby", featuring reggae artist Sean Paul.
In 2007 After the release of Late Night Special, the group's lead vocalist at the time, Pleasure P, exited the group. The group later revealed in a statement posted to their website "...we did kick him out of the group, he did not leave on his own free will." Pleasure P moved on to begin a successful solo career. He was replaced by up-and-coming singer 4Play, who wrote most of Pretty Ricky's songs.
2008: 4Play's arrival/departure and Eighties Babies
In 2008, after replacing lead vocalist Pleasure P with upcoming singer 4Play, Pretty Ricky started working on a new album entitled Eighties Babies. Eighties Babies release date was due for October 14, 2008, but due to leaking and creative differences amongst the members, Pretty Ricky shelved the album, and new lead vocalist 4Play disbanded from the group the following year.
2009: Lingerie's arrival and Pretty Ricky
In 2009 after replacing lead vocalist 4Play with upcoming singer Lingerie. On August 26, 2009 it was announced that Pretty Ricky had departed from Atlantic Records & had signed with independent Atlanta-based record company Big Cat Records & their new album was entitled Pretty Ricky.
On November 17, 2009, Pretty Ricky released their self-titled third album Pretty Ricky debuted at #97 on the Billboard 200 album chart, selling over 10,000 copies in the first week. Only two singles were released from the album: "Tipsy (In Dis Club)" and "Say a Command"..
2010-2011: Lingerie's departure, mixtapes and Bluestars 2
On July 27, 2010, Pretty Ricky released their single entitled "Cookie Cutter". On August 10, 2010 Pretty Ricky released an extended play entitled Topless. On December 27, 2010 during an interview Pretty Ricky announced that they are currently working on their fourth album and it would be entitled Bluestars 2, which would be a sequel to their critically acclaimed album Bluestars.
On August 12, 2011, Pretty Ricky released a mixtape entitled Sex Music Vol. 1: Streets N The Sheets.
2015-present: Pleasure P's return and TBA album
After a 3-year hiatus, on February 16, 2015, Pretty Ricky released a new single entitled "Puddles", the single also marked the return of former lead vocalist Pleasure P to the group, "Puddles" has been the most requested song on South Florida's major radio station, 99JAMZ, in the days following its release. On February 25, 2015, during an interview Pretty Ricky announced that they were working on a new album and they would be releasing it on their newly founded record label Pretty Ricky Records. In April 2015 Pretty Ricky toured Europe. Performing at Manchester Academy & KOKO. Although Pleasure P was not in attendance Pretty Ricky sold out every show as the headlining act. J.Long reunited with his bandmates to join the tour in place of Pleasure P.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US |
US R&B | US Rap | |||
| What They Call Em |
|
- | - | - |
|
| Bluestars |
|
16 | 5 | 3 |
|
| Late Night Special |
|
1 | 1 | 1 |
|
| Pretty Ricky |
|
97 | 14 | — | |
| TBA |
|
TBR | |||
EPs
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Topless |
|
Mixtapes
| Title | Mixtape details |
|---|---|
| Sex Music Vol. 1: Streets N The Sheets |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Certification | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Grind with Me" | 7 | 6 | 2 | 70 | — | 6 | 26 |
|
Bluestars |
| "Your Body" | 12 | 22 | 5 | 45 | — | 13 | 37 |
|
||
| 2006 | "Nothing but a Number" | — | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "On the Hotline" | 12 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 121 |
|
Late Night Special | |
| 2007 | "Push It Baby" | 109 | 51 | 18 | — | 2 | — | — | ||
| "Love like Honey" | — | 101 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2008 | "Knockin' Boots 08" | — | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | Eighties Babies (shelved) | |
| "Cuddle Up" | — | 76 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2009 | "Tipsy (In Dis Club)" | — | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | Pretty Ricky | |
| "Say a Command" | — | 98 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2010 | "Personal Freak" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Cookie Cutter" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2011 | "Topless" | — | 124 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015 | "Puddles" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | TBA | |
[ Source: Wikipedia ]