Where Is Slick'em Now? Why Pretty Ricky Became a Trio Ahead of the B2K Verzuz

When Pretty Ricky lined up opposite B2K for their long-awaited Verzuz matchup, longtime fans instantly noticed an empty space on stage. Corey "Slick'em Hound" Mathis, whose raspy cadences and kinetic energy defined smash hits like "Grind With Me" and "On the Hotline," was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the Miami group performed as a trio, featuring Pleasure P, Spectacular Smith, and Baby Blue Whoaaaa trading verses under the arena lights.

The lineup change sparked immediate speculation across social media, reigniting discussions about Mathis's ongoing personal battles. Lead singer Pleasure P addressed the situation directly following the performance, confirming Mathis's absence was tied to persistent personal struggles and health interventions, a dynamic further detailed in a Starlight PR Report covering the aftermath of the event.

📌 Key Takeaways:

• Current Roster: Pretty Ricky performed as a trio throughout the B2K Verzuz battle and remains operating without Corey "Slick'em Hound" Mathis on active performance dates.
• The Rehab Ultimatum: Group member Spectacular Smith revealed in May 2025 that the members offered to cover professional rehabilitation costs for Mathis, but the offer was declined.
• Brotherly Boundaries: Pleasure P publicly emphasized that while the group harbors no malice and continuously sends love to Mathis, professional boundaries remain necessary until genuine recovery occurs.

A High-Stakes Verzuz Battle With An Empty Mic

The Verzuz battle against B2K was engineered as a victory lap for early-2000s R&B and hip-hop culture. When the live stream began broadcasting, audiences flooded the chat with questions: Where was Slick'em? The trio of Pleasure P, Spectacular, and Baby Blue held down choreography and harmonic runs, but the absence of Mathis's rough-edged rap verses created an undeniable void in their classic catalog arrangements.

Mathis had long served as the sonic counterbalance to Pleasure P's polished crooning. His unpredictable stage delivery helped propel their 2005 debut album, Bluestars, to platinum status. Seeing Pretty Ricky on stage as a trio was not a casual aesthetic pivot. It represented the latest fracture in a group that spent years reconciling internal rivalries, legal hurdles, and solo ventures.

Spectacular Smith’s Rehab Ultimatum and the Line in the Sand

The root of Mathis's exclusion surfaced months before the Verzuz showdown. In a May 2025 interview with Vibe, Spectacular Smith broke silence on why Pretty Ricky began taking stage bookings without their fourth member. According to Spectacular, the group staged an intervention aimed at addressing Mathis's long-running struggles with substance misuse.

The collective offered to cover all medical expenses associated with an intensive rehab program. The caveat was absolute: Mathis needed to complete treatment before rejoining the group on commercial stages. Spectacular explained that Mathis rejected the offer, prompting the surviving members to protect the brand and avoid unpredictable live disruptions. Rather than pausing operations, the remaining members chose to fulfill performance obligations as a trio.

Pretty Ricky’s Shifting Lineup Across Two Decades

Pretty Ricky's trajectory has repeatedly weathered roster shifts, personal turmoil, and legal battles. Balancing familial loyalty with commercial touring demands has proved difficult across twenty years of live engagements.

Pleasure P’s Clarification and the Reality Behind the Silence

Immediately following the June 2026 Verzuz broadcast, Pleasure P took to social video channels to dispel rumors of malicious intent. The singer clarified that keeping Mathis off the stage was not punitive. Instead, it was an agonizing operational boundary established to avoid enabling someone struggling with unmanaged personal crises.

"We love our brother," Pleasure P stated during an exchange captured by digital entertainment outlets. "Nobody is turning their back on him. But when business and health collide, you have to be honest about what is safe for the group and what is best for the individual. The door is never closed to healing."

Online response reflected widespread sympathy for both sides. Viewers who grew up watching Mathis backflip across festival stages noted the visible toll substance abuse has taken on his life. Community sentiment across R&B forums underscored that holding boundaries is often the only responsible approach when dealing with addiction.

Navigating Legacy Tours and Fraternal Boundaries

The dilemma Pretty Ricky faces mirrors challenges seen throughout legacy music acts. On massive runs like The Millennium Tour, insurance underwriters and promoters require complete reliability. Missed soundchecks, erratic behavior, or compromised performances carry heavy financial penalties.

Baby Blue, who recently completed his own path toward personal rebuilding following federal legal troubles, echoed the need for accountability. The group has made clear that Pretty Ricky is a business entity supporting dozens of staff, crew members, and families. Keeping the brand viable requires every member on stage to function at full capacity. For now, Mathis remains on personal hiatus while living in South Florida, separate from active group operations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why was Slick'em missing from Pretty Ricky's Verzuz battle against B2K?
A1: Slick'em Hound missed the Verzuz matchup because the group instituted a firm boundary regarding his participation. After declining a group-funded stay in a rehabilitation facility, Mathis was placed on an indefinite performance hiatus.

Q2: Is Corey "Slick'em Hound" Mathis permanently out of Pretty Ricky?
A2: Group members have stated the exclusion is not necessarily permanent. Pleasure P and Spectacular Smith have both maintained that if Mathis chooses to complete treatment and stabilize his personal health, the group remains open to welcoming him back.

Q3: How did Pretty Ricky perform their classic tracks without Slick'em?
A3: During the Verzuz live stream and recent tour appearances, the group adjusted song arrangements. Spectacular Smith and Baby Blue Whoaaaa absorbed additional vocal sections, while certain background tracks supported the signature verses originally recorded by Mathis.

The Road Forward for Pretty Ricky and Corey Mathis

Pretty Ricky's survival as a live touring act hinges on their ability to deliver nostalgic, high-energy shows without sacrificing personal well-being. Performing as a trio is clearly a compromise, yet it represents a necessary preservation effort. For Spectacular, Pleasure P, and Baby Blue, carrying the catalog forward honors the music while keeping an olive branch extended for Corey Mathis whenever he chooses recovery.