For years the art of hip-hop storytelling has been mastered and seemingly founded by Slick Rick. Granted in this day-in-age, a lot of emcees are certainly getting much more creative with their storytelling, going so far as to craft whole albums based around one story (Mr. Lif, Sticky Fingaz, etc). However, before all of this surge of creativity (from the underground of course), the "ruler" Slick Rick donated one of hip-hop's creative gems with The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, his debut album, released in 1988. The London native Rick had already made a humongous name for himself thanks to his rhyming partner Doug E. Fresh around 1985. The dynamic duo dropped one of hip-hop's most unforgettable classic jams with "La Di Da Di". After quite along break, Slick the Ruler returned to hip-hop with his debut album, which is sadly overlooked by many, but still stands as a groundbreaking classic.



Track List & Rating

1. Treat Her Like A Prostitute (5 Stars)
2. The Ruler's Back (5 Stars)
3. Children's Story (5 Stars)
4. The Moment I Feared (5 Stars)
5. Let's Get Crazy (4 Stars)
6. Indian Girl (Adult Story) (5 Stars)
7. Teenage Love (5 Stars)
8. Mona Lisa (4 Stars)
9. Kit (What's The Scoop) (4 1/2 Stars)
10. Hey Young World (5 Stars)
11. Teacher, Teacher (4 Stars)
12. Lick The Balls (4 Stars)




Slick Rick was one of the first hip-hoppers to spit humorous mysogony in his songs, but deeply doesn't mean to offend women (at least I don't think he does). In fact, his mysogonistic songs are mostly just harmless fun, but also manage to contain underlining messages. "Treat Her Like a Prostitute" is one of those kind of songs that appears to be a sexist, man-power anthem, but is actually a story of something that could be an everyday occurence. The jazz influenced beat is as hard to describe as it is fun, and is definitely a worthy album opener. The story on here finds Rick giving us various examples of how trifling women can be, and how they lie, cheat, and do all sorts of rubbish behind your back. Rick manages to stray away from being sexist, but gives advice as to how to treat women in a humorous way. Once again, this is harmless fun and should not be taken offensively at all.

The album's most popular track comes in soon enough with "Children's Story". Honestly, I can't even begin to list all of the rappers who have sampled this idea, lyrics, and everything. The song has been copied way too many times to count, but this is the original and a song which I feel all hip-hop fans must listen to. Slick takes his traditional storytelling formula and gives it a much darker edge, giving us a street tale about a young boy who is drawn into the wrong croud, ending up on the wrong side of the law thanks to his kleptomaniacal ways. Basically, it ends in a huge disturbing chase. Granted the video was quite funny, but the underlining message about choosing the right path in life is definitely not something to hark at. Regardless, this is a classic song, which is about as groundbreaking as you can get.

Slick returns to mysogony on "Indian Girl (Adult Story)", which many consider offensive towards Native Americans, but not really to me. Once again, Slick Rick specializes in harmless fun, and this is the type of song that is. Slick tells the story of Davey Crockett and Running Rabbit, only with a little modern twist to add humor. The song is honestly hilarious, and also fun to listen to. The lyrics are well-written, and the beat manages to be simple, but incredibly fun.

"Teenage Love" actually finds Slick straying away from the humor and sticking to serious subject matter, which is refreshing. Besides the well-produced, bass-influenced beat which sets the perfect mood for the subject matter, Slick comes off as potent as ever. The title pretty much says it all. Slick raps about the juvenile mind of those who are in love but are still young, but also sticks with an underlining message of the pain of breakup. The song covers the rise and fall of a relationship so well, that few songs, if any, could ever match up to it. The song is covered in beautiful poetic detail, and backed by a fittingly jazzy beat, we're given yet another classic on an already incredible album.

The album continues with "Kit (What's the Scoop)", which is a fun little joint which finds Rick storytelling about a kid named Kit who is Slick's biggest fan and must hear his new album. Basically, Slick Rick gives us a tight story of Kit running to the record score, but also manages to include the underlining messages of braggadiocio, finding Rick rapping about his skills as an emcee and bragging, basically making him seem egotistical. Quite creative if I do say so myself.

Honestly, "Hey Young World" is my favorite song on the album. The song actually finds Rick showing heart, explaining to children about the destructive nature of life, coming off as being halfway cheesy and preachy, but Rick's quirky humor and charisma make it sound inexcusably dope. The beat is definitely my favorite, with a nice use of pianos, drums, and violins mixed together to provide the most melodic beat on this LP. Besides all of that, Slick really gives us some memorable messages: ", Don't live in a world of hate hate hate, Pull yourself together and get yourself straight, Men don't steal, hey, most don't borrow, and if you smoke crack your kids'll smoke crack tomorrow, So be more mature and kids do your chores, Make your own money, hey, be proud that's yours". Granted the lyrics are simple, they serve their purpose.

The album comes to a close with the humorous storytelling joints "Teacher, Teacher" and "Lick the Balls".

The Great Adventures of Slick Rick shows us an artist who is witty, clever, a good writer, and venomously creative. His beats are very old-school and should be thrilling to listen to for any heads who enjoy that style of hip-hop. It's a shame that Slick Rick will continue to be unnaprecciated and forgotten as the years go by. Don't be one of the unlucky few who misses out on this classic (oops, did I say it again? blow me).

5 Stars









SIMILAR ALBUMS:

Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded

Sage Francis - Personal Journals

Sticky Fingaz - Black Trash: The Autobiography Of Kirk Jones

Outkast - Aquemini




Recommended: Yes