Rick James (born James Ambrose Johnson, Jr) (February 1, 1948 – August 6, 2004) was 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 even wilder lifestyle. As time went on, James was given the unofficial title The King of Punk-Funk. In later life, James's legal problems relating to drug abuse received much publicity. is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motown Records, Inc. ... Comparison of the perceived harm for various psychoactive drugs from a poll among medical psychiatrists specialized in addiction treatment[1] This article is an overview of the nontherapeutic use of alcohol and drugs of abuse. ...

Biography

Early life

Born in Buffalo, NY James was the third of eight children. His father was an autoworker who abandoned the family, and his mother was a former dancer. "She raised us strict Catholics," James recalled. His uncle was Melvin Franklin, bass vocalist of The Temptations. Two of his cousins were Carl Stokes, the first black mayor of Cleveland, and Louis Stokes, a former Ohio congressman. Melvin Franklin (David Melvin English) (October 12, 1942 – February 23, 1995) was an American bass singer, best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1961 to 1994. ... A basso (or bass) is a male singer who sings in the lowest vocal range of the human voice. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... “Temptations” redirects here. ... Carl Burton Stokes (21 June 1927 - 3 April 1996) became the first black mayor of a major U.S. city when he was elected mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, in November 1967. ... Cleveland redirects here. ... Louis B. Stokes Louis Stokes (born February 23, 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a Democratic politician from Ohio. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ...

At age 16, James went AWOL from the U.S. Naval Reserve after having begun to miss weekend training because it interfered with his music career.^[1] Fleeing north to Toronto, Ontario in the summer of 1964, James, now using the stage name Big Jimmy, continued his musical career. His first band was called the Mynah Birds, which also featured Neil Young and future Steppenwolf member Nick St. Nicholas. In 1965, the group recorded a single for the Canadian arm of Columbia Records. In early 1965, St. Nicholas left the band and was replaced by Bruce Palmer. AWOL (pronounced a-wall) is an acronym for the United States and other armed forces expression Absent WithOut Leave or Absence Without Official Leave. The United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy use the term Unauthorized Absence (UA) instead. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Diversity Our Strength Image:Toronto, Ontario Location. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article is about the musician. ... Steppenwolf is a rock band that helped establish heavy metal music in the late 1960s along with bands like Blue Cheer and Iron Butterfly. ... Nick St. ... Main articles: History of Canada, Timeline of Canadian history Canada has been inhabited by aboriginal peoples (known in Canada as First Nations) for at least 40,000 years. ... Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ... For other persons named Bruce Palmer, see Bruce Palmer (disambiguation). ...

Shortly afterwards, James and Palmer formed a new Mynah Birds lineup with guitarists Tom Morgan and John Taylor, and drummer Rickman Mason. In early 1966, the Mynah Birds auditioned for the Motown label in Detroit, Michigan. Morgan was unhappy with the label's attitude towards the musicians and left, with Neil Young taking his place. With Young on board, the Mynah Birds returned to Motown to record an album, but their manager pocketed the advance money the label had given the band. The band fired their manager, who in turn told the label that James was AWOL. Motown told him to give himself up to the FBI, and the Mynah Birds' album was shelved. For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... For the comic book character, see Drummer (comics). ... Detroit redirects here. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a federal criminal investigative, intelligence agency, and the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

James's career continues

James spent a year in the Brooklyn Brig, after which he briefly returned to Toronto. During the summer of 1967, Rick James formed a new version of The Mynah Birds (sometimes spelled "Myna Byrds") with Neil Merryweather. The band returned to Motown and Detroit and recorded a new version of James and Neil Young's It's My Time, but the band broke up soon afterwards. During early 1968, James returned to Motown and became a songwriter and producer, writing under an assumed name and working with Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers and The Spinners. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Canadian rock singer, bass player and songwriter Neil Merryweather has recorded and shared the stage with a who’s who of rock, every one from Steve Miller and Dave Mason to Rick James and Wilson Pickett. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Smokey Robinson (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer and songwriter. ... Bobby Taylor (born February 18, 1936) & the Vancouvers were an Canadian soul band, signed to the Motown label during the late 1960s. ... The Spinners are a Detroit, Michigan -based soul band popular in the 1960s and 1970s. ...

