alphastreet said:

I was sad when Aaliyah and Left Eye passed too, but it was not comparable to Michael. Janet and Madonna are in my top 3 and I would be devestated if something happened to them too so I try to live in the moment, but it kinda hurts too cause I have seen them both in person already, and I never saw Mike though I came so close with 2 London shows and wanted to see him more than anyone else and feel his love and energy and talent and all. I knew it wouldn't be like another Victory, Bad or Dangerous, but I knew he would still give it his all regardless and entertain, but also wish he didn't do it if it was going to cost him his life like this :*( maybe both he and rick should have stayed overseas

Yea! I had a premonition about the late Aaliyah(I won't get into that)

When Mike went overseas years ago after he won his last molestation case. Maybe he should have stayed there.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

alphastreet said:

I was sad when Aaliyah and Left Eye passed too, but it was not comparable to Michael. Janet and Madonna are in my top 3 and I would be devestated if something happened to them too so I try to live in the moment, but it kinda hurts too cause I have seen them both in person already, and I never saw Mike though I came so close with 2 London shows and wanted to see him more than anyone else and feel his love and energy and talent and all. I knew it wouldn't be like another Victory, Bad or Dangerous, but I knew he would still give it his all regardless and entertain, but also wish he didn't do it if it was going to cost him his life like this :*( maybe both he and rick should have stayed overseas

Yea! I had a premonition about the late Aaliyah(I won't get into that)

When Mike went overseas years ago after he won his last molestation case. Maybe he should have stayed there.

I was in shock with aaliyah, though I don't remember crying, just being stunned. With left eye, I cried a lot on the first day, was upset the second and then calmed down. Michael shut me down, he didn't feel dead, it was like getting whiplash and not feeling the hurt until the hours pass or the next day or week or so seeps in, but emotionally, that was the worst shock ever and worst reaction I had to any loss by far. I do remember aaliyah's death day in detail though, like what i was doing before it and all and my reaction as I turned on the tv

I'm listening to Teena Marie now, Square Biz is the best!

But gosh, I know I'm selfish and I'm upset for people who know him more, but it hurts like hell I never saw him though his music did more than enough for me. I guess I really am a spoiled brat who just didn't get her way or something and throwing tantrums...

I always had somewhat of an MJ sixth sense. I really didn't know he would die, but looking back, I had a lot of signs and warnings that something was up, even on the day of, and days leading up to and paranoia about something happening to him being worse than ever, but thinking it's cause I was nervous about planning my London trip.

[Edited 8/16/11 23:56pm]

alphastreet said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Yea! I had a premonition about the late Aaliyah(I won't get into that)

When Mike went overseas years ago after he won his last molestation case. Maybe he should have stayed there.

I was in shock with aaliyah, though I don't remember crying, just being stunned. With left eye, I cried a lot on the first day, was upset the second and then calmed down. Michael shut me down, he didn't feel dead, it was like getting whiplash and not feeling the hurt until the hours pass or the next day or week or so seeps in, but emotionally, that was the worst shock ever and worst reaction I had to any loss by far. I do remember aaliyah's death day in detail though, like what i was doing before it and all and my reaction as I turned on the tv

I'm listening to Teena Marie now, Square Biz is the best!

But gosh, I know I'm selfish and I'm upset for people who know him more, but it hurts like hell I never saw him though his music did more than enough for me. I guess I really am a spoiled brat who just didn't get her way or something and throwing tantrums...

I always had somewhat of an MJ sixth sense. I really didn't know he would die, but looking back, I had a lot of signs and warnings that something was up, even on the day of, and days leading up to and paranoia about something happening to him being worse than ever, but thinking it's cause I was nervous about planning my London trip.

[Edited 8/16/11 23:56pm]

I remember two days before Aaliyah died. I watched her Dvd, that came with the deluxe package of her new cd. I had never watched it since I bought it. I remember seeing her on 106th & Park on BET that same week. I had noticed that I had never seen her that happy before. I said to myself she just seems too happy. Something bad must is getting ready to happen to her. Then boom that weekend she was gone. The same similar thing happen with Rick James death with me.

