Rick James - You and I/Super Freak (Live at Farm Aid 1986)

Rick James performs "You and I/Super Freak" live at the Farm Aid concert in Austin, Texas on July 4, 1986. Farm Aid was started by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp in 1985 to keep family farmers on the land and has worked since then to make sure everyone has access to good food from family farmers. Dave Matthews joined Farm Aid's board of directors in 2001.
For more information about Farm Aid, visit: farmaid.org/you...
Farm Aid's performances are donated by the artists in order to raise funds and raise awareness for family farmers. They've raised their voices to help - what can you do?

[@courtneysawyers7380]

The world is ready for the Rick James movie

[@joemommatoonz]

Definitely!

[@troyhollywood482]

I’ll make It great

[@michaelmckenzie6311]

Comes out on Showtime this Friday night! Enjoy and RIP Rick!

[@talkyosh8948]

@@michaelmckenzie6311 owwwwww!!!!

[@peteshelby21]

No its not. Nobody cares

[@roclee8138]

People forget, Rick was one the best musicians.

[@Broomey95]

He was THE musician!

[@kunchoktashii]

Is this a joke?

[@roclee8138]

@Russell Shaw Shaw Annnd then proceeded to play. So your point ? 🤔

[@roclee8138]

@@kunchoktashii No it's not a joke. In fact some of his music is still used to this day. He's sold millions worldwide. You don't know this ????

[@CunhakJ]

Ben e king too

[@carpenoctem775]

Rick shoulda been filling stadiums along with Michael and Prince.

[@modernretroradio993]

He did -- in both America and Europe. In fact, he broke Elvis' record at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis.

[@carpenoctem775]

@@modernretroradio993 That’s an arena not a stadium.

[@cherrycola3793]

High or not 🙄This is Rick James!!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@quentincampbell6729]

We need a Rick James biopic

[@oakteaseriously]

CHARLIE MURPHYYYY

[@lisaellis2593]

Yes!

[@thale2422]

We do! I just don't think any one will do him justice

[@mvg0407]

In the works apparently

[@renatareibuddysmama2534]

No we don't. Just read his books. Plus biopics are a joke and have been pretty cheesy and poor quality. Read his book... it's more entertaining.

[@drumscovertercermundista8246]

this guy sang super freak, give it to me baby, did a piano solo and all without dropping the rhythm of you and i. Absolute Legend.

[@hillerm]

They were having some serious sound problems but still held it down!

[@queen_of_domination]

Rick James was just plain talented! He helped many people with their careers. Like many artists, drugs prevented him from becoming the SUPERSTAR that he could have been, like Prince, MJ, or Freddy Mercury. Rick James and his career faltered by the late 80s. But, I still love his music and appreciate his contributions.

[@klausrain111]

I love Rick James! Sad what drugs did to him.

[@alexfelix278]

Drugs didn't stop Rick you tripping he's the king of Pop there is no higher

[@DrakeShattuck]

You mean what he did to himself, right? He was no victim, talented, wealthy, very smart.

[@thepromiseman7745]

@@alexfelix278 he's not the king of pop .. you're tripping he's the king of punk funk

[@klausrain111]

Geez! That outfit makes him look more like Aretha than Wilson Pickett. Still, he's a great guy!

[@shadowferas]

Alex Felix I love rick James, but come on now.. MJ was the king of pop.

[@patriciawagaa6735]

He sounded brilliant live .

[@cupcakes7015]

Likewise 10/28/2020

[@warriorshub3479]

No.

[@patriciawagaa6735]

Really lolol 😅

[@404mackdaddy3]

Ummmmm

[@dominiquejones3805]

Rick was a musical genius

[@isaiahjohnson2516]

At least the bastard is singing live. Most people can't sing without lip syncing​.

[@kultenhughes3585]

He usually did lip sync. Hes still bad ass.

[@marlenafisher8167]

Isaiah Johnson

[@ericanderson7059]

Underrated legend , first concert ever w Sister Sledge as his opening act during the Bustin out tour . Unfortunately the Chappelle Show is the only reference most have but he was way beyond f your couch . Many a baby was conceived to Fire and Desire . P-funk lives !!

[@guitarnut4788]

Say he is high or whatever...they are raw live and he did not miss many notes on the keys or vocally. Any band that had the balls to play live must have priority in the music world.

