2000s R&B

Pretty Ricky: Where Are They Now?

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In the mid-2000s, the R&B scene witnessed the emergence of Pretty Ricky. The famous group blended smooth harmonies with seductive lyrics. As a result, they crafted a unique sound that has since left a mark on the industry. The group comprises the singers Corey “Slick’em” Mathis, Diamond “Baby Blue” Smith, Diamond “Spectacular” Smith, and Marcus “Pleasure P” Cooper. After bursting onto the music scene in 2005 with their debut album Blue Stars, the group quickly gained traction and became known for their provocative lyrics. With hits like “Grind with Me” and “Your Body,” they established themselves as sensual R&B crooners. However, they’ve been largely under the radar after the end of the 2000s, leading many to wonder what they’re up to today.

Waning Success, Lineup Changes, & A Pretty Ricky Reunion

While they enjoyed success in the early years, Pretty Ricky faced challenges that tested their unity. Over time, the group faced internal conflicts that led to lineup changes. Pleasure P left to pursue a solo career, and he was replaced by Carl “Mowet” Lovett and shortly thereafter by Christopher “4Play” Myers in 2007. The following year, Pretty Ricky began the production of a fresh album titled Eighties Babies. While it was initially set to be released in 2008, the album was shelved. 

4Play subsequently left the group in 2009, making way for Emanuel “Lingerie” DeAnda. Following a hiatus, Pretty Ricky made headlines with the announcement of their reunion. They also released the single “Puddles” in 2015. Since that time, the group has welcomed Pleasure P back into the fold. Today, Pretty Ricky aims to recapture the magic that once defined their music. 

In 2019, the reunited group became part of The Millenium Tour. They shared the stage with artists like Mario, Chingy, B2K, Bobby V, and the Ying Yang Twins. Further, the group released a fresh single titled “Body” in 2020, which will be featured on their upcoming reunion album. The group members have been in and out of the media for their personal endeavors. However, all of them have stirred up some controversy over the years. Here’s what the individual Pretty Ricky members are up to. 

Corey “Slick’em” Mathis  

Slick’em made headlines for stripping naked on stage during an event in 2017. The Pretty Ricky singer was also featured on the popular reality TV series Love and Hip-Hop: Miami. Sometime in 2019, there were reports that he had gotten married, but no specific details were disclosed about his wife. The rapper is also reported to have eight children from five different women.

Diamond “Baby Blue” Smith 

Baby Blue has become quite notorious in the entertainment industry. The rapper, who also appeared on Love and Hip-Hop: Miami, was arrested in 2020 for his connection with a COVID-19 loan scheme. Baby Blue was then sentenced the following year to 20 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud. He was also implicated in a scheme that secured $24 million from the COVID relief program. After serving his time, the rapper was released in 2023 but still owed $1 million in restitution at the time of release.

Diamond “Spectacular” Smith 

Post-Pretty Ricky, Spectacular ventured into business and established himself as an entrepreneur and motivational speaker. In 2014, he created Adwizar, a company that manages and monetizes social media accounts. The company has made a name for itself by managing artists like Soulja Boy, Birdman, Bow Wow, and Master P.  In 2017, the singer released his first book Spectacular Love: How to Make Good Love Last. The following year, speculations began circulating that he had enrolled at Harvard Business School. He was spotted wearing the school hoodie, but nothing was confirmed. In 2020, the rapper was arrested for allegedly assaulting a Disney employee. He was later released on a $500 bail. 

Marcus “Pleasure P” Cooper

After leaving Pretty Ricky in 2007, Pleasure P found success as a solo artist. He released his solo debut single “Did You Wrong” in 2008. The song made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 charts. His debut album, The Introduction of Marcus Cooper, was a critical and commercial success. Furthermore, the album scored a Grammy nod for Best Progressive R&B Album. His solo career also improved when he was featured on Flo Rida’s single “Shone.” 

