Pretty Ricky
from WikiMusicGuide, the free music guide. Your music wiki.
Pretty Ricky is a group of four American R&B/Hip-Hoppers originated from Miami, Florida. Originally named Pretty Rickie and the Maverix but decided to renamed themselves Pretty Ricky due to a conflict of another American band existed by the name of The Maverix. Pretty Ricky was popular for their single Grind On Me from their album, Bluestars in 2005.
Contents |
About
Pretty Ricky is a quartet composed of brothers, Ala Diamond "Baby Blue" Smith, "Spectacular" Blue Smith, Corey Lamar "Slick 'Em" Mathis and Marcus Ramone "Pleasure" Cooper. The band's name was inspired from a character in Martin Lawrence's comedy series called Martin (1992-1997) wherein the character used to dress different to everyone else same as the band itself and yet called Pretty Ricky.
Their father, Joseph Blue Smith served as the band's manager and taskmaster joined by their older brother, Joseph Smith, Jr. who initially put up the band's musical career under the name Pretty Rickie and the Maverix back in 1997.
Initially, it was Joseph who was called Pretty Rickie while the rest of the members were The Maverix. But due to Joseph's departure from the group and the existence of another band who go by the name of The Maverix, they have decided to change their name to its original idea, Pretty Ricky.
With the help of producer Jim Jonsin of Unusual Suspect production team, Pretty Ricky began to establish their reputation in the music scene locally. Their big break came when their song Flossin became a huge hit on Miami radio station Power 96 in 2002. Followed by being appointed as the opening act for artists like Run DMC, Trick Daddy, Lil' Jon, Trina and Pitbull.
In 2004, their song Grind With Me established a huge impact on the airwaves by being the most requested song ever on Power 96 right after being heard on the Love Hour program.
After hearing the song, the station's interim program director, Tony the Tiger immediately delivered it to Craig Kallman, who's the Chairman and also the Chief Officer of Atlantic Records.
Kallman have witnessed how the fans gone crazy over the guys at the Martin Luther King, Jr. parade in Hallandale upon his arrival in Florida.
Through that, Kallman conducted an impromptu audition of the guys in his hotel room at Loew's Miami Beach. After seeing them performed, they were offered a record deal on the spot and the result was Bluestars, which surfaced the market on May 17, 2005.
Two of its tracks called Grind With Me and Your Body has placed the 7th and 19th rank on the Billboard Hot 100 and in months time, Bluestars was certified Platinum by RIAA.
Following this success, series of shows kept pouring in like embarking on the Scream IV Tour with co-Hip-Hop acts Bow Wow and Omarion and encored in 2006 in the Scream V Tour alongside Ne-Yo and Omarion.
In January 23, 2007 saw the release of their second album Late Night Special. Three of its tracks include On the Hotline, Push It Baby and Love Like Honey that features their Pretty Clothing Line on its music videos.
Currently, the group is on the road for their 'Late Night Special Tour with Lloyd as their guest performer.
Members
- Slick'Em
- Baby Blue
- Spectacular
- Pleasure
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Dirty Award | Best R&B Group | Nominated |
| 2005 | American Music Award | Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group | Nominated |
| 2005 | World Music Award | World's Best Selling New Group | Nominated |
| 2007 | BET Award | Best Group | Nominated |
Certifications
Albums
| Year | Album | Certifications |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Bluestars | Platinum |
| 2007 | Late Night Special | Gold |
Single
| Year | Single | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Grind With Me | Platinum |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Song | European Hot 100 Singles | Hot Digital Songs | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Tracks | Pop 100 | Pop 100 Airplay | Rhythmic Top 40 | The Billboard Hot 100 | Top 40 Mainstream | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Grind With Me | - | 18 | 9 | 3 | 24 | 19 | 2 | 7 | 17 | Bluestars |
| 2005 | Nothing But A Number | - | - | 70 | - | - | - | - | - | - | Bluestars |
| 2005 | Your Body | - | 21 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 12 | 11 | Bluestars |
| 2006 | On The Hotline | - | 12 | 17 | - | 24 | 35 | 14 | 76 | 29 | Late Night Special |
| 2007 | Push It Baby | - | - | 51 | 18 | - | - | 20 | - | - | Late Night Special |
News
- The Billboard 200 Albums Chart Wednesday February 7, 2007
- Weekend US Album Chart of January 28, 2007
Tours & Concerts
Currently, No Tours and Concerts to date for Pretty Ricky.
Announcements
Discography
Albums
 |
 |
Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Grind with Me | Atlantic Records |
| 2005 | Your Body | Atlantic Records |
| 2006 | Nothing But A Number | Atlantic Records |
| 2006 | On the Hotline | Atlantic Records |
| 2007 | Push It Baby | Atlantic Records |
| TBR | Love Like Honey | Atlantic Records |
Compilations & Live Releases
No Compilations & Live Releases to date.
Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- According to The Miami Herald, the band was formerly called Pretty Rickie and the Maverix before facing an objection from an American country band, The Maverick, to change the name.
- In response to The Maverick's objection, the band's personnel then dropped "Maverix" while also replaced "Rickie" with 'Ricky" to be sounded more masculine.
- Previously had been joined by their older brother, Joseph Smith. Jr, when they were still under the name of Pretty Rickie and the Maverix before Smith received a lawsuit from AEC, a one-stop distributor of records.
- Pretty Ricky originally was the name used by their older brother Joseph Smith, Jr. while they themselves were the Maverix.
- All members are the sons of Joseph "Blue" Smith, but only Spectacular and Baby Blue who have the same mother.
- Recorded a cleaned-up version of album "Bluestars" for Wal-Mart and their young fans.
- Has established a clothing line named Marco De Bleu.
- Was also called "Glitter Boys" because of their flashy fashion style.
- Had their own reality show, entitled "Livin' With the Blue Stars," aired on MTV.
- Was also signed under Blue Star Entertainment International owned by their own father, Joseph "Blue" Smith.
- Single "Grind With Me" has already sold over one million ring tones by the end of June 2005, making it as the number one selling master-tone for Warner Music Group in May and June period.
- Their hit song, "Grind With Me," has reached 13th rank of the most-played clips on MTV.
- "Grind With Me" has also been the top-played clip for almost 4 months on BET.
- "Grind With Me" has another version entitled "Grind On Me."
Reviews
External Links
Categories: Artist | R&B | Pop | Southern Hip-Hop | Pop Rap