In late 1968, James and Reeves moved to Los Angeles, California and formed a band called Salt and Pepper with drummer Steve Rumph from T.I.M.E. The group soon fell apart and later that year, James formed a new version with Canadians Ed Roth (keyboards), Dave Burt (guitar), and Coffi Hall (drums). Former Buffalo Springfield roadie Chris Sarns played bass for a while, before Ron Johnson from Kaleidoscope stepped in the following year. The group recorded a demo for Atlantic Records, and played at The Fillmore West with Jethro Tull. Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Ed Big Daddy Roth (March 4, 1932 - April 4, 2001) was an artist and the creator of Rat Fink and other characters, custom car builder, and one of the people responsible for the Kustom Kulture / Hot rod movement of the 1960s in Southern California. ... Buffalo Springfield was a short-lived but influential folk rock group that served as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina and is most famous for the song For What Its Worth. After its formation in April 1966, a series of... A toy kaleidoscope tube Pattern as seen through a kaleidoscope tube Pattern as seen through a kaleidoscope tube Pattern as seen through a kaleidoscope tube The kaleidoscope is a tube of mirrors containing, loose coloured beads or pebbles, or other small coloured objects. ... Atlantic Records (Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American record label, and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Music Group. ... The Fillmore (also known as the Fillmore Auditorium or, for several years, The Elite Club), is a historic music venue in San Francisco, California made famous by Bill Graham (1931–1991). ... For the 18th-century agriculturist after whom the band was named, see Jethro Tull (agriculturist). ...

In 1971, James and Roth recorded two singles in Toronto for RCA Records' — Big Showdown and Don't You Worry with Heaven and Earth, a band that also featured guitarist Stan Endersby, bass player Denny Gerrard, and drummer Pat Little. James left Heaven and Earth later that year. He, Roth, and Gerrard formed a new group called Great White Cane with horn players Bob Doughty and Ian Kojima, drummer Norman Wellbanks, guitarist Nick Balkou, and keyboard player John Cleveland Hughes. The group recorded an album for Lion Records in Los Angeles in March 1972, but by that summer, they had disbanded. RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony BMG Music Entertainment. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ...

At the end of 1972, James and LeAnna formed the first version of the Stone City Band with Peter Hodgson (bass), Danny Marks (guitar), and Malcolm Tomlinson (drums/vocals). An album's worth of material was recorded in mid-1973 but was never released. James signed to A&M Records the following year and issued a single entitled My Mama. In 1976, James and South African guitarist Aidan Mason co-wrote, "Get Up and Dance," which was released as a single but failed to chart. Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and singer Malcolm Tomlinson (born June 16, 1946 in Isleworth, Middlesex, England) started out in the early 60s playing drums in West London band The Panthers. ...

Return to Motown and stardom

In 1977, he returned to Motown as a songwriter/producer. He soon began recording for Motown's Gordy label, first with the Hot Lips and then with a new version of the Stone City Band. This version featured Billy Nunn on keyboards and background vocals, Bobby Nunn on keyboards and background vocals, Freddie Rappilo on guitar, Andy Rapillo on bass, Mike Caputy on drums, Randy and Mike Brecker on horns, Levi and Jackie Ruffin on background vocals, Richard Shaw on bass and background vocals, Lorenzo Shaw on drums, Flick, Berry, and Steve Williams on horns, Vanessa, Joey, Dee Dot, Roger Brown, Calvin Moore, and Bennie McCullough on background vocals. James's breakthrough single was "You and I", an eight-minute magnum opus from his 1978 debut album Come Get It. The album also featured his ode to marijuana, "Mary Jane", co-written by keyboardist Billy Nunn. Magnum opus (sometimes Opus magnum, plural magna opera), from the Latin meaning great work,[1] refers to the best, most popular, or most renowned achievement of an author, artist, or composer, and most commonly one who has contributed a very large amount of material. ... Cannabis, also known as marijuana[1] or ganja (Hindi: गांजा),[2] is a psychoactive product of the plant Cannabis sativa. ... Mary Jane is a song by late American funk singer Rick James. ...

