At a time when the music marketplace is flooded with carbon copy rappers rhyming over recycled hip-hop beats, a new generation of talent is poised on the cusp of the come-up. Not since the Jackson 5 has the world witnessed a band of musical brothers whose high energy and artistic ability epitomize the phrase blood is thicker than water. That is, until this quartet of Miami-bred kinfolk appeared. Pleasure, Slick 'Em, Baby Blue, and Spectacular comprise the hip-hop ensemble known as Pretty Ricky, and they have emerged with a unique flair, coupled with the discipline and tenacity that breeds chart-topping success. Their unparalleled style stems from their unorthodox line-up, consisting of three rappers – Slick 'Em, Baby Blue, and Spectacular, and one singer – Pleasure. Pretty Ricky has been aggressively grinding in the Sunshine State and throughout the southeast since 1997. The guys learned at an early age the value of a hard work ethic. The boys had their very own Joe Jackson in their father, Blue Smith, whom they affectionately call "'ol boy." Blue was the staunch disciplinarian, ensuring that his boys were developing and perfecting their craft. Humbly beginning as pre-teen dancers for an older brother who was on the verge of his own solo career, the troop performed Miami-based hood dances in the background of his show. Their high-paced antics propelled them into the foreground in the eyes of the audience and not long after, the boys began to contemplate becoming students in the school of hip-hop. Spectacular, Slick 'Em, and Baby Blue were influenced by The Jackson 5, *NSYNC, Immature, Nelly, Tupac, and The Notorious B.I.G., while the group’s lone resident crooner, Pleasure, was honing in on Immature, Usher, Keith Sweat, Stevie Wonder, and Gerald Levert. But influences can only take you so far – what they needed was to find their own voice. They teamed up with producer Jim Jonsin of Unusual Suspects production team fame (responsible for Trick Daddy’s recent smash, "Let’s Go"), and history was in the making. "We want to be trendsetters. Everything somebody is doing, we try and go against the grain and do something else just to be different," declares Baby Blue, the serious, business-minded member of the group. Becoming known for their onstage dance ability, the fellas also began to express their unique style with their attire. Donning themselves in sparkling head-to-toe outfits, they became known as "those glitter boys," notes Slick 'Em. As a result, the brothers even developed their own clothing line, Marco De Bleu. By 2002, Pretty Ricky began tasting greater success with their song "Flossin’," which began buzzing on Miami radio station Power 96. With its infectious Miami bass beat and hook – "me and you, and you and me/y’all ridin’ on some 22’s and 23’s/we ridin’ on some 24’s down on the beach/no one flosses better/we flossin’ forever" – it was an instant hit with their rapidly growing female fan base. The ladies began to request the song on the radio, helping to rapidly increase the momentum and popularity of the group. Pretty Ricky continued grinding and hustling – writing songs, building relationships with their fans, and doing lots of shows. They have opened for some of hip-hop’s heavyweights, including Run-DMC, Lil Jon, Trick Daddy, Trina, and newcomer, fellow Miami comrade Pitbull, whom they cite as someone who has "opened doors, shown us a lot of love, and taught us a lot," announces Spectacular. In late-2004, Power 96 began playing another Pretty Ricky track, "Grind With Me," with its mellow, head-nodding melody, and their ladies immediately began demanding to hear the song. It instantly became the #2 most requested song on the station, and the group made history when it went on to become the most requested song in the station’s history. In December 2004, Atlantic Records Co-Chairman/COO Craig Kallman was in Miami, where he felt the huge buzz surrounding Pretty Ricky, witnessed a hysteria-generating live show, and hosted an impromptu audition in his hotel room. All of the training 'ol boy instilled in his boys, conjoined with their years of hard work on the road, culminated at that very moment… Kallman made them an offer on the spot. "Although other offers were on the table, the impression Craig gave our father was like… 'we’re going to take care of them,’" recalls Baby Blue. "And they shook on it right there," notes Spectacular. Keeping their entrepreneurial spirit alive, Pretty Ricky’s debut album, "BLUESTARS," will be released by Atlantic in association with the group’s own Blue Star Entertainment International imprint. Pretty Ricky pride themselves on maintaining the niche they have created throughout the years, appealing to the ladies while maintaining their unique look and style of music. "You can’t compare us because what we’re doing ain’t never been done before," states Baby Blue. "We hit every aspect of music. We do club music, party music, love songs, 'I hate you’ songs. We try to cover everything, since we’re a hip-hop group. Our main focus is toward the ladies. Everything we do is for the ladies." Pleasure croons about his requited love interest on the hook of "Can’t Live Without You," over a bluesy electric guitar while his brothers rhyme about their personal experiences of the people in their lives they can’t live without. "Get Up," a definite club hit featuring Pitbull, with its anthemic horns, pulsating drums, and chorus chant, is reminiscent of Trick Daddy’s hit "Let’s Go." "La, La, La, La" has the 808 bass bumping as the crew represents where they are from over a catchy chorus. And with songs like "Girlfriend," "Age Ain’t Nothing," and "Would You Be Mine," it’s clear whom Pretty Ricky intends to impress. Plain and simple, "we are the sex symbols of the South," asserts Spectacular. "It’s like a team full of Jordans where everybody is a star." And that’s Pretty Ricky.

