It seems they really didn't coverse or get along. Has anyone else ever heard this and if true I wonder why the animosity.

To this day, Rick still can't get over Prince's success. In recent interviews he still whines about him when the interviewer never even brought Prince up. Years ago when asked why he didn't like Prince, "He got bigger than me", said Rick.

Someone else will give you more details.

I've read that P refused to sign an autograph to Rick's mama

Supernova said:

In reality the crack pipe got bigger than Rick.

[/quote]

simple: misunderstanding.

I've made comments in the past about all that stuff so 4 the sake of saying something differnt about old news...

Rick started the bad mouthing 2 end up trying 2 dress and style himself in a very Princely way~ In a failed try 2 re-kickstart his dismal career at that point.

At the end of the day the jokes on him and his (Behind the music) drama that will follow him 4 life.
Even with them sad facts about Rick's life & career, he has a tough time humbling himself in the name of (damage control).

Two words: petty shit.

Rick was jealous of Prince

I still love, love, love Rick James' music though.

I'd take any of Rick's 80s albums over Prince 90s albums.

Rick hated Prince for having better hair. Rick also hated Prince's ability to win him at arm wrestling matches. Prince supposedly would softly whisper iz all about your wrist technique repeatedly... It really got to Rick and he seems to be a lil bito soar loser..

Rick just full of himself, not really a bad guy. Kinda like Eddie Haskell.

PEJ said:

"i hate you, prince! your hair's all yours, and all i got is this ridiculous weave...uhhh...so fuck you!"

Romance1600 said:

WORD! Street Songs is a classic!

I thought it had to do with Vanity(denise Mathews). Rick brought her to a party and Prince took her home,, I have always enjoyed that story.

I think it started back in the early 80's, when he open up for Slick Rick...the promoters of that tour billed it as the funk showdown...Rick James vs. Prince. Most of the nights on that tour it was said that LIL MAN threw down so hard, that it messed Rick's overall vibe up when it was time for him to come on stage...sort of like what happened to Prince himself, when The Time opened up for him on the Triple Threat Tour. I wished I could have attended the show, when it came here to Atlanta. But my friends who saw the show said LIL MAN dethroned Rick that night. They said from the moment Prince came on stage, he tore the house down with his Minneapolis Sound. This annoyed Rick to no end. He felt (even then) that Prince was a threat to his Punk Funk Empire and he was right.To my knowledge,this is the genesis of the feud.

I really shouldn't use the word feud, because Prince wasn't talking much to the press in those days. It was Rick that kept taking shots at Prince in the media.

I should mention that I'm a fan of Rick as well. But the fact remains, he just wouldn't let it go.

Alot of is is just professional rivalry.Rick got pissed whenever Prince would "beat him to the punch".Consider...


***In 1982,Rick mentioned a big musical that he was gonna make.It was to be based on his life,and the working title was "Spice Of Life".The project never materialized,but in 1984,Prince came out with his own film "Purple Rain".

***Rick claims that HE came up with the idea for a sexy girl group.But in the summer of 1982,Prince's own sexy trio (Vanity 6) released their album first,long before Rick's Mary Jane Girls came out.


There are several other reasons for their feud...


***Rick claims that his mother once asked Prince for his autograph.But he just ignored her and walked away.

***Prince once showed up at a 1983 Rick James concert in LA.He had his bodyguard Big Chick carry him to his seat,which created alot of excitement.Even some of the Motown execs were scrambling to get a look at Prince.The Mary Jane Girls were performing,but folks were more interested in seeing Prince...lol...this was a deliberate move by Prince to distract Ricks'audience."I don't mind",Rick later said."Princess obviously came to learn from a pro".


It's a shame that these guys had to be enemies.Could you imagine what they could have done if they had collaborated?

enjoyniki said:

Actually,from the way I remember this story...

Rick showed up with Denise Matthews (as she was called back then) at the American Music awards in January 1982.Prince was there and he somehow "enticed" Denise away from Rick.She apparently left with Prince and the next thing you know,she's his newest protege Vanity.

Ironically,when Vanity left Prince in 1983,she wound up at Motown,the label that Rick was on.She has said that Rick "helped her out" and gave her alot of important advice when she came to Motown.Perhaps he was thinking "Hey Prince,she left your sorry ass and came back to me"...lol...

DavidEye said

***Prince once showed up at a 1983 Rick James concert in LA.He had his bodyguard Big Chick carry him to his seat,which created alot of excitement.Even some of the Motown execs were scrambling to get a look at Prince.The Mary Jane Girls were performing,but folks were more interested in seeing Prince...lol...this was a deliberate move by Prince to distract Ricks'audience."I don't mind",Rick later said."Princess obviously came to learn from a pro".


LOL...I remember reading about this incident.

BRO915 said:

Yeah,I think this REALLY pissed Rick off...lol...

Romance1600 said:

What'chu talkin' 'bout Romance??
I have Rick's 'Best Of' compilation. He had some cool stuff, but there's no way I'd pick his 80's stuff over stuff like 'Diamonds & Pearls', '', 'The Gold Experience', 'Emancipation','Chaos & Disorder', and yes I'll add 'Rave'. Rick's creativity and innovation came to an end a long time ago. P still has a lot left to give.

Rick James has made some tight songs ...but Prince is betta

CherrieMoonKisses said:

yep yep!!

DavidEye said:

Interesting...more so that Ricks mom would B interested in his autograph...seeing Prince was at his early start of being a dirty boy on stage...if true funny stuff.

Maybe she got off on that huh?