Hip Hop's greatest storyteller

@TheFoundationhiphop

6 жыл бұрын

Hands down

His subject matter and style was light-years ahead of its time as well as his flow. This album was a game changer.

The assimilation of his British accent, word mastery, wit, flashy appearance with a nonchalant demeanor and articulate eloquence made him a solidified legend. #mcrickyd

@destinixshakur

2 жыл бұрын

Yes it was the flex of his vocals that made him a GOAT

Finally somebody that can see the genius that Slick Rick is. Been saying this for years.

@justinb954

3 жыл бұрын

for decades!

@admiralman1472

3 жыл бұрын

Where the hell do you live? Everyone says this.

@doesitmatter3532

3 жыл бұрын

@@admiralman1472 Washington DC area

@ParadoxCrafter

2 жыл бұрын

@@admiralman1472 switzerland

One of the greatest M.C.'s hands down

@staciejones4059

4 жыл бұрын

True story

@rwiconcepts4492

4 жыл бұрын

The Greatest MC, hands down. Nas is the second.

@gullybop1695

4 жыл бұрын

Agreed!!!

@amirbey5963

4 жыл бұрын

EASY

@gullybop1695

4 жыл бұрын

In my top 5.

His flow on 'King' is untouchable. And that was just to let emcees know that they don't want it with him.

@antoniomcmahon3499

4 жыл бұрын

That and my favorite "yall cant fuck wit me" joint by Rick, "Lick the Balls"!! Straight bravado!

I agree his cadence & flow was light year ahead of its time. Bars too.

Ricks writes and spits the most original phrases of any Emcee ever. He says things no other Emcee or person even says. Best ever to me.

@banksta3

2 жыл бұрын

"And I can't be held accountable if down her gown I pull... Girlfriends p*ssy look plump and poundable" 😂

88' maybe the most competeive year in hip hop he was 👑.

@justinb954

3 жыл бұрын

A really good year for raps growth.

@mightyraccoon7155

2 жыл бұрын

Slick Rick is GOATworthy because of that. You had Chuck D, BDK, Biz Markie, NWA, BDP, & etc. from that time but Slick Rick’s storytelling skills put him on top for me.

@DeeWunnHybrid

2 жыл бұрын

And then 1998 was like that too

By far imo the most gifted rapper ever. To this day my favorite. Just as this video points out, even as a midteen in 84/85, I heard the unique inflections, vocals,etc..anytime I overhear anyone, young or old speaking on rap favorites, whatever..I make it my duty to throw down Slick Rick's name like the Ace of Spades!!!

The Show has 2 of the most unconventional songs that you really need to listen how great they are. The Show and La Di Da Di are very different sounding songs with the beat boxing and scratching taking time to reveal entertaining story telling done with sophisticated style. 2 classic tracks in early Hip Hop!

@juniorjames7076

Жыл бұрын

La Di Da Di shows influences of late 70s reggae, the song itself switches to so many melodies exactly like a reggae DJ sound selector would. Going from a hip hop, to a slow jam, to a spoken word, than back to a slow jam...then end.

Won’t pretend to be a hip-hop expert but man I love me some Slick Rick he is the man!

His timing on a song was always one of, if not, the greatest imo

I find that the production on "The Great Adventures" was before its time...

@TheFoundationhiphop

7 жыл бұрын

Agreed

@superskateboardingentertai9228

6 жыл бұрын

Behind bars and The storyteller are great albums, it's a shame they are being overlooked cuz "the adventures. ..

@mrsoulsodeep8530

6 жыл бұрын

Bomb Squad!!

@lgpatterson6259

6 жыл бұрын

The Foundation absolutely

@charlesstevensiii7762

5 жыл бұрын

Cypress Hill ( very UNIQUE) voices

On top of Rick's incredible storytelling raps.. you're right his vocal changeups, use of multiple characters and voices, sometimes goes sing-song mode n VERY melodic, vocal inflection n delivery is what makes him one of the more unique, top-tier Great MCs in my book. the creativity off the charts, anyways thanks JayQuan well done vid on The Ruler!!

