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Rick James

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Rick James (born James Ambrose Johnson, Jr; February 1, 1948 - August 6, 2004) was an American funk and soul musician from Buffalo New York, who worked as a singer, keyboardist, bassist, record producer, arranger, and composer during his long career. One of the most popular artists on the Motown label during the late 1970s and early 1980s, James was famous for his wild brand of funk music and his trademark cornrow braids, sporting them well before the style was widely popularized by actress Bo Derek. As time went on, James was given the unofficial title The King of Punk-Funk.

After dropping out of high school and joining the US Naval Reserve, he eventually went AWOL to concentrate on music. He fled to Canada in 1964 and started using the name Ricky Matthews. In Toronto, he led various incarnations of Mynah Birds, some of which included Neil Young and Bruce Palmer (who would go on to form Buffalo Springfield) and Nick St. Nicholas (later of Steppenwolf). After scoring a deal with Motown, the band was swindled by their manager and the label discovered James was on the lam, and the band split up.

After serving time for desertion, James tried to rekindle the Mynah Birds, but eventually found a role as a writer and producer at Motown, using the name Terry Johnson on tunes for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Bobby Taylor And The Vancouvers and The Spinners. He moved to California in 1969 and formed Salt ‘n’ Pepper (not to be confused with Salt-N-Pepa) and worked with a number of bands (Heaven And Earth, Great White Cane, and Stone City Band) before returning to Motown, where he developed the gritty funk sound that would bring him hits and notoriety.

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funk, soul, 80s, disco, pop
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Greatest Hits
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Top Tracks

1	Super Freak full track	2,221
2	Give It To Me Baby full track	849
3	Mary Jane full track	653
4	Cold Blooded full track	301
5	Ghetto Life full track	271
6	Superfreak	220
7	You And I full track	208
8	Love Gun full track	101
9	Fire And Desire full track	90
10	Super Freak (Part 1) full track	84
11	Bustin' Out (On Funk) full track	80
12	Dance Wit' Me full track	79
13	Make Love To Me full track	56
14	Ebony Eyes full track	54
14	Superfreak (Roca Sound Remix)	54

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Elvsting wrote:
last week

Charlie Murphy! oh gawd, good memories there.

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Biiipz wrote:
14 days ago

Cold Blooded <3 sexy, sexy (:

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M_Vinteuil wrote:
20 days ago

I'm one of the baddest motherfuckers of all time. I'm the best singer, I'm the best looking motherfucker... Charlie Murphy!

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MissClarck wrote:
22 days ago

Hi, I just want to present you this new afrogroove band call Bantunanu..Awesome http://www.lastfm.fr/music/Bantunani They need support from every meloman due to their engaged lyrics... Regards,

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hpyEndways wrote:
23 days ago

Looks like Chapelle on that Pic lol.

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NariiEffBaybee wrote:
24 days ago

I`M RICK JAME BITCH!!! FUCK YO COUCH NIGGA,GO BUY ANOTHER ONE YOU RICH MUTHAFUCKA LMFAO!

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callcollectplz wrote:
27 days ago

Mary Jane

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PureAgony wrote:
27 days ago

Nobody cares about your hate for anything though

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DonnieSTFU wrote:
last month

I hate you assholes that quote the Chapelle's Show episode.

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android9791 wrote:
last month

I'M RICK JAMES BITCH.

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Vhien wrote:
last month

You Turned On My FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIREEEEEE~

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Pistol999 wrote:
last month

cocaine is a hell ov a drug

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ParanoiaPancake wrote:
October 2009

What did the 5 fingers say to the face ? SLAP!

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Jimcorp wrote:
October 2009

nope?

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dab2o wrote:
October 2009

he was gay? -.-

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M_Vinteuil wrote:
October 2009

Bitch, come over here and have sex with Charlie Murphy!

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futhamucka wrote:
October 2009

Dave Chappelle ain't Rick James, yo.

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bluntbulletloco wrote:
October 2009

Fuck yo couch nigga

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Lanzikins wrote:
October 2009

Do you love me maryjane?

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Stokka wrote:
October 2009

I'm Rick James bitch! Enjoy yourself

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Recent Activity

freeadsubmit, alltheboyslove, Omnispirit and 36 other people added Rick James to their libraries. yesterday evening
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