LOS ANGELES (AP) — 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 mission in almost three a long time. He is 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 mission is basically 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 basic reminiscent of “Children’s Story,” “La Di Da Di” with Doug E. Recent 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 in the USA, United Kingdom and Africa.
Slick Rick believes his voice nonetheless resonates in hip-hop. He stated the topics 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 Related Press about how storytelling performs a task in in the present day’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 folks 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, After which 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’d’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 folks to see in the event that they prefer it. Feed them.
AP: When did you are feeling like this mission was prepared for public consumption?
SLICK RICK: After we had been within the studio with Idris doing our factor, I checked the reactions of individuals. However then I noticed folks of their joyful place. As soon as I noticed that, I’m good. I see him and his folks’s joyful. A bit of dancing. Popped just a little Moet. We had been having an excellent time.
AP: You blended hip-hop melodies with varied sounds together with reggae and home music. What was your imaginative and prescient behind this musical strategy?
SLICK RICK: It’s what Black folks 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 far and wide. 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. Individuals make songs and do movies anyway. So why not simply pace this up actual fast? Video and rap each on the identical time. Growth, let’s preserve it shifting. … That is like watching a film. You need to broaden the image. Not solely do you hear my voice and the music, which is the essence. You get … visible image as nicely.
AP: You produced the majority of the album. Why did you determine to go that route as an alternative of enlisting different producers?
SLICK RICK: In my artistic course of, I have to have a number of enter or it’s not going to be genuine Rick. Too many arms, it’s not going to pop. So many arms 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 area. It hasn’t been crammed, the entire storytelling factor. Earlier than it will get too misplaced again into braggadocios, one frequency. Increase your horizons. You don’t at all times must be tough. Be romantic. Be humorous. Be susceptible. Go throughout. Be a politician. Use your creativeness. Go locations, so we are able to take tales and provides to our folks’s creativeness.