Yo my fav joint on Great Adventures is "The Moment I Feared" definitely...

@carolynhowell9768

4 жыл бұрын

What's up with the eye patch? I was told it have something to do with the illuminati. If anyone know anything about this, please post. Thank you much!!!!!

@quranali3093

4 жыл бұрын

@@carolynhowell9768 It has Absolutely Nothing to do with the Illuminati*Smdh*He lost his eye as a kid when a piece of Glass flew in it......

@carllouisyoung

4 жыл бұрын

That was ill when I first heard it..

@tmccz1940

4 жыл бұрын

mookeychase0907 it’s a shame that everyone sleeps in on it

@lloydwebster8752

4 жыл бұрын

I seen Danny Boy with his girl name Sarah in one of his cars, I think this one's a Riviera She calls out to me but, I really couldn't hear her So I went just a little bit closer So I'd hear a little clearer The Slickster at work.....

You hit on the head. Rick is one of the most creative artists of any genre. Well done video.

The best to ever do it....

Rick is one of the very best ever... and one of, if not thee best shit talker too. So many facets to his greatness, and thats what keeps him so high on my all time great list... Cars come to a dead stop, rain find ways not to fall on my head top.

My favorite Slick Rick track is The Rulers Back off of Great Adventures. I can listen to that song all day. Its just so dope and original to me and the horns are crazy.

*THIS BRITISH DUDE WAS THE KING IF HE DIDN'T GO TO JAIL RAPPERS WOULDN'T HAVE GOT PASS RICK..SALUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

@lukej896

5 жыл бұрын

London baby

@Hooderaw

5 жыл бұрын

Family fuck him though!

Bruh, I'm only a minute and a half into this video, and I had to stop and comment. I've been thinking about this same thing for a long time: the fact that it's not just singers who need to have a good voice. Vocal quality in a rapper is definitely a factor... a big one. A number of "ingredients" go into being a dope MC(lyrics, flow, timing, vocals, etc). I'm really feeling your analytical approach. It's why I subbed. Keep doing your thing.

@KtotheG

4 жыл бұрын

Guru put me on to vocal quality in MCs on his Gang Starr song, "It's Mostly the Voice" back in the day. Chuck D. used to also talk about how important vocal presence was to an MC's caliber back in the '80s. Today's generation virtually has no appreciation for voice. For them, it's all about lyrics, flow and/or beats.

King of the multi track...Slick Rick...

@lukey1210

6 жыл бұрын

U.C.ME!! Visuals MG not far infront of shock g (humpty hump)

slick rick made his legend off one 12 inch the show/la di da di with doug e fresh and one album the adventures of slick rick dude doesn't never have to release another album again

I would say Slick Rick is my favourite rapper. He spent his childhood years here in South London and I was lucky to see him live in Brighton UK recently. Great video!

@lukey1210

6 жыл бұрын

blomeister1 what part of south London was he from? He got that brixton touch but I’m probably wrong

Grew up in PG County MD right outside of DC and lived on this album back in the day. One of flyest emcee's ever. To me, there were rappers and then there was Slick Rick. He entertained more than rapped and today's music can't touch it. Miss these times and thank you for chronicling it all so well. Props.

@varisstrachan305

4 жыл бұрын

Real shit ,SR made music,had hella SWAG,and gave u the art of storytelling 💯💯💯

Hip-Hop has only one RULER and his name is Slick Rick!!

Myfavorite slick Rick song has to Hey Young World he sings it with such integrity and such passion it's actually quite moving in my opinion...

@blacknoah1

8 ай бұрын

My favorite SR song as well.

That verse by Nas you’re talking about was so vivid you will see it acted out in the movie Belly

I was waiting for you to mention that Biggie used the Slick Rick double character voice on "Give Me the Loot", DMX used it several times for "Damien" and "Stop Being Greedy". Nine also used it on a song on his 1st album on the song "Hit em like this".

@jlvelez3343

4 жыл бұрын

Richard Simmons there was a rapper by the name of Gemini ( I think) that used it as his whole style. X’s best use of it was Stop Being Greedy.

