Rick James Quotes

I can't hang out as loose as I used to, but I can still go down Jefferson Avenue and look in the faces of winos, pimps and junkies, all the things I'm made of.

Funkers are people who dig the funk; Little funkers, Big funkers, Old funkers, Young funkers, Foxy funkers, Mother funkers, Papa funkers.

Whether you're rich or poor, life's still cold-blooded.

She's the kind you don't take home to mother.

My teacher said I would either be a hoodlum, or a great entertainer.

I just live one day at a time.

I'm still James Johnson. Rick James is a stage name. James Johnson keeps Rick James on the ground... Kind of sort of.

If anything I consider myself non-violent. I'm from the hippy era, peace, love, groovy.

Off stage it's cool-out time. You can't funk and roll ALL the time.

You and I, we'll be together 'til the six is nine.

KISS hammered home the importance of high drama...I decided to design my show with the same goal; I wanted my fans to remember my show for the rest of their lives.

Punk Funk means to be one with yourself. To be rebellious, aggressive, able to do and say what you feel at all times, without inflicting mental or spiritual pain.

I'm trying to change the root of funk, trying to make it more progressive, more melodic and more lyrically structured.

I get some letters from girls that if their mothers knew what they were writing me in these letters, they'd get their butts whipped.

I'm a long way from Ike Turner.

I believe everything happens under God's plan anyway.

Now is my time. Everything I've done up to this point is just a warm up. This is where it all begins.

I wanted my show to look like the fourth of July.

I had always been a free spirit, and always gotten what I wanted.

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.

I dont have aluminum foil on my windows anymore.

I'm good. Or maybe people just like me.

If I told you Jesus Christ was black you're going to be afraid of me because I'm telling you the truth. That's where I always come from.

I don't think the white establishment will ever respect or appreciate a black man who speaks the truth.

When I'm about Rick James, it's all about get out there and kill 'em.

I went to India, lived, and studied.

I wanted to play the Apollo Theater because I didn't think I was going to be on the earth long.

I'm too old to do crazy things anymore.

That girl is pretty kinky, the girl's a super-freak, I'd really like to taste her.

I decided to build up my band in Buffalo because Buffalo was where I had originally built up my own musical strength.

I think the people are just looking for freedom in music...There's a lot of she-bop she-bop going on out there. Maybe they're tired of that same old thing.

I'm not part of the Hollywood scene. I don't run around with 30 women. I have a very calm household. I'm surrounded by my grandkids and wonderful friends, and I consider myself very lucky.

I didn't even think I would make it that long. I thought I would drug overdose, like Jimi Hendrix. I thank God every day to even be here.

I was going to get drafted, but I didn't really want to go into the Army.

I try to make the audience forget all their problems -- for an hour and a half or so get them out of themselves, and space, and time, and consciousness.

I feel that I have to say something in a song and that it's not just enough to lay down the music.

You can't outdo 'Street Songs' and I didn’t even try. [It] had that special magic that comes with timing and good vibrations and you can't even try to capture that exactly again.

I mean, Rick James was just a man-made image, the image I created. Just trying to live Rick James almost killed me.

My music is pretty honest. I can't rap on science fiction. Punk is from the street.

Anybody that's old and closed-minded does not like Rick James... They don't like the fact that I'm free and I'm wide open.

I'm finally locked into the now, and it's great.

I'm really not tailored for responsibility.

If anything I consider myself non-violent, I'm from the hippy era, peace, love, groovy.