[@jessealexander886]

This guy is sweating it out every toxin he has. And the guy beating the drums the way our parents beat us for getting suspended from school.

[@JamesJ30t]

@Jesse -- LOL!

[@WaitAMinute1989]

All leather jumpsuit, not a good idea in warm weather.

[@drummingdanny84]

😆😆😆

[@nolanschmidt5239]

😄

[@Taelathegazadiva]

@@WaitAMinute1989 rick did drugs too😐..

[@ginaly197071]

This was amazingly talented...........He was everything and said what he wanted to say, at all times. He is greatly missed!

[@NICKEYBLACK35]

Classic.

[@EbonyJT]

Dude beating the hell out of them drums!

[@Maxxroad]

Fuuuuing them drumbs up.

[@t1aoronin]

Hes cooked up

[@scottziglar3684]

Beating them like they owe him money.

[@devinthierault]

They owed Tony Thompson money so this drummer was more or less doing them a favor by beating them instead.

[@MoneyOverFame]

Love how he asked for help to tune the synthesizer Lol. Rick was a legend .

[@Coowallsky]

Nothing wrong with the tuning. He couldn't find the right preset.

[@THESESSIONROOM]

He can actually play ALOT of instruments!! And did in his albums! HUGE respect and love to Mr.Rick James!🎶🎸🎶🎸💙

[@Brickcitygirl]

high or not. he's a bad ass brotha & is killing it. RIP! SLICK RICK

[@ADavis-oq4et]

i like the rawness of this performance

[@overdriven77]

Bass guitar tone is THICCC

[@babayaga1767]

fun fact. rick james and neil young were in a band together before CSNY

[@tonys_figs]

The Mynah Birds

[@michaelstratton6701]

No way

[@scoonman]

@@michaelstratton6701 The only reason why they broke up is that slick Rick was actually awol from the army while they were together which put a cramp on things.

[@anneblighton7412]

Rick James had so much talent , RIP

[@WEHRWULF8814]

Why can't we have talent like this anymore?

[@JohnnytheTechnician]

It's so weird seeing someone sing and playing an instrument live. That doesn't happen nowadays.

[@TravelingCharlie]

Mr. Bennett, yup plus they don’t even know how to play instruments nowadays. 🤪

[@JohnnytheTechnician]

Traveling Charlie or write their own lyrics

[@fknWorldSeries]

Ok boomr

[@Mia-fw3qn]

Or sing live w/o autotune. None of them can.

[@spaceghost8995]

It does happen today. It happens every day. Great musicians are all around you. Go find them and support them.

[@davidkopec9442]

This cat rocked Farm Aid, played hoops with Prince, and then ate his pancakes. Legend.

[@quapcousteau9824]

This one of the few videos that demonstrates his musical talent on the keys. So great to see him having fun playing music, thats what it about.

[@gpmcd1044]

Whatever dude, this performance was s train wreck. He can't figure out what button to push on the keyboard (not just once, but twice), he doesn't realize there's no backup singers there to sing the chorus, then he tries desperately to get the crowd hyped up by singing various different lines from more popular songs and the crowd's just like "WTF!?". If you think this was a good performance, you're higher than he was.

[@quapcousteau9824]

Cool man, thanks for sharing your opinion.

[@carollilaelmirahogan6335]

QuapCousteau Fun? He's high on cocaine. I love Rick.

[@qbertykey6223]

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

[@rodrickdubose659]

I don't think he liked that keyboard...but he's definitely got skills, or I should say, had skills.

[@chimeox3959]

You can tell that's the drummers favorite song

[@djbhe]

He was spankin those 🥁 drums. I love it!

[@jimlaregina]

Such a great talent we lost way too soon. R.I.P., Rick James.

[@jesscouch8397]

GLOW !!!! I was 15 yrs old when my older brother took me to Parade Disco in Houston. GIVE IT TO ME BABY, was blaring throughout the club. This song put so much energy through our souls💋. We danced on the speakers. Miss this dude🙏🏻

[@RipCityEagle]

He's high as hell but still put on a show lol

[@FireitupBedford]

+Michael Williams He was gifted that way....

[@RipCityEagle]

Truth!

[@TurboMan51]

Wow that's the same thing I have said over and over..I love Deeper Still every cut is fiyah..that was Rick James at his best lyrics vocals and all. I have the cd and listen to it on the regular.

