Rick James was influenced by singers such as Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson, James started singing in doo-wop and R&B groups as a teenager in his hometown of Buffalo, New York. 1981’s Street Songs, launched him into superstardom thanks to the hit singles, Give It to Me Baby and Super Freak, the latter song becoming his signature song for the rest of his life, and the basis of MC Hammer’s biggest hit, U Can’t Touch This.
His biggest crossover hit, Super Freak, which peaked at number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100, and sold over a million copies.
Super Freak
Give It To Me Baby
