Hip-hop legend Slick Rick is proving his artistic spark is way from fading.
The English-born rapper — recognized for his signature eye patch and masterful storytelling — returned to the sales space together with his first new venture in practically three many years. He’s reminding the world of his timeless rap prowess on his visible album, “Victory,” launched Friday.
It marks Slick Rick’s first album since 1999’s “The Art of Storytelling.” This new venture is essentially self-produced, with the rapper dealing with 95% of the manufacturing and sharing government producer duties with Emmy-nominated actor and occasional rapper-DJ Idris Elba, who seems on the album alongside Nas, Giggs and Estelle.
“You was a young adult, then a middled aged man and now you’re an older man, so my mentality has to grow with it,” stated Slick Rick, recognized for his rap classics corresponding to “Children’s Story,” “La Di Da Di” with Doug E. Fresh and “Mona Lisa.” His debut album, “The Great Adventures of Slick Rick,” in 1988 hit No. 1 on the Billboard R&B/hip-hop charts.
“Victory” was 4 years within the making, with Slick Rick, now 60, writing and recording the album between his birthplace of London then France, whereas the visuals had been filmed within the United States, United Kingdom and Africa.
Slick Rick believes his voice nonetheless resonates in hip-hop. He stated the themes he tackles have grown with him.
“Can’t always be children all the time,” he stated. “We grow and talk about things that interest us at this age.”
In a current interview, Slick Rick spoke with The Associated Press about how storytelling performs a task in right this moment’s rap, his relationship with Elba and the way hip-hop has no limitations.
Remarks have been edited for readability and brevity.
AP: How did you and Idris hook up?
SLICK RICK: We met at a celebration after which we clicked. His individuals reached out to me, and so they wished to make an album. They flew me to England and France. I frolicked with Idris at his cribs, and we simply did what we do. We simply had enjoyable, And then once we was completed, we stated, “Yeah, we’re ready to bring it to the marketplace.”
AP: Did you ever really feel hesitant stepping again into the highlight, or did this album really feel like future?
SLICK RICK: It may’ve been just a little hesitation, however you’re simply having enjoyable. We simply bringing it to {the marketplace} and see what occurs. There’s no stress or nothing. We’re bringing it to the individuals to see in the event that they prefer it. Feed them.
AP: When did you are feeling like this venture was prepared for public consumption?
SLICK RICK: When we had been within the studio with Idris doing our factor, I checked the reactions of individuals. But then I noticed individuals of their pleased place. Once I noticed that, I’m good. I see him and his individuals’s pleased. Somewhat dancing. Popped just a little Moet. We had been having a great time.
AP: You blended hip-hop melodies with numerous sounds together with reggae and home music. What was your imaginative and prescient behind this musical strategy?
SLICK RICK: It’s what Black individuals like. We’re not simply hip-hop. We like reggae. We like home music. Let’s say just like the Beatles or Barry Manilow. We go in all places. Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross. We go locations. We attempt to entertain ourselves in numerous areas of existence.
AP: What made you go the visible album route?
SLICK RICK: It was saving time. People make songs and do movies anyway. So why not simply pace this up actual fast? Video and rap each on the identical time. Boom, let’s hold it transferring. … This is like watching a film. You wish to develop the image. Not solely do you hear my voice and the music, which is the essence. You get … visible image as effectively.
AP: You produced the majority of the album. Why did you resolve to go that route as an alternative of enlisting different producers?
SLICK RICK: In my artistic course of, I have to have lots of enter or it’s not going to be genuine Rick. Too many fingers, it’s not going to pop. So many fingers goes to distort stuff. I do my very own music more often than not.
AP: What’s the significance of rap storytelling in 2025?
SLICK RICK: It’s an open house. It hasn’t been crammed, the entire storytelling factor. Before it will get too misplaced again into braggadocios, one frequency. Expand your horizons. You don’t at all times need to be tough. Be romantic. Be humorous. Be susceptible. Go throughout. Be a politician. Use your creativeness. Go locations, so we will take tales and provides to our individuals’s creativeness.
© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.