Comments (31) | Add a Comment

FOR ALL YALL BITCHES OUT THERE PLEASURE IS NOT YALL MAN HE IS MINES. I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK HE IS FINE BUT HE WILL NEVER BE YOURS. YALL ARE NASTY AS HOES BECAUSE MY MAN DON'T WANT YALL SUCK A DICK FIRST OK IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM CALL ME AT 330-867-1286 BITCH. I HATE YALL YOU KNOW WHAT WHY WANT YALL TAKE YALL BLACK OR WHITE ASSES AND GO WITH SLICK'EM
Marshae Williams | shay_marshae_williams@yahoo.com | November 12, 2005

HEY IM FROM HOUSTON TX. IN 5THWARD AND I LOVE ALL OF YALL AND CALL ME
miranda | November 23, 2005

i think that pleasure from pretty ricky is so sexy.he is my fav person in the whole world. i have pictures of him all over my folder. i want to wish him a happy b day on the 27.my number one thing to do in life is to grow up and meet him.no matter what the risks are. i luv the rest of rhe group and really luv there bluestar cd. iluv #10 get u right and #8 age aint nothing but a number.but dont doubt this is the last youll hear from me baby. dont trip .
tina | December 24, 2005

spectacular i'll suck your dick all night. i'll fuck all day and all night. you can ride me any time you want.
kiran | r-jammin29@hotmail.co.uk | January 15, 2006

chung the buffest eva
Anonymous | February 13, 2006

dey r soooooooooooooo sexy but no one can measure up 2 pleasure he is da man (ma man)
Anonymous | February 13, 2006

pleasure is my 1 and only man. I lve you pleasure?
nicky | plasuregirl@yahoo.com | March 03, 2006

its ALL BOUT DAT slick'em 4 sho he da sexist 1 an any commons man gets read this u no he fine so dnt front
ALEXUS | PEANUTTAZ1992 | March 13, 2006

slick'em sexy aint he ? if u say nah MAN 4GET U
peanut | peanuttaz1990 | March 13, 2006

all u HOES OUT THERE THATS TALKING BOUT PRETTY RICKY IS FOR U SORRY BI*** I GOT THEM FIRST HOLLA BACK .MY WHOLE HOUSE IS FULL OF PRETTY RICKY.THERE SO FINE



















katie aka alwayz | www.yahoo.put it in.com | March 18, 2006

PLEASURE BOY I REALLY LOVE YOUR BLACK A** WHEN WILL WE GET TOGETHER F**K ALL THOSE H**S WHO WANT U CAUSE IF YOUR WITH ME THEY KNOW YOUR 4 ME SEXY A** THING.HOLLA BACK CUTIE
katie aka alwayz | www.yahoo.put it in.com | March 18, 2006

damn yall is just fine ecspecially you spactacular i just WANNA SEX YOU UP!!!
danielle | ttcgoddess01@aol.com | March 20, 2006

ALL I GOT TO SAY IS GRIND ON ME BABYS:PLAESUREP,BABY BLU,AND SPEC-T.YALL KNOW YALL FINE.SORRY SLICK'EM MY SISTERS SAID HA THEY WANTED ME TO TELL U THIS I'LL BE YOUR GIRL FRIEND AND U WILL MY BOY FRIEND YALL R HOT AS FLAMES O I AM YOUR #1 FAN BECUASE I COME TO ALL THE CONCERTS AND I GOT POSTERS EVERYWHERE PLEAS,BABY BLU,AND SPEC-T WHEN I LOOK AT YALL I KNOW WE WERE MADE FOR EACH OTHER.
ALABAMAS FINEST | April 19, 2006

LOOK AT SPECTACULAR ON THE FLOOR I JUST WANT 2 JUMP ON HIM AND RIDE
MRS.SPECTACULAR | NAYBLUSTAR@WEBLINK.NET | April 24, 2006

omg spectacular sucked on my neck like a vampire he lifted up my skirt and made it hurt on the real i mean pleasure is fine but spectacular is sexy i mean all the people at my school say we was mean't to be they already know you say something about him ya biches die so me and spectacular are finna get it on holla aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa spectacular right there aaaaaaaaaaaa yeah girl you like that hahahahahahaha.
autiyana spec's lover 4sho | autiyanaupshaw@yahoo.com | May 06, 2006 Previous    Next