Pretty Ricky member Baby Blue poses for photos at Pretty Ricky's Artist Portrait Session at JR Studio July 25, 2006 in New York City.

Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

Pretty Ricky member Baby Blue is in critical condition after being shot during an attempted robbery at a south Florida bowling alley on Monday night.

In a graphic video circulating on social media, the rapper, born Diamond Blue Smith, is seen lying still on the floor, his body bloodied, near the entrance of the bowling alley while a friend frantically screams out for help. After a few seconds, two other men rushed to help the rapper who soon became responsive and rolled onto his side.

According to the Davie Police Department, two suspects approached Baby Blue and another victim in the parking lot and fled the scene prior to police arrival. The police department is actively seeking information regarding the suspects.

Pretty Ricky -- made up of Baby Blue, Spectacular, Slick Em and Pleasure P -- saw widespread success in the early '00s with the Billboard Hot 100 hits "Grind With Me," "Your Body" and "On the Hotline." Their 2007 album Late Night Special topped the Billboard 200 and was gold-certified that same year. Shortly after the shooting on Wednesday (April 21), the rapper's new single, "Jerry Rice," premiered on YouTube and his personal Instagram account.

Lola Young has joined forces with Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) to release a new T shirt for the charity’s Lifelines collection.

The shirt supports CALM’s suicide prevention work, with proceeds helping to fund vital resources such as its helpline and CALMzone mental health app.

CALM introduced the Lifelines range last year, with Fontaines D.C., Blossoms and Inhaler also contributing their own designs to the collection.

Young’s design includes the words, “There’s a flicker of light. There’s always morning after the night”, taken from her track ‘Flicker Of Light’.

“I wrote this song about realising there is hope. I have often felt like there isn’t, but there is always a reason to keep going,” Young said. “That’s even when you don’t want to get out of bed, you do, and that is amazing, and you’re still here, and you’re still alive, and if anything, that’s something to be proud of.”

CALM CEO Simon Gunning also shared his appreciation for the collaboration, saying: “We couldn’t be more grateful to Lola for supporting ‘Lifelines’ and showing just how powerful music can be as a force for good.”

Priced at £30, the T shirts come in both standard and boxy fits and are available to purchase here.

 

Young has regularly spoken about her experiences with mental health. She returned to performing earlier this year after calling off her 2025 tour because of exhaustion. The decision followed her collapse during a performance in New York City. During her time away, she later discussed receiving support for addiction and attending AA meetings as part of her recovery.

In an interview with NME in May, Young explained that she believes “all healing journeys are never ending”, although she is now “definitely in a much better place”. She also said she feels “excited and ready to perform and to release music”.

Reflecting on the encouragement she received after publicly discussing those challenges, Young said: “My fans inspire me in the same way I hope to inspire them. I feel like I’ve never tried to be especially honest… it just comes very naturally to me.”

“I don’t really have any other choice but to be honest, so if people connect to that, and that’s amazing.”

Several musicians have also applauded the ‘Messy’ singer for honestly addressing the pressure placed on touring performers. Lily Allen said she was “in awe” of the BRIT and Grammy winner, while Victoria Canal credited Young with bringing greater attention to the damaging impact demanding tour schedules can have on artists’ mental wellbeing.

When NME asked whether musicians were beginning to establish firmer boundaries around their health, Young replied: “I never intended it to start a movement, but I hope that it does in some way.”

CONTINUE READING