Slick Rick

Essential Albums

  • The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick
    The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick

    Storytelling has been a part of recorded hip-hop music since the beginning, having evolved from limericks and anecdotes in the rhymes of The Sugarhill Gang to the dramatic inner-city blues of Duke Bootee and Grandmaster Melle Mel on “The Message.” Rappers such as Ice Cube, Nas, André 3000, Scarface, and The Notorious B.I.G. were all hailed for their narrative prowess. But they all owe a debt to Slick Rick, the master storyteller who made his splashy debut in 1985 with such genre-defining hits as “The Show” and “La Di Da Di.” Three years later, Slick Rick’s debut album, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, delivered on the promise of those breakout tracks, introducing millions of listeners to the English-born, Bronx-bred gentleman-rudeboy known for his eyepatch, sharp suits, Kangol hats, and ostentatious jewelry. He returns from his hiatus to assert himself as hip-hop’s new debonair monarch in “The Ruler’s Back,” waving his scepter at imitators and haters: “There’s a lot of people out here tryin’ to sound like Ricky D/Not tryin’ to cause trouble, ’cause it’s really a small thing/But they’re bitin’ what I’m writin’/God, it’s great being the king.” And he’s a king with a conscience: On “Children’s Story” and “The Moment I Feared,” Rick crafts cautionary tales about living a life of crime and making bad decisions, with poignant conclusions that could come from a noir novel or mob film. The potent “Hey Young World,” meanwhile, finds him encouraging young people to walk the straight and narrow path to success. Then there’s Rick’s lovesick side, which is on full display in “Teenage Love” and “Mona Lisa.” On the former, he details the many intense emotions of young love, and the inevitable heartbreak that follows; on the latter, he unspools a vignette about a witty flirtation, one that lands with a bittersweet ending. The art of storytelling is one of hip-hop’s calling cards, and The Great Adventures of Slick Rick is a masterclass in weaving tales that are sensational and emotionally evocative.

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About Slick Rick

Slick Rick is rap’s storyteller laureate. The hip-hop legend is also known for his captivating flow and flashy fashion sense. • He was born and raised in London to Jamaican parents. The family moved to the Bronx in 1976. • Slick Rick regularly dons an eyepatch to cover an injury he suffered as a child. • As a high school student at Fiorello H. Laguardia High School of Music & Art, Slick Rick and classmate Dana Dane formed the hip-hop group Kangol Crew. Both would later become elite rap storytellers. • Slick Rick’s 1988 debut album, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and achieved platinum certification less than one year after its Def Jam release. • His classic song “Children’s Story” was adapted into a children’s book in 2017. • In 1990, at the peak of his success, Slick Rick plead guilty to attempted murder following a dispute with his cousin and former bodyguard. He remained behind bars until 1997. • The rapper’s fourth album, 1999’s The Art of Storytelling, became Rick’s second LP to reach No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. • Facing deportation related to his past conviction, Slick Rick was pardoned by New York Governor David A. Paterson in 2008. • Slick Rick songs have been covered by Snoop Dogg, Black Star, and The Roots.

HOMETOWN
London, England
BORN
January 14, 1965
GENRE
Hip-Hop/Rap

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