About Rick James: Rick James was an American musician and composer.
I wrote and produced millions and millions of selling records, so my publishing company alone was worth millions of dollars. I didn't have to work anymore in life because when the rappers started sampling... I'm the most sampled artist in history.
I think rap definitely has its place in the art world. I think it is an art form. But, just like any art form, you can misuse it.
After I saw Kiss on stage, I wanted my show to look like the fourth of July. The persona of Rick James was wild and crazy, sex, drugs and rock and roll.
I was angry about the fact that my father would beat my mother on a daily basis, that my mother would take it in turn and beat on me. I was an abused child. I was mad about all those things, very bitter and very angry.
You can't have rock and roll without drugs, you can't have rock and roll without sex.
I was going to get drafted, but I didn't really want to go into the Army.
I went to India, lived, and studied.
I'm really not tailored for responsibility.
I mean, Rick James was just a man-made image, the image I created. Just trying to live Rick James almost killed me.
I'm too old to do crazy things anymore.
I don't have aluminum foil on my windows anymore.
I had always been a free spirit and always gotten what I wanted.
I wanted to play the Apollo because I didn't think I was going to be on the earth long.
I'm a long way from Ike Turner.
I'm trying to change the root of funk, trying to make it more progressive, more melodic and more lyrically structured.
I believe everything happens under God's plan anyway.
I'm finally locked into the now, and it's great.
I just live one day at a time.
If anything I consider myself non-violent, I'm from the hippy era, peace, love, groovy.
