Slick Rick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Slick Rick
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Slick Rick performing in 2009
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Richard Martin Lloyd Walters
January 14, 1965 Mitcham, London, England
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| Years active | 1984–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Mandy Aragones
(m. 1997) |
| Children | 2 |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
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Richard Martin Lloyd Walters (born January 14, 1965), known as Slick Rick, is an English-American rapper and music producer. He became famous in the mid-1980s. This was when he joined Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew.
Their songs "The Show" and "La Di Da Di" are considered classic early hip hop songs. "La Di Da Di" is one of the most sampled songs ever. This means many other artists have used parts of it in their own music.
In 1986, Slick Rick signed with Def Jam Recordings. He released four albums with them. These include The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988) and The Art of Storytelling (1999). His music has been used in over 1,000 other songs. Famous artists like Eminem, Beyoncé, and Kanye West have sampled his work. This makes Slick Rick one of the most sampled hip-hop artists of all time. Many songs using his samples became big hits.
Slick Rick was also one of the first hip-hop artists to have his songs covered. Snoop Dogg performed almost all of Rick's lyrics from "La Di Da Di" in his song "Lodi Dodi." This happened in 1993. Back then, it was rare for rappers to cover each other's songs.
Slick Rick has been honored by VH1 Hip Hop Honors. About.com ranked him No. 12 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time. The Source magazine ranked him No. 15 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Richard Walters was born in Mitcham, London, England. His parents were from Jamaica. When he was a baby, he lost sight in his right eye due to broken glass. In 1976, at age 11 or 12, his family moved to the United States. They settled in the Bronx, New York.
At The High School of Music & Art, Rick studied visual art. There, he met Dana Dane. They became good friends and formed a group called the Kangol Crew. They performed in school shows, parks, and small local clubs.
In 1984, Rick met Doug E. Fresh at a talent show. Doug was impressed by Rick's skills. He invited Rick to join his Get Fresh Crew. This group also included DJs Chill Will and Barry Bee. Doug's beatboxing and Rick's rapping made "The Show"/"La Di Da Di" huge hits. These songs helped launch Rick's career as a great storyteller in hip hop.
Slick Rick's Music Career
Becoming Famous
Slick Rick's career began in 1985. He first became successful after joining Doug E. Fresh's Get Fresh Crew. He used the stage name MC Ricky D. He was featured on the song "The Show." He was also on its very popular B-side, "La Di Da Di." On "La Di Da Di," Walters rapped over Doug E. Fresh's beatbox sounds.
Both songs gained a lot of attention. They appeared on TV shows like Top of the Pops and Soul Train. Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, a famous musician, said that Slick Rick's voice was "the most beautiful thing to happen to hip-hop culture." He praised Rick's clever lyrics, humor, and unique style.
In 1986, Slick Rick joined Russell Simmons's management company. He became the third artist to sign with Def Jam Records. This was a top rap and hip-hop label at the time. Working with his friend, DJ Vance Wright, Walters created his first solo album. It was called The Great Adventures of Slick Rick and came out in 1988 on Def Jam.
The album was very successful. It reached No. 1 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop chart. It also had four popular singles: "Children's Story", "Mona Lisa", "Hey Young World", and "Teenage Love". This album is known for its amazing storytelling and different character voices. Each song was a fun and exciting story from beginning to end.
Albums and Challenges
In 1991, Slick Rick released his second album, The Ruler's Back. This happened after he faced some legal troubles. He spent five years in prison. Two years were for a shooting incident. He said it was an act of self-defense. The other three years were due to issues with his immigration status in the U.S. He was released from prison in 1997.
The Ruler's Back reached No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, it received mixed reviews and was not as big a hit as his first album. During his time in prison, Russell Simmons interviewed Walters for a documentary film called The Show.
Walters' third album, Behind Bars, came out in 1994. He was still in prison when it was released. This album also had lower sales and mixed reviews. It reached No. 11 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Slick Rick stayed with Def Jam. On May 25, 1999, he released his fourth album, The Art of Storytelling. This album was seen as a big comeback. It featured collaborations with other famous rappers like Nas, OutKast, and Snoop Dogg. The Los Angeles Times called it the "triumphant return of rap's premier yarn-spinner." They praised the song "2 Way Street" for offering a different message in rap music. This album was his highest-charting release. It reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
In 2002, Walters faced more legal challenges related to his immigration status. He was arrested after a cruise and faced deportation. He was held in prison for 17 months but was released in November 2003. In 2008, New York Governor David Paterson officially pardoned Slick Rick for his past charges. The governor was pleased with Rick's good behavior and his work mentoring kids about violence.
Recent Activities
Walters married Mandy Aragones in April 1997. He has two children from a previous relationship. He and his wife have given items from his collection to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
On June 21, 2012, Slick Rick performed with the Soul Rebels Brass Band. This was at the historic Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. He also received a Mixx Cares Humanitarian Award for his good deeds.
On April 15, 2016, Rick became a U.S. citizen. He said he was very proud and honored. He also kept his UK citizenship. In 2018, he was added to the Bronx Walk of Fame.
In November 2018, Rick released a new song called "Snakes of the World Today." In 2020, he was featured on Westside Gunn's album Who Made the Sunshine. As of September 2023, Rick is working on a new solo album. This will be his first since Art of Storytelling.
Rapping Style and Influence
Music critics often praise Slick Rick's unique rapping style. Music journalist Peter Shapiro noted that "Children's Story" was important. This was because of its narrative structure and Rick's use of small details, like different voices.
He is best known for his "story raps." Songs like "Children's Story" and "La Di Da Di" are great examples. Shapiro wrote that Rick "largely introduced the art of narrative into hip hop." He added that no one else told stories with the same grace or humor. AllMusic calls him "hip hop's greatest storyteller."
Slick Rick speaks very clearly when he raps. He also keeps some English pronunciations. Shapiro even said he raps in the "Queen's English." Rapper O.C. said that The Great Adventures of Slick Rick is one of the best albums ever. He admired how clear Rick's words were.
Rick is also known for his smooth, British-influenced flow. He often uses a melodic, singing-like delivery in his songs. Kool Moe Dee said that Rick was completely original. He used different voices to play multiple characters in his story rhymes.
Discography
- The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988)
- The Ruler's Back (1991)
- Behind Bars (1994)
- The Art of Storytelling (1999)
Filmography
Slick Rick appears as a playable character in two video games. These are Def Jam: Fight for NY and Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover.
See also
In Spanish: Slick Rick para niños
