Hark, Who goes Y’ Onder?
It is I, Richard of Nottingham
Well, Speak up lad!
News from the East Sire:
Rick The Ruler has returned!
That is the opening to one of the highest sampled, most successful rap albums of all-time: The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. I know I usually give a lit of about 5 songs that I think we should know, but I was talking to someone earlier this week about rap music. We started talking about some of the greatest rap albums of all-time. When he mention this album I almost fell over. I remember how great this album truly was. This album was released in 1988, an it was a landmark album at that time. Artist of that time rapped about social issues and about money. But Slick Rick rapped mostly about sex!
Ricky Walters (Slick Rick) was actually born in London, but came to the Bronx as a young child. He was known for his trademark eye-patch and thick gold necklaces. He came rose to popularity in 1985, when he recorded the rap classic “The Show” with Doug E Fresh. A few years later he released his debut album. The Great Adventures featured an array of rap classics. What I love about this album is the playfulness in the tracks. The production is down & dirty, combining piano & horns into his tracks.
The opening track, The Ruler’s Back, starts off with a funky piano and a horn section. Slick Rick doesn’t take himself too seriously, he’s even got a slow jam on this album. A Teenage Love was one of the first rap videos I had ever seen. A Teenage Love is without a doubt my favorite track from Slick Rcik. He is featured with his trademark eye patch, and thick gold chains with a big ass fur jacket. Let’s talk about the sex though! Songs like Mona Lisa, Treat Em Like a Prostitute & Indian Girl, explore a very sexual side of Slick Rick.
Prior to this album, there was no one really talking about sex, except maybe Big Daddy Kane. Mona Lisa & A Children’s Story are considered hip-hop classics. this album is filled with these types of tracks. This is an unforgettable album that anyone who is into rap music needs to have! This album is good from start to finish.
Shortly after the release of his debut album, Slick Rick was involved in an attempted homicide. Before his sentencing, he went into the studio to record his sophmore album. He released an album while in jail, and one since his release from prison. Slick Rick’s story is one of great promise that was never realized. He rose to fame, yet came crashing down just as fast! He showed so much promise, yet it was never realized, which is very disappointing, especially after listening to this album. So off we go/Let the music flow/But hold on/Because the driver of the mission is a pro/Rick the Rulers Back!