1979 saw the release of two albums: in January, Bustin' Out of L Seven with Alyn Symns on guitar, Oscar Alston on bass, Lanise Hughes on drums, Nate Hughes on percussion, Danny LeMelle on saxophone, Levi Ruffin and Ramadon on synthesizer, and Erskin Williams on keyboards; that fall, Fire It Up, with Tom McDermott on guitar, was also released. The latter included hits such as the title track and "Spacey Love", a ballad dedicated to R&B legend Patti LaBelle. After 1980s lackluster Garden of Love album, James was accused by many as having "sold out", and he returned to his old Buffalo stomping grounds. In 1981 he recorded a concept album entitled Street Songs, which included James's signature song "Super Freak". The song featured guest vocals by The Temptations, and was sampled for MC Hammer's 1990 Grammy Award-winning song "U Can't Touch This", as well as Jay-Z's "Kingdom Come", released in 2006. Other hits from Street Songs included "Give It to Me Baby", "Fire and Desire" with protégé Teena Marie, and "Ghetto Life". Bustin Out of L Seven is a 1979 Rick James album. ... Fire It Up is a 1979 Rick James album. ... Patti LaBelle (born May 24, 1944) is an American R&B, soul singer and songwriter. ... Fire It Up is a 1980 Rick James album. ... In popular music, a concept album is an album which is unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical (Shuker 2002, p. ... Street songs is also a seminal 1981 Rick James album. ... A signature song is the one song (or, in some cases, one of a few songs) that a popular and well-established singer, or band, is most closely identified with, even if they have had success with a variety of songs. ... Super Freak is a 1981 hit single, produced and performed by Rick James for the Motown label. ... “Temptations” redirects here. ... This article is about reusing existing sound recordings in creating new works. ... MC Hammer (born Stanley Kirk Burrell on March 30, 1962) is an American MC who was popular during the late 1980s and early 1990s, known for his dramatic rise to and fall from fame and fortune, his trademark Hammer pants, and for leaving a lasting influence on hip hop culture... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Listen to this article ( info/dl) This audio file was created from a revision dated 2006-12-04, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... Kingdom Come is the title track from Jay-Zs upcoming album Kingdom Come. ... Teena Marie (born Mary Christine Brockert on March 5, 1956 in Santa Monica, California, USA) is an American Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter/producer. ...

The stream of hits continued into the mid-1980s with "Teardrops", "Cold Blooded", "17", "You Turn Me On", "Can't Stop", and "Glow". His last R&B hit was "Loosey's Rap" in 1989, featuring a rap by Roxanne Shante. During this period, he also helped launch the Mary Jane Girls and produced Eddie Murphy's one hit, "Party All the Time". For the 1995 movie about hitmen, see Coldblooded (movie). ... Roxanne Shanté is an American hip hop vocalist, best known for her hit Roxannes Revenge. Her career began unusually, as she ran into three men talking about U.T.F.O., who had recently cancelled their performance at a show they were performing. ... The Mary Jane Girls are a popular American R&B, Soul, Funk and Pop group from the 1980s. ... For other uses, see Eddie Murphy (disambiguation). ... Party All the Time was a single recorded by comic actor Eddie Murphy in 1985, written and produced by Rick James. ...

