Sunny Miami, Florida, has once again bred artists whose music meets the audience’s requirements in many terms – four-member R&B band Pretty Ricky. Brothers Corey ‘Slick’em’ Mathis, Diamond Blue ‘Baby Blue’ Smith, Spectacular Blue Smith and Marcus ‘Pleasure’ Cooper released their debut album Bluestars in May, 2005, which quickly became quite popular among young Americans. The guys decided not to make them wait too long and this year presented the world with their sophomore effort Late Night Special. One of the main features that defines Pretty Ricky in the variety of R&B bands is their talent to combine quality rapping with remarkable vocals. Album Late Night Special has been claimed as a collection of hits without fillers and is based on the eternal theme of sex which is so popular in R&B music. As many have expected the record shines with production and pleases with catchy melodies that are worth of being played both at night clubs and at home.
After the first hearing of the record the listeners are not likely to get here anything more than a work of four romantically set guys whose hormones have made them write texts about the intimate side of relations only. However their ability to find something sexual in simple life situations like training in a gym (track Personal Trainer) or chatting in the Internet (On The Hotline) deserves admiration. The album opens with the title song, Late Night Special, which is remarkable for a great urban sounding and a soft melody. An up-tempo composition Push It Baby will reveal its best qualities if you listen it loud or through ear-phones as its beat is sure to give you a certain mood and either call for reminiscences or make your boredom leave. One of the most soulful and emotional tracks on Late Night Special is by all means ballad Stay. Due to its outstanding vocal line and a classic guitar riff it becomes an unforgettable anthem of a man’s attitude to his girlfriend, and especially the female part of the band’s fan base is sure to appreciate it. A light composition Peer Pressure brings out the brothers’ sence of humor, and The final track Make It Like It Was, a slower and more sensual one, lets us once again enjoy the wonderful vocal performance of Pretty Ricky members.
Many may still remember a 1997 hit So Fresh, So Clean as well as songs Flossin’ and La La La, which were performed by a Miami band Maverix. Little know, however, that that very collective comprised the majority of Pretty Ricky, namely, Slick’em, Spectacular and Baby Blue. Those times the band has had an experience of a local idol, but something probably went wrong. Luckily the brothers have had enough courage and spirit strength to overcome all the difficulties with producers and former band mates. All of them are now still young but mature enough to continue their musical careers and keep writing songs that find themselves on the top of the charts. The style has a bit changed of course but the key principle of the guys’ work remains the same – to make music they think is the best and choose topics they like most. Thus Late Night Special is hardly a commercial collection but an album of the band which is against all possible predjudices and limitations, and now that Pretty Ricky has found its niche it is not likely to leave show business too soon.
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