Pretty RickyLate Night Special
Purchasing a "clean" copy of Pretty Ricky's Late Night Special, their latest foray into machismo and chauvinism, makes about as much sense as purchasing an edited cut of Reservoir Dogs--you're gonna miss out on the entire point. Groups like Pretty Ricky fall into the lineage of sexed-up, unrated shock-rap like Ying-Yang Twins and the zanier work of R. Kelly; their entire existence is founded on thinly-veiled metaphors for sex and blunt invitations to the world of bedroom gymnastics.
Like trash TV (Laguna Beach, I Love New York, Ego Trip's (White) Rapper Show, etc.), shock-rap has its merits, questionable ethics notwithstanding. Over-the-top buffoonery, whether on purpose or by complete accident, is straight-up entertaining. Admit it. You love it. Don't feel embarrassed that you enjoy trash from time to time--it's your human right to! But sometimes, shock goes too far, its purpose far outweighed by novelty. Late Night Special is one of those instances.
When Pretty Ricky's debut Bluestars crashed into the Billboard Top 10 in 2005 it's novelty wasn't necessarily refreshing, but it was universally accepted considering Ying-Yang Twins "Wait (The Whisper Song)" raised the bar for potty-mouthed lyricism for decades to come. Now, in 2007, Late Night Special covers the same randy territory as its predecessor with slicker production, better drum programming and half the charm.