Pleasure P released his mixtape, Break Up to Make Up, in 2014. Soon after, he returned to Pretty Ricky, reuniting the original four. In 2022, the singer participated in the web series Verzuz, which led to the creation of the supergroup R.S.V.P. The group consists of Cooper and other R&B stars: Ray J, Sammy, and Bobby V. Although the group is still in development, many fans are curious about their incoming sound.

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7 Of The Best ’00s R&B Groups

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By the 2000s, R&B groups began to dwindle, failing to achieve the incomparable heights of the 80s and 90s, while solo acts began to prosper. Nonetheless, there were many impressive acts that earned significant attention during their run. Also, a few popular R&B groups like Destiny’s Child crossed over into the 00s and still dominated the scene. With the current resurgence of R&B groups, many fans have been looking to the genre’s roots. These are seven of the best R&B groups of the 00s.

Destiny’s Child

No list of R&B acts from the 90s and 00s can exist without mentioning Destiny’s Child. Their final and most popular lineup included Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. However, past members, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Robertson, remain beloved by fans and contributed to the group’s early success. Furthermore, at the peak of their fame in the late 90s/early 2000s, Destiny’s Child was responsible for several hits, including, “Say My Name,” “Bootylicious,” “Lose My Breath,” and more. The iconic group also received fourteen Grammy nominations throughout their career, winning three.  

Read More: Destiny’s Child Albums, Ranked

Danity Kane

Danity Kane was signed to Diddy’s Bad Boy Records after being formed on MTV’s Making the Band. They were the first female group to have their first two albums debut at the top of the Billboard charts and sold a million copies of their first album domestically. Despite a heap of internal tensions, which caused them to disband after a few years, Danity Kane left their mark on pop and R&B with songs like ”Damaged” and ”Showstopper.”

Blue

Blue is an English quartet that was formed in 2000 after two of its members, Lee Ryan and Antony Costa, were chosen for a group by Simon Cowell. That group ultimately failed to reach widespread success.

One of their first singles, ”Too Close,” peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart. Furthermore, their first three albums were all chart-toppers. While English bands stuck to the Britpop formula, Blue brought a refreshing sound by infusing their music with a healthy dose of R&B alive in the first half of the 00s. 

Pretty Ricky

The rapping duo, Diamond and Spectacular Smith, formed Pretty Ricky, with Corey Mathis as a third rapper, and Marcus Cooper providing the vocals. Their first two albums were certified Gold, while their best-known single, ”Grind With Me,” went platinum. Towards the end of the 00s, their lead vocalist, Pleasure P departed, marking the beginning of the end for the R&B and Hip Hop group. 

Floetry

English R&B duo Floetry made waves in the late 90s and early 00s with their poetic lyrics and soothing voices. Comprising Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart, Floetry began by adding spoken word poetry to musical pieces. They soon realized they could move people with their talents and formed a group. They found success after moving to the US, where they wrote for other artists and began releasing their music. Their singles “Floetic” and “Say Yes” earned them four Grammy nominations. Their fifth nod was for their hit single “Supastar” off their second studio album, Flo’Ology. 

Read More: 7 Biggest Girl Groups Of The 2000s

B2K

Boys of the New Millenium, shortened to B2K, comprised of Omarion, Raz-B, J-Boog, and Lil’ Fizz. The group’s self-titled debut album was an instant hit, placing them on the Billboard 200 chart’s second spot. They also dipped their toes in the film industry, starring in You Got Served. Overall, they won three BET awards in their career and received multiple nominations for others.

3LW

3 Lil’ Women, aka 3LW, were a trio of talented young girls. The R&B girl group rose to fame in the 00s, releasing three albums, including their eponymous debut. The three members of the group, Adrienne Bailon, Naturi Naughton, and Kiely Williams eventually achieved success even after the group’s disbandment. 3LW is best known for their hit singles, “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right),” and “Playas Gon’ Play.”  

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