While he is best known for his up tempo songs in pop circles, the R&B world remembers him as one of the premier soul balladeers in the late seventies and early eighties. He recorded an early eighties hit with Motown legend Smokey Robinson entitled "Ebony Eyes" that captures his voice almost as well as "Fire And Desire". William Smokey Robinson, Jr. ... Ebony Eyes is a 1983 hit R&B single recorded by Rick James and Smokey Robinson for the Gordy (Motown) label. ...

During this time, he guest-starred on an episode of The A-Team entitled "The Heart of Rock N' Roll", in which he played himself and performed at a prison concert singing "Super Freak". Isaac Hayes also guest starred in this episode. For the United States Army military unit, see The A-Team (military). ... For the American arctic explorer, see Isaac Israel Hayes Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. ...

In October 2002, his song "Ghetto Life" appears in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the in-game radio station Fever 105; October 2004 "Cold Blooded" appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on Funk radio station Bounce FM; and October 2006 in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories his song "Mary Jane" appeared on the radio station VCFL. Also in 2006 "Super Freak" and "Give It to Me Baby" appeared in the video game Scarface: The World Is Yours. Computer and video games redirects here. ... Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (released in October 2002) is the fourth video game in the hit Grand Theft Auto series. ... The soundtrack of the game Grand Theft Auto:Vice City is popular not only with fans of the game, but also with lovers of 1980s music. ... Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the fifth video game in the Grand Theft Auto series. ... For other uses, including related musical genres, see Funk (disambiguation). ...

James was a known drug user, mainly addicted to cocaine, which he often smoked; he later admitted to spending about $7,000 a week on drugs for five years straight, and to putting aluminum foil on the windows of his home. In 1993, James was convicted of assaulting two women, with the first assault during one of his cocaine binges. In 1991, he and future wife Tanya Hijazi were accused of holding 24-year old Frances Alley hostage for up to six days (accounts vary on how long she was actually held), tying her up, forcing her to perform sexual acts, and burning her legs and abdomen with a hot smack pipe during a week long cocaine binge. Recreational drug use is the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational rather than medical or spiritual purposes, although the distinction is not always clear. ... For other uses, see Cocaine (disambiguation). ...

In 1993, while out on bail for that earlier incident, a coked-up James assaulted another woman, music executive Mary Sauger, at the St. James Club and Hotel in West Hollywood. Sauger claims she met James and Hijazi for a business meeting, but claims the two kidnapped and beat her over a 20-hour period. He was found guilty of both offenses, but was cleared of a torture charge in the crack-pipe incident that could have put him behind bars for the rest of his life. Rick's life changed for the better when he met and befriended John Kistler. Kistler helped Rick get off drugs and the two were close friends until Rick's death. West Hollywoods logo illustrates the citys borders. ...

Serving two years in Folsom Prison, as well as losing $2 million in a civil suit to one of the women, did not stop him from writing new songs, even if he did it behind bars. He was released in 1995, and during interviews for a segment of the VH1 series Behind The Music, he spoke openly about his life and his battle with drugs for the first time. East gate, Folsom State Prison, California Folsom State Prison (FSP), also known as Folsom State Prison, Represa is one of 33 prison facilities operated by the California Department of Corrections (CDC). ... VH1 (VH-1: Video Hits One until 1994 and VH1: Music First until 2003) is an American digital television channel that was created in January 1985 by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Communications and owners of MTV. VH1 and sister channel MTV are currently... For the album by The Soundtrack of Our Lives, see Behind the Music (album). ...

James attempted a comeback with a new album and tour in 1997, but suffered a mild stroke during a concert in Denver, Colorado, effectively ending his musical career. For other uses, see Stroke (disambiguation). ... Nickname: Location of Denver in the State of Colorado Location of Colorado in the United States Coordinates: , Country United States State State of Colorado City and County Denver[1] Founded 1858-11-22, as Denver City, K.T.[2] Incorporated 1861-11-07, as Denver City, C.T.[3] Consolidated... Official language(s) English Demonym Coloradan Capital Denver Largest city Denver Largest metro area Denver-Aurora Metro Area Area  Ranked 8th in the US  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ...

