RICK JAMES VS. PRINCE: WHEN TWO MUSICAL GENIUSES HAD ONE STAGE AND WAY TOO MUCH ATTITUDE

There was Rick James and Prince.

And according to Rick?

HE COULD NOT STAND THAT LITTLE PURPLE MAN. 😂

Now understand something. This wasn't just two singers arguing over whose perm had more body.

These were two ridiculously talented musicians, both provocative, both funky, both theatrical, both wearing things your uncle couldn't have worn to Thanksgiving without Grandma calling a family meeting.

And according to Rick James' own account, things started getting spicy when Prince became his opening act on Rick's 1980 Fire It Up tour.

🎸 WAIT... PRINCE OPENED FOR RICK JAMES?!

Yes!

Before Prince became PRINCE-prince, he was still building his audience.

Rick James was already riding high from hits like “You and I” and “Mary Jane,” and Prince joined Rick's tour as an opening act.

Now normally the opening act understands the assignment:

Come out.

Do your little songs.

Thank everybody.

Get your equipment.

AND GET YOUR ASS OFF THE STAGE.

Prince apparently had other plans. 😂

Rick later wrote in his memoir Glow that Prince's performances began getting a LOT of attention.

And Rick noticed.

👀 RICK SAID PRINCE WAS COPYING HIM

This is where the beef starts sizzling.

Rick believed Prince was borrowing from his whole presentation.

The clothes.

The attitude.

The provocative stage show.

The funk-rock sound.

Basically Rick was looking at Prince like:

“Sir... why does your homework look like MY homework?”

🤣

Rick accused Prince of imitating elements of his style and complained that Prince would watch his performances from backstage.

Now Prince wasn't exactly some talentless impersonator.

That man could write.

Produce.

Sing.

Dance.

Play approximately 74 instruments and your grandmother's doorbell.

So whether Prince was actually copying Rick or simply absorbing influences while developing his own style is another conversation.

But in RICK'S mind?

Prince had apparently walked into the Rick James School of Funk with a notebook.

🎤 THEN PRINCE STARTED STEALING THE SHOW

And THIS is where things really got uncomfortable.

Prince wasn't performing like an opening act who knew his place.

Prince was performing like somebody who had already decided:

“I'm gonna be Prince in about 15 minutes.”

😂😂😂

Rick later acknowledged that Prince was extremely talented.

But imagine being the headliner and every night your opening act is out there in bikini briefs, thigh-high boots and enough confidence to power the Sears Tower.

Rick backstage probably like:

“WHY IS THIS LITTLE MAN STILL ON MY STAGE?!”

Prince was building momentum.

People were noticing him.

And two enormous egos were now sharing one tour.

That was never going to end with everybody exchanging Christmas cards.

😳 AND THEN RICK CLAIMED PRINCE STOLE HIS SYNTHESIZER PROGRAMMING

Now THIS allegation took the beef from:

“I don't like him.”

to:

“KEEP THAT MAN OUT OF MY DRESSING ROOM.”

Rick claimed Prince and his people got access to Rick's synthesizer and essentially copied settings or programming Rick's band had developed.

That allegation came from Rick James' version of events, so we're not going to turn it into courtroom-certified fact.

But Rick believed it.

And Rick was MAD.

Because musicians can forgive a lot.

Drink my liquor? Maybe.

Talk to my girlfriend? We're gonna have words.

STEAL MY SOUND?!

Now you've attacked the family. 😂

🥊 AND APPARENTLY THE CREWS WEREN'T EXACTLY FRIENDLY EITHER

The tension wasn't limited to Rick and Prince.

Members of their entourages reportedly had confrontations as the tour continued.

Rick described the atmosphere between the camps as increasingly hostile.

So imagine this tour bus situation:

Rick James and the Stone City Band on one side.

Prince and his people on the other.

Everybody wearing leather.

Everybody wearing eyeliner.

Everybody mad.

NOBODY WEARING ENOUGH CLOTHES FOR A PROPER FIGHT.

😭😭😭

👑 THEN PRINCE BECAME... PRINCE

And here's the delicious little twist history added.

Prince didn't remain Rick James' opening act.

A few years later came:

1999.

Then...

PURPLE RAIN.

And Prince went from opening shows to becoming one of the biggest recording artists on planet Earth.

Rick James remained a funk legend in his own right, especially after “Super Freak” exploded in 1981.

But Prince eventually became a global phenomenon.

Which had to make the whole situation even more complicated.

Because imagine somebody you accused of copying you becoming...

PRINCE.

Sir.

That's not an opening act anymore.

That's a historical event wearing heels.

😂

🎶 BUT HERE'S WHAT MAKES THE STORY SO GOOD

Underneath all the insults and ego was something pretty obvious:

Rick James knew Prince was talented.

And Prince was emerging during a period when Rick had already helped push funk into a harder, rock-influenced, sexually provocative direction.

They weren't identical artists.

But they occupied some of the same musical territory.

And sometimes the nastiest rivalries happen when two people recognize a little bit of themselves in each other.

Rick was PUNK FUNK.

Prince was building the Minneapolis Sound.

Both men refused to behave.

Both men blurred musical genres.

Both men challenged what a Black male superstar was “supposed” to look like.

And both men could absolutely tear up a stage.

So maybe the universe simply wasn't big enough for both of those egos to peacefully share one backstage dressing room.

😂 LADY RED'S FINAL VERDICT

Rick James looked at Prince and apparently thought:

“This little MF is stealing my style.”

Prince apparently looked at Rick James and thought:

...

Well...

Prince probably just looked at him.

Prince didn't explain NOTHING.

🤣🤣🤣

Then Prince went back to Minneapolis, put on some lace, grabbed a guitar and became one of the greatest artists who ever lived.

And Rick?

Rick gave us “Mary Jane,” “Give It to Me Baby,” “You and I,” “Fire and Desire” and “Super Freak.”

So I'm calling this beef a draw.

Because while those two were busy side-eyeing each other...

WE GOT THE MUSIC.

And THAT'S the part I'm keeping.

💥 BOOM!

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