Pretty Ricky Experience
Words: Marissa J. Lonardo a.k.a. MJ

It’s one of the hottest days of the year in NYC, its 4pm and traffic is a killer. But instead of dealing with the summer heat and all of the city’s commotion Pretty Ricky members, Spectacular, Baby Blue, Slick Em, and new member 4 Play are high above the streets spending their day in a air conditioned executive office at their label distributor, Atlantic records. The bad boys of R&B have been doing rounds of interviews back to back all day.

As I walked into the office and prepared to sit down on the small chairs perfectly placed for us media people, I immediately ask what number are we in the interviews of the day. Instead of answering my question Spectacular says, “We don’t have a life, this is our life. We live for our fans and we need them to know this, and if it means traveling around the world, talking to the media to get the word out that’s what we’re going to do.”

Spectacular may be the only one that shares a sentiment about the media and fans at the moment. Being that, Slick Em is passed out on the floor and never wakes up one time throughout our entire interview. He’s not even resting his head on a pillow or even the couch that Spectacular is commanding with both of his hands sprawled across the top. We even have to step over him to get to our chairs. So I asked, “Why don’t you give the boy a pillow?”

“We hood and when we’re tired we sleep anywhere, we don’t need no pillows,” Spectacular says.

Then we’re told Baby Blue was in the bathroom and he’ll be back in a minute, well that minute turns almost into an hour before he eventually emerges. New member 4 Play is present but he didn’t seem to be permitted to answer any questions. But he was permitted to sing on cue, and I must say the man can sing. He sang an accapella version of H-Town’s classic hit “Knockin Da Boots” and it really blew me away.

But that was the last we heard from 4 Play, because as Spectacular jokingly stated, “He only speaks German and sings in English.” A comment that sets perfectly into the Pretty Ricky scenario of marketing 101, ‘don’t let new members speak.’

It’s clear throughout the interview that Spectacular loves the attention and knows how amazing he is; that’s why he is in so many of those Youtube videos licking his juicy lips and showing of his perfect body. He admits that he never went to school for business but he is a businessman. He says, “I gained all my knowledge from my father.” In which he refers to as an entrepreneur. “My Father had me and my brothers working at his clubs and car washes since the age of 14. I got my education in business from him so why go to school to learn something you already know.”

The topic of the new album comes up and Spectacular’s eyes light up. The album is titled “80’s Babies” and the release date is set for September 23rd. I’m sure that it’ll be eaten up by their legions of female fans that are so important to the Pretty Ricky Franchise. Spectacular explains that the name “80’s Babies” comes from the decade where all the best music came from.

As if to make us feel special, Spectacular then inform us on something he claims he forgot to inform the previous interviewers. The forgotten information was the fact that the group had already shot 5 videos for 5 of the songs on the album. When I asked where were the videos shot? Spectacular doesn’t seem to remember. But he is fast to say that they travel so much it doesn’t matter where they are as long as they are with their fans that’s what counts.

At this point Baby Blue entered the room and began to answer questions that didn’t seem too rehearsed. He explained how Pretty Ricky has changed since Pleasure P left and why 4 Play is the perfect new member.

"It's about 4 Play being like he was always here from the beginning, he is another brother and since we are a family he has to cope with all our family issues. Baby Blue also says, "He is learning how to be woman magnet and how to deal with the ladies. Our music is all about women, because Pretty Ricky loves the ladies and the ladies love Pretty Ricky.”

Baby Blue also mentions that, “It is a challenge to separate the group, personal life and how everyone in the family works for the group. Our sisters are even our stylist so it’s not just about business because we’re a family so we have to work that much harder.”

Blue jumps back to new member 4 Play. “The best part of 4 Play is his voice and how he fits in with our Hip-Hop and R&B sound.” However when asked about all the problems the last year brought with the departure of Pleasure P, and the effect on the group, I don’t receive a response.

All questions regarding the pending lawsuit filed against their father/manager by former member Pleasure P were all met with “no comment” answers.

However, they did say, their new album will set the record straight and solidify the group as the super group they aspire to be. So until the release date we’ll have to take their word for it, but if it ends up sucking butt you guys should hit them up on their MySpace page and let them know. They did say they read and answer all of their messages.