James's voice was sampled by DJ Green Lantern and used in Busta Rhymes's newest album The Big Bang. The track was titled "In the Ghetto" and sampled James's "Ghetto Life". At the end of the song Green Lantern threw in a sample of James at the 2004 BET Awards in which he exclaims, "Never mind who you thought I was ... I'm Rick James, bitch!", and was immediately followed by "Cocaine is a hell of a drug!", referencing his appearance on the sketch comedy series Chappelle's Show. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Trevor Smith (born on May 20, 1972), better known as Busta Rhymes, is an American hip hop musician and actor. ... The Big Bang is the seventh studio album from American rapper Busta Rhymes, released on June 13, 2006. ... The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, shooting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. ... The following is a list of skits performed on the Comedy Central series Chappelles Show. ... Chappelles Show is an American comedy television series starring comedian Dave Chappelle. ...

Death

On the morning of August 6, 2004, Rick James was found dead in his Burbank, California home at the Oakwoods on Barham Boulevard by his caretaker. James had died from pulmonary failure and cardiac failure with his various health conditions of diabetes, stroke, a pacemaker, and according to the Internet Movie Database, a heart attack being listed as contributing factors. Minimal traces of cocaine were found in his bloodstream. is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the community in Santa Clara County, California, see Burbank, Santa Clara County, California. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... The heart and lungs (from an older edition of Grays Anatomy) The lung is an organ belonging to the respiratory system and interfacing to the circulatory system of air-breathing vertebrates. ... Congestive heart failure (CHF) (also called heart failure) is the inability of the heart to pump blood effectively to the body, or requiring elevated filling pressures in order to pump effectively. ... This article is about the disease that features high blood sugar. ... A pacemaker, scale in centimeters A pacemaker (or artificial pacemaker, so as not to be confused with the hearts natural pacemaker) is a medical device which uses electrical impulses, delivered by electrodes contacting the heart muscles, to regulate the beating of the heart. ... The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about movies, actors, television shows, production crew personnel, and video games. ...

A coroner's report released September 16, 2004 officially ruled his death as accidental, reporting nine drugs found in James's bloodstream: For the thrash metal band, see Coroner (band). ... is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

"Toxicology revealed the presence of the following drugs,

• drug 1 (Xanax),
• drug 2 (Valium),
• drug 3 (Wellbutrin),
• drug 4 (Celexa),
• drug 5 (Vicodin),
• drug 6 (Marijuana),
• drug 7 (Cocaine),
• drug 8 (MDMA),
• drug 9 (Heroin),

The report went on to state that "none of the drugs or drug combinations were found to be at levels that were life threatening in and of themselves." Toxicology (from the Greek words toxicos and logos [1]) is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms [2]. It is the study of symptoms, mechanisms, treatments and detection of poisoning, especially the poisoning of people. ... Alprazolam, also known under the trade names Xanax and Niravam, is a short-acting drug in the benzodiazepine class used to treat severe anxiety disorders and as an adjunctive treatment for anxiety associated with clinical depression. ... Diazepam (IPA: ), first marketed as Valium by Hoffmann-La Roche) is a benzodiazepine derivative drug. ... Bupropion (INN; also amfebutamone,[1] brand names Wellbutrin, Zyban, Budeprion and Buproban) is an atypical antidepressant, which acts as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and dopamine reuptake inhibitor,[2] and a nicotinic antagonist. ... Citalopram is an antidepressant drug used to treat depression associated with mood disorders. ... Hydrocodone or dihydrocodeinone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from two of the naturally occurring opiates, codeine and thebaine. ... A Cannabis sativa plant The drug cannabis, also called marijuana, is produced from parts of the cannabis plant, primarily the cured flowers and gathered trichomes of the female plant. ... For other uses, see Cocaine (disambiguation). ... ecstasy and religious ecstasy MDMA, most commonly known today by the street name ecstasy, is a synthetic entactogen of the phenethylamine family whose primary effect is to stimulate the brain to rapidly secrete large amounts of serotonin, causing a general sense of openness, empathy, energy, euphoria, and well-being. ... For other uses, see Heroin (disambiguation). ...