@stephenheath8465

3 жыл бұрын

also Warning too

Rick is hip hop. Took fashion,gold,skills,and confidence on another level ! I thought British rappers rapped this way, but proved wrong. He borrowed off the jamaican Djs in his rhyme style.

@wotabottle

4 жыл бұрын

Rick is Jamaican.

"... Built it. Anything else you need Pharoh?"

Greatest story teller, most versatile voice, one of a kind cadence, hilarious, intelligent, conscious. One of my top 5, his small catalog is the only real knock. Only dude approaching his versatile voice that comes to mind is Em. But Rick's default voice is much stronger to me, especially as he got older.

He also has to be one of the most sampled in the game. I hope he owns his publishing.

⚘⚘⚘🥰🥰🥰📻📟🎶 the best ever‼ I'm a1980 baby I was in love with SlickRick and still is. Thank you for this old school rap look back 1 ♥️

Yo Jay! You made a Distinction Between Vocals meaning the voice and Delivery of the Rhyme... Way to Go! 1985 Forever!!

@TheFoundationhiphop

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for looking!

@straieraswift5785

6 жыл бұрын

The Foundation what about Dana dan

He also got a great look on Outkast's Art of Storytelling joint from Aquemini.

Master lyricist.. definitely on the top 5 list out of my top 10 of the MC's from the 80s until now...

The Ruler's Back is my favourite Slick Rick LP, the final track 'Slick Rick - The Ruler' produced by Mr. Lee has to be one of the best dance remixes of a hip-hop track I have ever heard.

@TheFoundationhiphop

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for looking!

Melle Mel was a sick story rapper as well... white lines and the message and even beat street breakdown... especially that whole hiroshima nagasaki part - madness!

Slick Rick the ruler

...Hold on My Dude! Slick Ricky will forever be Relevant don't EVEN DOUBT HIM

the production and music of slick Rick back then was way ahead of that time.

Man. Why does these videos only have a few views?? Good stuff right here

@TheFoundationhiphop

7 жыл бұрын

Thats a good question. I guess I need to promote more. Thank you for looking!

@germxv

6 жыл бұрын

well you know the 85s aint coming here and the 10s are too busy plotting on them, so only 5% of us are going to show up here, god

Anyway, the song Indian Girl with the hilarious funny ending part hits me every time I listen to it.

2 words for Slick Rick.....NO EQUAL...EVER!!!

Perfect video. I'm glad you brought up his moody and musicality. His hooks and bridges read like someone that does folk music, and there so much control in his delivery that you dont even realize hes actually singing his verses. Insane levels of talent

52 people don't like this dude?!? Respect the pioneers!

Slick Rick the NYC ruler greatest hip hop story teller ever!. If it wasn't for prison back in the mid 1990's, he would have been the man!. Also need to do a full collaboration album with "Nas"! . Now that would be some real gangsta classic shit for real!. "Hey Young World" instrumental 1988, greatest hip hop beat ever period!. He produce, mix and turn a reggae beat into a hip hop beat!.

Thank You. I had the privilege to see Slick Rick in concert on a couple of occasions. Ps Ghostface, Andre 3000, Common, Black Thought,Scarface, Tupac , Ras Kass, Ice Cube and Melle Mel are also great story tellers. Pps that Slick Rick "Mistakes," and "Runaway" are two of my favorites. Ppps i agree Nas is one of most gifted , ever.

@TheFoundationhiphop

6 жыл бұрын

Agreed bro. Thanks for looking!

@kincamell2

6 жыл бұрын

The Foundation thank you for the feedback. I meant to also include Redman and Lupe Fiasco. Their story telling is very vivid as well. I think The Jacka had a gift with the pen too. Ps Slick Rick has some super stellar features especially the one he did with CRU "Just Another Case," The one with Ghost & Rae on "The Sun," One of the songs he did with Outkast" The Art of Story Telling," and the one he did with Mos Def I think it was called "The Auditorium".

@kincamell2

6 жыл бұрын

Caz, Rakim , Kane , Biggie, Big L , Jay Z and Pharoe are some the best too. KRS too. Ps That Melvin Bliss "Synthetic Substitution" is one of the best songs ever.

