Rick James’ Son Faces 35 Years Behind Bars Amid Controversial Prison Incident—Is Self-Defense Enough to Save Him?

What do you do when your cellmate keeps coming at you like you’re the last slice of pizza at a party? If you’re Ricardo Matthews—the son of funk legend Rick James—you apparently go full MacGyver and whip up a homemade slingshot. Trouble is, this crafty move just added an eye-popping 35 years to his prison sentence. Originally scheduled for a 2030 exit, Matthews is now staring down the barrel of 2065—yikes. Makes you wonder: in a place where the motto might as well be “keep your friends close and your slingshot closer,” is there such a thing as self-defense without going way overboard? Let’s unpack the unexpected saga of a legacy, a prison brawl, and a sentence that stretches longer than most funk jams. LEARN MORE

Ricardo Matthews, the son of funk legend Rick James, just got hit with an extra 35 years behind bars after attacking a fellow inmate with a homemade slingshot. According to his lawyer, the man he hit had attacked him multiple times before. Still, the judge handed down 25 years to life, plus another 10 years. Matthews was originally set for release in 2030—but now, he may not see freedom until 2065