Teena Marie I had just chatted with her on Twitter about a week and a half before her passing. I was fortunate enough to meet her a few times. Really hard to write much about that.

Lefteye who was apart of my favorite female group of all time TLC. I believe she knew she didn't have long to live. She was searching for peace after living a tumultuous life. That documentary when she went to Honduras was very eerie. It caught her last days right up to the car crash. Which was filmed. I can't watch that anymore.

MJ if any period I thought he wouldn't make, it was during that last molestation trial. I mean he could barely walk to the courthouse during those last trial days.I remember thinking if they find him guilty. He would definitely commit suicide. He was just that vulnerable. I'm glad he made it through that trial and was exonerated of those charges. The best decision he ever made was moving overseas after that and leaving Neverland Ranch.

When he was planning or his people were planning the 50 sold out shows @ 02 arena. I said to myself, he would never break Prince's record there. I just didn't think he was strong enough to do all those shows. Until I saw his "This is It" movie...

I think he would be playing clubs and would've worked on getting in shape. Prob. would've played festivals and collaborated with new artists.

These are some of the clips from 2004.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...hR6QquV9bM

http://www.youtube.com/wa...QMfVWpzOPk

Clip from Surreal Life 2003

http://www.youtube.com/wa...re=related

He'd still be trying to pull the plug from Prince's show.

purplethunder3121 said:

daPrettyman said:

He also may have been doing a reality show of some type by now. BET/VH1 would have loved to have him on Celebrity Rehab so they could try to capture him being a trainwreck.

It was bad enough when he appeared on the Surreal Life with Erik Estrada, Tammy Faye Baker, Ron Jeremy, and Vanilla Ice...although he was one of the more sane ones on it.

Was that just a visit to that Surreal Life House? Please say he was not one of the "cast."

MickyDolenz said:

Timmy84 said:

Which is why I'm glad he's no longer of this planet because that would've been real embarassing (sp?).

I don't think Rick can be embarassed. He appeared on an episode of the People's Court (or some court show).

It wasn't all that bad, kinda hilarious in a way. It was Judge Joe Brown. He had loaned a guitar to a long time casual musician friend and the guitar was "stolen" while in this guy's possession. Rick wanted his guitar, or he wanted some money. During the "trial" the guy complained about how Rick "didn't need to do that" when Rick called him out in a loud voice for grabbing his ass in a bar one night. He walked over to Rick's podium and started raising his voice on Rick. Rick said "see now Judge Joe, Superfreak was just a song..."

brante said:

He'd still be trying to pull the plug from Prince's show.

allsmutaside said:

purplethunder3121 said:

It was bad enough when he appeared on the Surreal Life with Erik Estrada, Tammy Faye Baker, Ron Jeremy, and Vanilla Ice...although he was one of the more sane ones on it.

Was that just a visit to that Surreal Life House? Please say he was not one of the "cast."

No he was just a guest.

Timmy84 said:

allsmutaside said:

Was that just a visit to that Surreal Life House? Please say he was not one of the "cast."

No he was just a guest.

Good. I almost needed an adult diaper for that idea.

allsmutaside said:

MickyDolenz said:

I don't think Rick can be embarassed. He appeared on an episode of the People's Court (or some court show).

It wasn't all that bad, kinda hilarious in a way. It was Judge Joe Brown. He had loaned a guitar to a long time casual musician friend and the guitar was "stolen" while in this guy's possession. Rick wanted his guitar, or he wanted some money. During the "trial" the guy complained about how Rick "didn't need to do that" when Rick called him out in a loud voice for grabbing his ass in a bar one night. He walked over to Rick's podium and started raising his voice on Rick. Rick said "see now Judge Joe, Superfreak was just a song..."

Rick calling that dude out on his sexuality. Which I thought was hitting below the belt. Made me think after watching that show. It made me question Rick's sexuality. Because U can tell him and that dude were really close at one time. So obviously it didn't bother him then.That show didn't make Rick look to good. Not saying that being gay is not good. But Rick calling him out made him look like a jerk & homophobic while trying to make himself appear to be heterosexual...