I remember when i got into Slick Rick, i first listened to Who Rotten Em. I was falling asleep, that song took me to the story of that track. Amazing

I love these discussions, so fresh.

@TheFoundationhiphop

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for looking!

Slick Rick is my favorite rapper ever & one of the greatest of all time. His charisma & versatility with subject matter is astonishing. Only Slick Rick can do a comical story about ethnic stereotype date rape & then make a song right afterwards about the flaws that come with being in a relationship for the first time. Snoop & NaS list Slick Rick as their all time favorite, if that doesn’t make anybody consider Slick Rick one of the best then I don’t know what will.

My favorite rapper slick Rick

Hey young world is the crown jewel

He is the BEST plain and simple. He told a story in the form of a rap song and no one has come to his genius. Real, entertaining and true to life.

@doomgoboomskat471

2 жыл бұрын

Melley Mel

Behind Bars the single is amazing. You forgot about the original version of Sittin’ In My Car. That shit belongs in the Smithsonian

Awesome as ever Jay, but no mention of Dana Dane - an MC with a very similar style from the Kangol Crew (sad we never heard anything on wax from that crew)? Also shout out to Ricky's verse on Greyson & Jasun's "Get Bizzy" track

Slick right the man with many styles and with the truck jewels he's definitely a game changer given him the credit and the respect he deserves thanks for sharing this one lol bring back the good old days of hip hop

Him and guru are my favorites of all time

This is like going to class!! excellent discussion about the greatest story of all time!

What an ear for melody! Even when he raps it’s always creatively ‘in tune’. The way he can slide into a singing verse (Venus) makes my brain melt. He has a beautiful singing voice too.

Dana Dane was very good with the storytelling as well. "Cindefella" and "Nightmares" captivated my imagination.

@garywalters284

5 жыл бұрын

Both them joints is fresh AF

perfection

The Moment I Feared is so innocently gangster!!!! I was upset the engineer didn't make it louder during production.

@quranali3093

2 жыл бұрын

🎶🎛🎚RIGHT!?!*I Always Wanted That Joint To Bang LOUDER & CLEARER*Smh🎚🎛🎶

I can listen to a Ricky D song and see that shit in my head like a movie

Slick Rick is a Genius. Thanks for giving this emcee his flowers 🙏

I remember Beat Street very well, I remember when it first came out, and I still like the movie til this day. And I remember when Slick Rick first came out, I loved his music from the very beginning, and I listened to all the old school rappers back then, like Public Enemy, EPMD, Kwame, ATL "Above The Law", Too Short, Beastie Boys, Craig Mack, NWA, De La Soul, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Poor Righteous Teachers, Special Ed, Fat Boys, Terminator X, LL Cool J, DMX, Snoop Dog, 2 Live Crew, Redheaded Kingpin, and yes, I also listened to Vanilla Ice, Three Times Dope, Cool C, Ice T, and a few others who I can't think of right now, but I used to listen to all the good rappers. Oh yeah, and almost forgot Kool Moe D.

Slick Rick makes me proud to have a London accent.

Nas-'Who Kills It. Dope storytelling

JayQuan! thanks for dropping knowledge. I will definitely go back and listen to the first 2 albums of Slick Rick that I have, as I am eager to listen to them in a different way now. And I will be sure to give his other albums a listen to as well. Peace!!

Russell Simons said was high on dust at the great adventures stage. So you can imagine having a nice recording budget and don't forget Rick produced alot of the tracks on Great adventures. Had a nice jazzy style with his use of Bass and a lil DC go go style the way he used the Shaker

as a hip-hop historian I definitely analyzed fair share of MCs I found us some of them had Inspirations that manifested in the style of the present into the world. like for instance Treach of Naughty by Nature, here's a great MC who's styles influenced by Slick Rick's lick the balls. especially if you listen to lick the balls and churches flow and OPP. I never seen anybody make a public note of it before.

@TheFoundationhiphop

7 жыл бұрын

Good obsevation

@OnALivingSpreeLLC

5 жыл бұрын

Lord Godspeed yooo and I’m usually on top of similar things but I’m just realizing this with Treach & Rick

thank you from a 26 yr old dude that quited his job to make music 24/7.