[@InfiniteRhombus]

so am i

[@TheRedHeffa-b8m]

Michael Williams Daaam Mike...I was about to type... you beat me to it

[@citygirlingraham]

Wow, I wish I could have been there for this performance.

[@kirbyl.4646]

Superstar, sure enough!!! I wish I was at this concert these four musicians are putting out some power on that stage. Wow.!!! 🎉

[@Kemet3.0]

Actually, Rick played 6 different instruments including piano,KB,drums,acoustic & bass guitar and stellphone.

[@waltercarter6163]

He also played the kazoo.

[@qbertykey6223]

Yaeh. Put ALL of his ability together and he could ALMOST play one instrument. Lol

[@ignaciopullum9891]

Plus the sitar from India

[@novachamber653]

and a pager

[@HDitzzDH]

And singing, which also is an instrument which he is incredible at.

[@debiluv6259]

One of the best concerts I ever attended was Rick and Teena Marie....Forum in Inglewood....whew chile!

[@LPMAN02]

RIP and long live Rick James (February 1, 1948 - August 6, 2004), aged 56 You will always be remembered as a legend.

[@gregoryisom8333]

I've seen Rick in concert countless times, and they always have him turned down, perfection was done in the studio, I'm a fan so he can have a stage full of ghost players, I'm going to see Rick in concert, R.I H super freak!

[@antoniowallace7477]

Dont judge a book by the look ...performing live back then was totally different he probably had been performing for hours before this clip...ion think he would've lasted high on coke that long sweating like that without passing out..

[@karinspears2782]

Neil Young and Rick James were in a band together!

[@nogooderpatriot3098]

Yep! The Mynah Birds! He sounded like Mick Jagger! He was 17 yrs old!

[@dkonciousblkfemknightman]

WOOOOO...WOW...WHEEEEEE..BOP BOP....

[@RTDavis0503]

Yep

[@myqueenimagivemydumassopin6841]

Miss him so much! The godfather of the r&b 80s!!!!

[@AkashaBadGuy]

While this wasn't his best performance, this was more energetic than most performances today. But I will admit by this point of his life, it was the few rare times in music history where heavy amounts of drugs did not make the music better.

[@simmiewilliams5970]

That was still better than a Drake or Jay Z performance.

[@vegasbaby3669]

Yes, yes, yes, exactly

[@hatuey718]

By like ten orders of magnitude. In Jay Z's defense, he came up in an era where music programs were defunded in NYC public schools.

[@mrforex3708]

You’re a hating ass old head.

[@dequincytaylor4772]

Have you seen a drake or jay performance are you dumbbbbb

[@burnsboy50]

@@mrforex3708 it isn't hating if it is true. drake and j z don't sing they talk

[@swanzettajohnson609]

I ♥️ WHEN RICK JAMES BREAKS IT DOWN 🎤🎤🎤🎹🎹🎹🎼🎵🎸 AND TALK TO THE AUDIENCE CLAPS HANDS👏👏👏 I ♥️ SOME RICK JAMES ♥️💋♥️💋♥️🎹🎵🎼🎸🎶

[@tooniemama6959]

Rick James.....what a talent he was. Prince and Rick James are rocking it out now in Heaven. Two greats gone too soon.

[@henrinevermind1781]

Lol more like fighting *☆

[@tyme4mike]

Prince is not in heaven...he did not believe that hypocritical teaching. He awaits for his resurrection to a paradise earth. That was his complete belief according to him being one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Just saying what he said...and I believe him.

[@tooniemama6959]

tyme4mike Okay, so shall we say that Prince is in his "heavenly" place, until he gets to paradise earth?

[@UNbowed62]

LMAO! I haven't even done a smidgeon of the shit that Rick & Prince did to self destruct. (I cuss a lot!) I guess I'll have a special seat @their concerts in hell! ;-)

[@RoRo-dl3hd]

heaven? i don't know about that.

[@SPEliveTv]

Rick James was so cold back then... One of the greatest of all time! That's what I call a master musician...

[@feliciastewart5840]

THANK YOU FOR THIS!! I ADORE THIS MAN ❤️!! BLESSINGS TO YOU 🙏

[@calvinwhitaker1019]

Don't diss my brother Rick James performing live is different than in studio that's a legend AKA Slick Rick James

[@commonsensei8719]

I love coming back to this clip. Its so genuinely funny

[@TheStJamesProject]

There will never be another who can compare to Rick James. I hate the way he left us, but while he was here, he did it his way.

