The King of Punk-Funk: Rick James’ Unbelievable Yet Very Real Life

Kiss It, U.S. Army!

We’ve all heard the now-iconic catchphrase “I’m Rick James, b****!” – a phrase so culturally popular that even a Lego store in Australia officially calls themselves “I’m Rick James Bricks.” Born James Ambrose Johnson Jr. in 1948, the future music star dreaded the idea of being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War.

Rick James posing in the studio

Photo by Pat Johnson / Shutterstock

When he was 15, he lied his way into the Naval Reserve. He then dodged the Reserves, too. His excuse: He couldn’t take the “regimentation and conformity.” Instead of serving his country, he spent his time drumming for jazz groups and, well, doing drugs. In 1964, he was nonetheless placed on active duty, but James defiantly told the military draft board to “kiss his ashy black a$$” and fled the country to Toronto, Canada.