The energy inside the Chase Square at Madison Square Garden is electric. The Millenium Tour 2020 returned to New York City on a rainy Friday night (March 6), satisfying fans’ yearlong wait for the nostalgic vibes to arrive in the city that never sleeps.
Big hoop earrings and jersey dresses paint the picture inside the lobby while chatter amongst small groups of people about which artist on the bill will have the best set fills the air. “I’m here for Pretty Ricky,” says one elated fan as she rushes to find her spot on the line waiting to enter the doors of the Hulu Theater. “My boys are back and I’m not missing out on this.”
Around this time 15 years ago, the members of Pretty Ricky were beginning to make their debut in a crowded R&B scene that included other notable groups like Jagged Edge and 112. Their platinum-selling debut single “Grind With Me” charted at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and helped the group stand out by opening the door for listeners to explore their raunchy, steamy world.
Since that time, the group has experienced ups and downs. Their first two albums, Bluestars and Late Night Special, were certified Gold with the latter debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The success from their first two albums catapulted the group into superstardom, winning millions of fans across the world and touring with the likes of Omarion, Chris Brown and Bow Wow. Unfortunately, personal issues and inflated egos within the group caused friction and placed a hold on things for the next few years.
Fast forward to today, and Pretty Ricky is back to heat things up. As a part of The Millenium Tour 2020, the group joins Omarion, Bow Wow, Ashanti, Lloyd, the Ying Yang Twins and more on a 32-date tour across the country. It’s the second time in two years that Pretty Ricky has hit the road with the first being last year’s The Millenium Tour, and if anything, the group is having even more fun with it.
Pretty Ricky back in NYC like they never left on The Millennium Tour 2020#PRETTYRICKY#THROWBACK#THEMILLENNIUMTOUR2020 pic.twitter.com/7RODWvEbsH
— ME VKV DON DVDV 🇭🇹 (@BlackDynamite91) March 10, 2020
“There are stretchers outside just in case someone faints,” Spectacular tells VIBE as the group prepares for a special meet-and-greet with fans before their set. “You know how Pretty Ricky does it.”
“It feels like 2005 all over again,” Pleasure P exclaims as fans screamed just outside the curtains. “All the girls got on their throwback stuff. The energy is great, and of course, we’re banging them with hits every night and it feels good.”
The hits were flowing as Pretty Ricky made a strong case that they were the best performers on the bill. During the lively set, rabid fans sang along to “Grind With Me,” “Your Body” and “On The Hotline” while rocking to the first-ever live performance of the group’s newest single “Body.” The Florida natives even showed they haven’t missed a step hitting their trademark gyrations in silk white pajamas with precision.
First ever live performance of Pretty Ricky’s newest single “Body” in NYC. #THEMILLENNIUMTOUR2020#PRETTYRICKY#BODY pic.twitter.com/Ac41pzC4KL
— ME VKV DON DVDV 🇭🇹 (@BlackDynamite91) March 10, 2020
“We know this is exactly what the people need, that good music and that good feel from back in the 2000s,” says Spectacular who also performed on stage in nothing but a towel halfway through Pretty Ricky’s set. “We want to bring that same feeling back and it feels great being back on this tour to give the fans what they want.”
“Every single night we get to come out here and create a nostalgic experience for them,” Baby Blue adds. “It’s kind of like we were the soundtrack to their life and it feels good to create that lifetime experience. They get to relive their high school moments or maybe the first time they lost their virginity, their first kiss or the first time they went out with their homegirls.”
A few years ago it seemed Pretty Ricky would be no more after they put their issues front and center on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: Miami and tried numerous times to fix their problems. There were even reports of a fight breaking out backstage between Pleasure P and Baby Blue at a show in Phoenix in 2018, but Baby Blue assures the guys are more than good this time around.
“It’s a family and the thing about that is sometimes you might get into disputes, or whatever, then two hours later you’re hugging. That’s the strength in family and it’s good that it’s like that with us,” he says as Slick ‘Em cracks a joke with Spectacular to the side. “Sometimes in other businesses you might not be able to voice how you feel about certain things and how it gets received. With family, you can voice those feelings, but you have the option to make a change and go back to that family member and tell them I apologize and I love you. I think that’s what keeps us together because it’s a family-based business.”
Keep up with Pretty Ricky at @PrettyRicky on Twitter.