On August 11, 2004, a public viewing was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, along with a public funeral service there the following day. Following the Los Angeles services, his remains were transported back to New York for burial where they were interred at the unrelated Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York. He was divorced and was survived by three children (Tazman, Ty, and Rick James, Jr.) and two granddaughters (Jasmine and Charisma). is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery is located at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles, California, on the south edge of the San Fernando Valley by Burbank (and on the north side of the Santa Monica Mountains from Hollywood). ... Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo was founded in 1849. ...

The Buffalo News reported on August 6, 2006, two years to the date of his death, the placement of a gravestone at Forest Lawn. The two ton headstone is four feet nine inches high by four feet wide. Inscribed on it is an image from his 1981 hit album Street Songs, which included "Give It to Me Baby" and "Super Freak." The Buffalo News is the primary newspaper of the Buffalo, New York metropolitan area and its surrounding suburbs. ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Pop culture references

In the The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror X Halloween special in 1999, Rick James is shown singing "Super Freak" during a parody of Dick Clark's New Year's Eve special. As he finishes the song, he is promptly arrested by the police, saying, "Aw man! What did I do now?" Simpsons redirects here. ... Treehouse of Horror X is the fourth episode of The Simpsons eleventh season, as well as the tenth Halloween episode. ... This article is about the holiday. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... For other persons named Dick Clark, see Dick Clark (disambiguation). ... For other articles with similar names, see New Year (disambiguation). ...

In The Simpsons episode The Great Money Caper, Chief Clancy Wiggum says "I'll show you the Rick James cell. It's superfreaky!". The Great Money Caper is the seventh episode of the twelfth season of The Simpsons. ... Police Chief Clancy Wiggum is a fictional character from the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced by Hank Azaria. ... Super Freak was one of Rick James greatest hits. ...

In The Simpsons episode Sweets and Sour Marge, lawyer Gil Gunderson says "I've made too many enemies selling suckless vacuum cleaners and Rick James bibles." Sweets and Sour Marge is the eighth episode of the thirteenth season of The Simpsons. ... Gilbert Gil Gunderson, sometimes known as Old Gil, is a recurring character on The Simpsons. ...

In an episode of The Surreal Life, James made an appearance surprising rapper Vanilla Ice. The Surreal Life is a reality television series that sets a select group of out-of-the-spotlight celebrities and films them as they live together in a mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks. ... Robert Matthew Van Winkle (born October 31, 1967 in Dallas, Texas), best known as Vanilla Ice, is a Grammy Award nominated, American Music Award winning American rapper and actor known for the 1990 smash hit Ice Ice Baby. ...

In Epic Movie, the Albino monk is nonsense-captioned saying, "I'm Rick James, bitch!" for the Latin "Et tu Brute?," after he shoots Mr. Tumnus. For the film genre see Epic film. ...

Chappelle as Rick James in the popular "Rick James sketch".

James's drug-fueled behavior — as remembered by Charlie Murphy — featured prominently in a popular skit from the sketch comedy program Chappelle's Show. This skit gave rise to the catch phrases "I'm Rick James, bitch!" and "Fuck yo' couch, nigga!" Image File history File links Im_RickJames_Bitch!.jpg Summary Im Rick James, bitch! Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Im_RickJames_Bitch!.jpg Summary Im Rick James, bitch! Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The following is a list of skits performed on the Comedy Central series Chappelles Show. ... Charles Charlie Quinton Murphy (born July 12, 1959) is an American writer, actor, and stand-up comedian known for his role on the American television program Chappelles Show. ... Sketch Show redirects here. ... Chappelles Show is an American comedy television series starring comedian Dave Chappelle. ... A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. ... The following is a list of skits performed on the Comedy Central series Chappelles Show. ...