Some words of commentary that will shed some light on "The Rules Back" (91) & "Behind Bars" (94). I consider myself too a hip hop historian but more from 2nd and 3rd wave (I'm 46 now) but personal embellishment aside,lo. The reason these albums are "uneven" and "incomplete" so to speak is Rick while on furlough in 1991 from his case (talk about art imitating reality. It was damn near like "The moment I feared") not only recorded all the songs for those albums but also shot around 4 to 5 videos to boot in 2 weeks. I haven't listened to "TRB" in it's entirety in years but I recall my friend (who was a budding producer at the time) remarking how "all the drums are the same damn near on every track". That said, there still were GEMS on that and thank you for highlighting "MOSES". By the time "Behind Bars" was coming out as mentioned, hip hop not only was going into phase 3,4 and maybe 5. But Def Jam was a mess (Groups/artist like "BWP", "The Don", "Downtown Science"-who i actually loved, "Afros", "YNV", "Flatlinerzs", etc) by then I think their DEF JAM WEST was putting out more hits (Domino??) but my point is this. The rhymes were older and when they went to re-do that album (Behind Bars) you had a lot of IMO bad mixes although again thank you for highlighting WARREN G's "Behind Bars" remix because I too liked that. Unfortunately Slick Rick HATED and thats shown in "THE SHOW" when Rick meets with Mr #MeTOO a dismissive "Hustle" Simmons,lol.

@syrtyce

6 жыл бұрын

I want to commend you not only on your spot on research but what you're doing period. You're able to infom, highlight the good and bad w/o being inflammatory You're arguably one of the best music historians I've seen. You don't rehash a lot of the what should be common themes at the sametime you're also cognizant that everyone may not be up to speed on certain things and you try to shed light. You need a Patreon or something because this stuff is that valuable.

Honestly I always liked his second album better than the first one. He got some Unreleased joints I like "Star Trek remix", A Letter 2, Behind Bars (Unreleased prince paul Remix), Sampson, gambling, world reknown. All recorded during that 3 week period before he had to go to prison

Rick is original MC ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Maryland checkin in This Guy Slick Rick was The Best at What He Did No Doubt. He still is🙏🏿🥊💪🏿

I first heard him in winter 1984 on WBLS the joint on Vintertainment. Lol mastered by Herb Powers at Frankford Wayne studios....I heard his beat boxing and was blown away too! Yo I always thought it was him on "The Pure" but it was some kid named Rich Nice...Woooord The Show rocked the whole Summer Break alway to September...

@TheFoundationhiphop

6 жыл бұрын

The Pure was dope

I never realized that on KIT what's the scoop Slick was Rhyming as The Car. Went completely over my head. Definitely need to record some new material. GOAT story teller

@antoniomcmahon3499

4 жыл бұрын

"Pleeease, no one can serve us"!!..Lick the Balls, niggas was original Swagster!

Please do Special Ed😃

@neilgibbons2532

4 жыл бұрын

S.ED wasn't ground breaking enough

great insight brother, one thing that has always proven to me slick was something special was his song structures, especially on two cuts: Children Story breaks all the rules in the simple fact that it has no hook, no chorus and yet was extremely successful, basically the whole song is a hook, when i used to play hip hop i could just play the start of that cut, drop it out so you can hear the crowd rapping along, bring it back in just to keep the crowd on beat... and the Show's song structure is abstract to say the least, it's more stream of thought than structure, it's basically raw genius... slick rick, raw genius...

Like-wise I found myself going done memory lane. But yea from 85 Kickin it Live Slick Rick' s lyrical style has never been duplicated

Thank u for these videos. Well produced. They take me back in time. I lived it and came up in hip hop from the 80s. These lessons feel authentic

Slick Rick dressed like he was from Harlem..I heard two 19 yr old at work talking about Slick Rick Jewellery Game, true story.......

@zxcccccc1

4 жыл бұрын

Harlem was always know for dressing, Andre Harrell talks about that in a interview.