[@Keviekev115]

You can tell he’s high by how he’s singing. Forgetting the melodys. He went off strict muscle memory in this performance lol

[@greymagician1]

And the sweat

[@Mr2110Sandman]

I agree Rick James was definitely high as a kite in this performance roflamao !🤣😂🤣🤣🤣🤣. Still don't forget that he was an infinitely better musical artist than most of the contemporary musicians of today . Rick James was a consummate legend that died far too young at just age 56 on Friday August 6th of 2004 . He had various health conditions including diabetes, a strock ,pacemaker, and heart attack etc .It's crazy how the best musicians always seem to have premature deaths. I invariably enjoy listening to his music and aspire to be a ladies man just like Rick James . He made countless timeless classics. RIP 🙏.

[@twistoffate4791]

@@greymagician1 I would hate to be trapped in leather onstage. Looks good, but methinks it would be downright uncomfortable on several levels. At least it looks good.

[@thiosemicarbizidebenzoylal2921]

I went to a James concert where he was magical in the late 80s, but was high as a kite.

[@alypha737]

When is he not high ?

[@brianprice5152]

I remember buying you and I record. Then street songs, love garden and standing on the top with temptation. Such a big influence, sadly gone.

[@ms.blessed2784]

What people talking bout..I love live because the artist can let it all hang out. If you want simple stay home and listen to record.

[@davidbyerly9846]

Once he got that keyboard figured out he jams out

[@oddmodd1]

Rick and Prince.., my damn. Ridiculously talented and 2 of the 3 greatest musical minds ever, regardless of genre and time period. Stevie Wonder being the other. All were talented multi-instrumentalist who could sing, write, mix, arrange, produce and play all of the own material. I challenge anyone to produce 3 other artist with more talent and shitload of hit records as these 3 collectively. Ridiculous.

[@aprilwest9852]

I'm hearing some negative comments here. I've never liked Rick. , but this video has changed my view on him. I love this !! The keyboards is cool !! I always did know that he had some genius in him. Very talented guy. But for some reason I didn't like him. But NOW I DO. I gotta watch this again.

[@rodriguezrobbiano]

There's no music without a bass player, and this video proves it.

[@rfp63sf]

He was an amazing musician and entertainer! I miss him!

[@Ambushofblacks]

took me about 15 seconds in to realize he was high af, first clue "0:15" how does this piano work lol

[@moedeesbasketball]

That's EXACTLY what happened!

[@elliotblack9676]

Also cool how the band manages to come in sync with him after just one bar

[@patrickrancourt4782]

Peice of history in Farm aid show's folk's !!!!! Look how Rick magnetize when he set fire any stage folk's Respect Rick RESPECT !!!!!

[@articulatemadness]

High as hell and minus 75% of the Stone City Band literally.

[@squareteam88]

Articulate Madness Right... By that time most of the band was gone.

[@pepas346]

he perfoms great even if hes extremely high, lol.

[@venusclark3066]

Yes i thought so too

[@warriorshub3479]

Lol.. the crowd was confused. In their mind, they say "this is not what I order".

[@RipCityEagle]

That boy is beating up them drums lmao

[@dabomb67]

i was thinking the same thing* He's hitting hard*

[@rashundaford486]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@maderianjohnson7856]

Yes indeed!

[@Korsfestelse]

Spun that left crash round in its mount!

[@marlenafisher8167]

RipCity Drummer

[@arthurpenfield8229]

Prince and Rick died the same age of 56. 2004, Rick, then 12 years later, 2016, Prince left us. Not a coincidence in my opinion.

[@Mia-qt4th]

Rick James is a very underrated musician.

[@lisabradford8180]

rick at farm aid? love it!

[@OvernightDrive]

Tom McDermott saves the day!

[@miguelguzman2286]

Great Rick James It is a pity that he is no longer with us but he left us his legacy.

[@dannydiaz5279]

Man whatever Rick James was on made his performance straight down right unacceptable for me if I was there I probably would have got up and just left due to the terrible performance but after all that said and done he is one of the all-time Funkmaster in the game rest in peace mr. Rick James and you to Tina we can't forget about you

[@lionzion17]

5:07 He was deadass on beat with that snare drum.