[Edited 8/17/11 16:58pm]

Rick James was on Judge Joe Brown?

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

allsmutaside said:

It wasn't all that bad, kinda hilarious in a way. It was Judge Joe Brown. He had loaned a guitar to a long time casual musician friend and the guitar was "stolen" while in this guy's possession. Rick wanted his guitar, or he wanted some money. During the "trial" the guy complained about how Rick "didn't need to do that" when Rick called him out in a loud voice for grabbing his ass in a bar one night. He walked over to Rick's podium and started raising his voice on Rick. Rick said "see now Judge Joe, Superfreak was just a song..."

Rick calling that dude out on his sexuality. Which I thought was hitting below the belt. Made me think after watching that show. It made me question Rick's sexuality. Because U can tell him and that dude were really close at one time. So obviously it didn't bother him then.That show didn't make Rick look to good. Not saying that being gay is not good. But Rick calling him out made him look like a jerk & homophobic while trying to make himself appear to be heterosexual...

[Edited 8/17/11 16:58pm]

Yes, Kool, Rick has been known to hit below the belt. I do not think you are on point questioning his sexuality though. And they did indeed seem close enough to where one might loan a valuable guitar to the other. But it seemed like they ran in the same crowd of musicians over the years and had probably done some partying and socializing together rather than having a deep friendship. Rick didn't appear too terribly homophobic to me. Rick really seemed more offended by the gay (oops!) guy grabbing his ass rather than the fact that he was gay. And also, he wanted to make himself appear downtrodden by the experience. So, maybe that is homophbic?? Glad you got to see the episode regardless. As as it was, it was funny.

HotGritz said:

Rick James was on Judge Joe Brown?

Go to fliiby.com/file/354095/i76esv8ghu.html to see Rick on Judge Joe.

[Edited 8/18/11 11:24am]

allsmutaside said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Rick calling that dude out on his sexuality. Which I thought was hitting below the belt. Made me think after watching that show. It made me question Rick's sexuality. Because U can tell him and that dude were really close at one time. So obviously it didn't bother him then.That show didn't make Rick look to good. Not saying that being gay is not good. But Rick calling him out made him look like a jerk & homophobic while trying to make himself appear to be heterosexual...

[Edited 8/17/11 16:58pm]

Yes, Kool, Rick has been known to hit below the belt. I do not think you are on point questioning his sexuality though. And they did indeed seem close enough to where one might loan a valuable guitar to the other. But it seemed like they ran in the same crowd of musicians over the years and had probably done some partying and socializing together rather than having a deep friendship. Rick didn't appear too terribly homophobic to me. Rick really seemed more offended by the gay (oops!) guy grabbing his ass rather than the fact that he was gay. And also, he wanted to make himself appear downtrodden by the experience. So, maybe that is homophbic?? Glad you got to see the episode regardless. As as it was, it was funny.

I'm just not comfortable seeing rick james on a reality court show. What a step down. Aside from the drugs n stuff.

HotGritz said:

I'm just not comfortable seeing rick james on a reality court show. What a step down. Aside from the drugs n stuff.

It was sadder seeing him on there than it was seeing Ike Turner on the same show.

Timmy84 said:

HotGritz said:

I'm just not comfortable seeing rick james on a reality court show. What a step down. Aside from the drugs n stuff.

It was sadder seeing him on there than it was seeing Ike Turner on the same show.

Like I said earlier it didn't make Rick look to good to me. But would really like to see Ike. U have a link to that?

TylerHippie said:

He would've been like Alice Cooper.

Alice's last few are pretty good. "Along Came A Spider" being at parts excellent.

I don't think Rick had his musical ambition left anymore. People that saw him live say he still had it before his death, but his recorded output at the time was just plain awful and irrelevant to his funk audience.

I've seen some video clips of him from the days before his death. He just reminds me of those 50-60-somethings that still go to bars every damn night. Which is probably not too far away from what his life was at the time.

If he were still alive: With thanks to, I don't know, Tyler Perry, Rick would have become the film actor he should have always been. (If you've seen his small part in the movie Life, you should know what I'm talking about.)