@ftnrbhmwk

4 жыл бұрын

@Dose LoverStar stop hating. Go snort some GRADE A Heroin from 154 and Broadway. And yes the Smack is way better in Manhattan, not Queens... Facts!!!!!!👿

@zxcccccc1

4 жыл бұрын

@Dose LoverStar when blk folk migrated north Harlem was usually their first stop, then they would venture to the other boroughs, this is why the Renaissance was primarily there and the fashion sense.

The Ruler is The Greatest Story Teller indeed. His vocal tone is incredible

yo, you're doing the lord's work with these videos! It's always refreshing to hear the perspective of someone who was actually there AND, more importantly, critically thinks about this rap shit. Your thoughts confirm a lot of shit I've always thought about hip hop. I was born in '84

One love was played out in the movie Belly when Nas smoked a blunt on the bench with the young boy

Rick's vocal was dope!

As a gen z I came across him on GTA San Andreas. Children's Story was on the car radio in the game and the song was so good I had to google it

Yo the moment i feared is still the joint

Man!....Trying to squeeze Slick into my Top 5...….maybeTop 7.....

I always loved Slick Rick's music. The Ruler's Back album is criminally underrated.. even by Slick Rick himself. I LOVE The Ruler's Back album. I listened to it for about 12 years before I gave it a little break.. I still go back and listen to it to this day. I still have the cassette that I umm borrowed from my good friend Mike B.. for about 11 years... Then he let me borrow it again.. a few weeks later. I still have it to this day. Purchased the CD and digitally. I made 2 killer remix/mixes for Mistakes Of A Woman In Love With Other Men a few weeks ago. My 16year old son loves it. Needed the vocals clearer so just received the 12" single to digitize for better vocals on the 2 remixes I did.

That Venus track 👌🏽one of my favorites.

Ty to the amazing brother who's voice is behind this gem best kept secret story this has been a delightfull to watch n hear in my late 40'z life ty God he found mercy for me to have seen these Golden era times to come from tge best brave hearts to last thru t trying times n still be humble to God's grace n blessings to be here thru it all bless you brother that has made this documentary n bless all who shall read this may peace n joy come into your life n happiness over evil God is always the greatest🙏

@TheFoundationhiphop

3 жыл бұрын

Respect and thank you

One thing, you may, or may not have hit on, was his stage presence. His show, whether with Doug E. Fresh, or alone, is near epic. Homeboy, walks on stage, like a Hip-Hop deity. Diamond encrusted eye patch, custom clothes, etc. His wife, would walk onto the stage mid show, with all of his jewelry, on a silver platter along with a fur Kangol, and a pair of suede, long out of production Bally suede shoes, and make the crowd hit these seldom heard, high pitch tones, that are only heard on a Slick Rick show. All this, combined with his vocal prowess, is a sensory overdose, for the true Hip-Hop head.

Kwame also used to do all the characters in his rhymes.

@TheFoundationhiphop

7 жыл бұрын

Certainly

@jamingjohnson2275

5 жыл бұрын

And he got it from Rick, and also the way Rick moved. Just look at the video The Rhythm. You'll see and her Slick Rick.

@jeremiahwoodsi4202

5 жыл бұрын

Kwame the Boy genius admittedly borrowed from Slick Rick but it was extremely hip hop of you to mention that

@antoniomcmahon3499

4 жыл бұрын

@@jamingjohnson2275 faaaacts, child of Riiiickiiie Dee!! But I do love "The Rythm"..imitation is the best flattery.

@BrotherMan1969

4 жыл бұрын

Ice T was doing the characters at the same time. This is before Kwame.

Thanks for this, I always thought that Ricks style was overlooked by the masses when talking about his flow and content. There are gems on all his albums on par with moses, venus,who rotten em, and moment I feared, even on the Behind bars album which is the weakest of all. He is the greatest story teller. PERIOD.

@YakThaWiseman72

Жыл бұрын

switchmann Exactly The Flow in Lick the Balls was also phenomenal as well, shit Tech9ine say that song influenced his flow and style.

Subbed, great work man, my boy ricky doesn’t get enough love. Truly amazing artist, so many underrated songs

My All-time favorite Emcee.