The appearance of the character Old Gregg, in British comedy show The Mighty Boosh, is based on James. Jordan Howe loves Old Gregg is a character in the BBC television series The Mighty Boosh. ... The Mighty Boosh is a British comedy television series and live show about two friends who go on a series of magical adventures. ...

In popular music, the album Comfort Eagle, by American rock band Cake, features a song entitled "Meanwhile Rick James..."; the album Come on Feel the Lemonheads, by The Lemonheads, features a song called "Rick James Style". Comfort Eagle is the fourth album by Cake, an alternative rock band from Sacramento, California. ... Cake is a band from Sacramento, California, formed in 1991. ... Come on Feel the Lemonheads is an album by the Lemonheads. ... The Lemonheads are an alternative rock band from the United States. ...

Rick James once made an appearance on Judge Joe Brown as a plaintiff suing Geronne Turner for a guitar and amp. Joe Brown Joe Brown, (b. ...

On the track "Chi-City" on Common's album "Be," Rick James is referenced in the line "What you rappin for? To get fame? To get rich? I slap a nigga like you, and tell 'em "Rick James, bitch.""

In the 213 Album "The Hard Way", Rick James is imitated on the "MLK" track in the end of the song

In the Jude album "No One is Really Beautiful," the song "Rick James" includes the line "Rick James was the original Superfreak."

In rapper Busta Rhymes album "The Big Bang," the song "In the Ghetto" featured Rick James' first verse of the original "Ghetto Life".

Documentary

I'm Rick James (film) is a documentary about the life and career of Rick James is scheduled to be released in 2008. James' daughter, Ty James, is a co-executive producer of the film. Originally scheduled to be finished and released in 2006, the filmmakers spent over an additional year tweaking and adding scenes to the film. After almost three years of production it was only completed in late December,2007. The film is the only documentary officially authorized by the estate and family of James. Music producer David Tickle is the Executive Producer, Perry Santos (once an assistant to James Cameron on Titanic) is the producer/director, HiddenDoor Documedia is the production company. Eddie Griffin, Charlie Murphy, George Clinton, Janice Dickinson, other celebrities, family and close associates also appear in the film. Noticeably absent are Eddie Murphy and Teena Marie, who declined to appear in the documentary.

Autobiography

At the time of his death, he was working on an autobiography, The Confessions of Rick James: Memoirs of a Superfreak, as well as a new album. The book was finally published toward the end of 2007 by Colossus Books. It is quite comprehensive and features a picture of his tombstone. Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

Discography

Albums

• 1978: Come Get It! (Gordy) - US #13, R&B #3
• 1979: Bustin' Out of L Seven (Gordy)- US #16, R&B #2
• 1979: Fire It Up (Gordy) - US #34, R&B #5
• 1980: Garden of Love (Gordy) - US #83, R&B #17
• 1981: Street Songs (Gordy) - US #3, R&B #1
• 1982: Throwin' Down (Gordy) - US #13, R&B #2
• 1983: Cold Blooded (Gordy) - US #16, R&B #1
• 1984: Reflections (Gordy) - US #43, R&B #10
• 1985: Glow (Gordy) - US #50, R&B #7
• 1986: The Flag (Gordy) - US #95, R&B #16
• 1988: Wonderful (Reprise) - US #148, R&B #12
• 1989: Kickin' (WEA)
• 1994: Bustin' Out: The Very Best of Rick James (Motown)
• 1997: The Ultimate Collection (Motown)
• 1997: Urban Rapsody (Mercury) - US #170, R&B #31
• 2002: Anthology (Universal)
• 2005: Gold (Motown)
• 2006: The Definitive Collection (Motown)
• 2007: Deeper Still (MRI) - R&B #19