[@joef7520]

the fact that some of you'll are considering this a bad performance shows how good he really was cause this a good performance he jamming

[@SKILLSPORTSPREP]

So high he forgot backup singers 😂😂😂😂 beast!

[@clauz8986]

Fantastic Yamaha dx7 endorser

[@unboughtunbossed1841]

Needed this in this 2020 pandemic! RIP Rick🙏🙏🙏

[@tonyaf8]

He was amazing

[@shebelongstothealmighty9699]

What a talent & was workin' the crowd.

[@kadrae5277]

Just because was sweating in this video doesn't mean he was high at the time. As an experienced live performer, I've performed on stages where there was no air conditioning nor fans. Rick James was an energetic performer who also danced a bit on stage as well as prance around on it. That type of performance can also cause the artist to sweat quite a bit especially when there's nothing onstage to cool them down.

[@MountTheodore72]

Rick was definitely in his element!!!!!

[@Yimello]

Cocaine's a hell of a drug...

[@citygirlingraham]

Omg, I would have loved to be at this performance......

[@JimmyBahia]

Never saw him in concert but did see him everyday when he was an inmate at the prison that I worked at in SoCal (late 90s). He used to ask permission to come to my dorm to help anther inmate with his music on his Casio keyboard. I saw him again after he was released while standing in line at a reggae concert in L.A. He briskly walked by me and the people at the door let him in early. didn't see him in the audience later.

[@RastaSaiyaman]

Rick James showed up to a Mary Jane girls concert just prior to his death and met up with Bass player and long time collaborator Oscar Alston, he took Alston's daughter aside pointed at Alston and told her "See that man, he's responsible for all the success I had." That was the final time Alston saw James, but apparently James wanted to set the record straight before he passed on.

[@craigabbott3429]

RastaSaiyaman xxx

[@reanimate21]

You KNOW you're high when you can't figure out a DX7

[@musicman195959]

And you can?

[@twinsylvia17]

reanimate21 I don't even know what DX7 is

[@pualbattista6731]

Slick Sylba key board

[@csharpbnatural]

😂😂😂 Maybe they’re real grown-up equipment was hi jacked!

[@Danny-fs1hk]

reanimate21 😂

[@julieraymond1743]

You And Iwas the first song I ever heard from Rick James and I liked it then, and now too. Better than today’sDrake and whoever else is out there today.

[@ernestroybal]

Rick James is a Rock legend.

[@Sun2851]

Krackas, amazed saying this man has to be the coolest and most talented musician ever!

[@squareteam88]

Massive sweating equals cocaine is a helluva drug, LOL.

[@ThaCyNiQ]

Or hyperhidrosis

[@clapforboobies5892]

Or because he's wearing a leather jumper in 95 degree weather.

[@jirt87]

@@clapforboobies5892 all of the above!

[@10akee]

I love rap music...grew up during to the Golden era of hip hop and still like rap today. However, nothing beats musicianship and guys coming together playing instruments.

[@fourjayshutalla]

Man, I wish I would have went to one of his concerts

[@janioestanislau8440]

Rick James & James Brown eram fantástico

[@Dougie19xx]

Mannn they really slept on his vocal ability!

[@cordclaiborn3354]

Prince and Rick James are two of the best musician’s/artist’s that come to mind. I know there’s more but they come to mind first!

[@Cookefan59]

This is so sad. I saw Rick at his peak. This is him at his absolute worst live. For those who get the impression that this is Rick, you are his best and true fans. To me, this is another example of a once great and talented artist ruined by drugs and delusional thinking.

[@jirt87]

R.I.P Rick James,but this shit funny as hell.

[@4-TRAY]

Hey the first mashup /You and I & Super freak /High ass Genius /Go Slick Rick

[@scorpichella]

This footage is legendary. GO RICK GO!

[@MRS.LOCKETT]

The meaning of Talent we can actually see...

[@jimmyfreeman5714]

Rick James at Farm Aid, cool!

[@ms.blessed2784]

Get it Rick!!!!!🥰🥰🥰❤❤❤

[@ndorsey1969able]

Damn Rick was high af hey someone gotta do it RIP to a legend,

[@rickames]

Rick James & James Brown were two of the best performers in music: PERIOD!