I prefer to remember Rick the way anyone would want to be remembered--as a creative artist with some damn good music! Let us not dwell on his demons.

He would be on Tour with Dave Chappelle. I just got his Bio from the library, so I will add comments later.

WaterInYourBath said:

If he were still alive: With thanks to, I don't know, Tyler Perry, Rick would have become the film actor he should have always been. (If you've seen his small part in the movie Life, you should know what I'm talking about.)

I remember him in that film. You make a good point. Rick could have been a successful actor. Shit, if Ice-T's ole funky ass can get a part on a successful television crime drama there is no reason why Rick couldn't have had the same good fortune. Rick belonged on the big screen tho. He would have been great in Idlewild and Get On The Bus.

Let's put it this way:

If he was furious when MC Hammer sampled him back in 1990, then there's no doubt in my mind that he would have DEFINITELY hit the roof after seeing this:

anc282 said:

Let's put it this way:

If he was furious when MC Hammer sampled him back in 1990, then there's no doubt in my mind that he would have DEFINITELY hit the roof after seeing this:

No he wouldn't! Because he collected dough from Hammer. I'm pretty sure he would have made a pretty penny from this to..Rick was all about gettin paid.

[Edited 8/21/11 8:22am]

His last album is an indication of what he'd be doing. Selling out and hoping people would buy it.

HotGritz said:

I think he would be the latest greatest producer. The man was gifted.

You're think of the Rick James of the 1970s and early 1980s who was a leader. The Rick James of the 2000s became a sellout follower.

TonyVanDam said:

Timmy84 said:

Honestly he shouldn't have tried to make a comeback. Now that I think about it, he was pretty much RETIRED until 2003, 2004 when the Chappelle episode made him popular again. But he was out of shape and wasn't the same great performer of years past.

And that bother the living hell out of Teena Marie as well.

As much as the "I'm Rick James, bitch!" slogan gave Rick another opportunity for a musical comeback, it also turn him into somewhat of a self-parody. Instead of going back to being Rick "MotherF***ing" James (as he used to tell Teena in a heated argument) and being back The Funk, he was too comfortable with "I'm Rick James, bitch" and gave his fans a final career album that sounded like a Sade rip-off.

[Edited 8/16/11 15:08pm]

That last album was the absolute worst. I never listened to even one song all the way completely to the end. I simply listened to each song for about a minute, if that long, and pushed the skip button for each and every single track. No track got past midtempo, every track had those fucked up weak sounding drum machines and bass on them, and every track sounded like music by today's so-called artists. If a song sounds even the smallest fraction like today's music sounds, I despise it. When will these older artists realize that it is because of the way today's music sounds that they don't have a career anymore so when they make new music that sounds like today's music, they are joining the enemy. But then again, they keep thinking they might possibly be a success at it like old sellout ass Ronald Isley and old sellout ass Charlie Wilson.

.

.

.

[Edited 8/21/11 8:23am]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

allsmutaside said:

It wasn't all that bad, kinda hilarious in a way. It was Judge Joe Brown. He had loaned a guitar to a long time casual musician friend and the guitar was "stolen" while in this guy's possession. Rick wanted his guitar, or he wanted some money. During the "trial" the guy complained about how Rick "didn't need to do that" when Rick called him out in a loud voice for grabbing his ass in a bar one night. He walked over to Rick's podium and started raising his voice on Rick. Rick said "see now Judge Joe, Superfreak was just a song..."

Rick calling that dude out on his sexuality. Which I thought was hitting below the belt. Made me think after watching that show. It made me question Rick's sexuality. Because U can tell him and that dude were really close at one time. So obviously it didn't bother him then.That show didn't make Rick look to good. Not saying that being gay is not good. But Rick calling him out made him look like a jerk & homophobic while trying to make himself appear to be heterosexual...

[Edited 8/17/11 16:58pm]

I have always thought Rick wanted some of Prince and either got him on the "Fire It Up" tour and had a falling out afterwards, or attempted to get him and was turned down. Their competition never seemed like just a rivalry to me, it seemed like a couple that had a very messy divorce.