Come Get It! is a 1978 Rick James album. ... Motown Record Company, L.P., also known as Tamla-Motown outside of the United States, is a record label specializing in the musical genres of R&B, pop, soul music, and hip-hop music. ... Bustin Out of L Seven is a 1979 Rick James album. ... Fire It Up is a 1980 Rick James album. ... Street songs is also a seminal 1981 Rick James album. ... Throwin Down is a 1982 Rick James album. ... For the 1995 movie about hitmen, see Coldblooded (movie). ... Reflections is a compilation of Rick James songs released in 1984. ... Glow is a 1985 Rick James album. ... The Flag is a 1986 Rick James album. ... Wonderful is a 1988 Rick James album. ... Reprise Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, operated through Warner Bros. ... Kickin is a Rick James album from 1989. ... Motown Records, also known as Tamla-Motown outside of the United States, is a record label originally based out of Detroit, Michigan (Motor City, hence mo(tor)town), from where it achieved widespread international success. ... Urban Rapsody is a 1997 Rick James album. ... Mercury Records is a record label currently headquartered in the UK, and is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. ... Universal Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. ...

Singles

• 1978: "Mary Jane" - US #41, R&B #3
• 1978: "You and I" - US #13, R&B #1
• 1979: "Bustin' Out" - US #71, R&B #8
• 1979: "Fool On The Street" - R&B #35
• 1979: "High On Your Love Suite" - US #72
• 1979: "Love Gun" - R&B #13
• 1980: "Come Into My Live (Part 1) - R&B #26
• 1980: "Big Time" - R&B #17
• 1981: "Give It To Me Baby" - US #40, R&B #1
• 1981: "Super Freak (Part 1)" - US #16, R&B #3
• 1982: "Ghetto Life" - R&B #38
• 1982: "Dance Wit' Me (Part 1)" - US #64, R&B #3
• 1982: "Hard To Get" - R&B #15
• 1982: "Standing On The Top (Part 1)" - US #66, R&B #6
• 1983: "Cold Blooded" - US #40, R&B #1
• 1983: "Ebony Eyes" - US #43, R&B #22
• 1983: "U Bring the Freak Out" - R&B #16
• 1984: "17" - US #38
• 1985: "Can't Stop" - US #50, R&B #10
• 1985: "Glow" - R&B #5
• 1985: "Spend the Night With Me" - R&B #41
• 1986: "Sweet and Sexy Thing" - R&B #
• 1988: "Loosey's Rap" (with Roxanne Shante) - R&B #1

Super Freak is a 1981 hit single, produced and performed by Rick James for the Motown label. ... Roxanne Shanté is an American hip hop vocalist, best known for her hit Roxannes Revenge. Her career began unusually, as she ran into three men talking about U.T.F.O., who had recently cancelled their performance at a show they were performing. ...

References

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
• Mary Jane Girls
• Teena Marie
• Category:Rick James albums

This is a list of number-one dance hits as recorded by Billboard Magazine’s Hot Dance Club Play chart — a weekly national survey of popular songs in U.S. dance clubs. ... This is a list of recording artists who have reached number one on Billboard magazines Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. ... The Mary Jane Girls are a popular American R&B, Soul, Funk and Pop group from the 1980s. ... Teena Marie (born Mary Christine Brockert on March 5, 1956 in Santa Monica, California, USA) is an American Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter/producer. ...

External links

• Rick James official site
• Rick James's early years
• Rick James, The Mynah Birds and Neil Young
• Rick James at the Internet Movie Database
• Rick James on Find-A-Grave
• "Thousands say goodbye to 'Super Freak' singer Rick James" article from the August 14, 2004 San Diego North County Times
• Rick James Tribute on Points in Case
• Rick James Interview about Religion and Politics
• Rick James's last lyrics Buffalo News Aug. 6, 2006