(VICTORY)

A new album after 26 years. That alone is a statement. When you’re talking about the pioneers of the Hip Hop Game, the ones who helped craft it into the industry it is today, then you’d be ignorant to leave this man off your list. The man who brought conceptual storytelling to the forefront of the rap scene and has since become the most sampled artist in history! It’s the Ruler himself using his well-deserved tenor in Hip Hop to come back with a project that showcases the very essence that made him a household name to begin with! Let’s talk about it.

So, this is the latest project by legendary MC Story Teller Slick Rick. The man who broke the mould with ‘The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick’ and since has become a staple in the minds and hearts of everyone with his iconic voice, look, and sound. 

Across this album, he comes back with 15 tracks running at a brisk 27 minutes. Featuring the likes of 

-Giggs

-Nas

And most surprisingly, Ibris Elba on the production! 

Now, let me start off by saying out of all the legendary MC drops outside of LL Cool J’s album, this is the first I feel is properly in tune with the modern-day culture of Hip Hop! 27 minutes length opposed to a bloated over an hour. Not to say it would be a flop if it was, but too many old-timers stick to the outdated ‘hour+’ formula with records without any real rhyme or reason for them and making them seem ‘out of touch’ with today’s environment, but not Slick! That’s the first positive sign for this album!

The second is the production! As mentioned, his is by Ibris Elba, the man who is a renowned DJ already, but it still doesn’t make it any more exciting and shocking to see him produce a Slick Rick album, and I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s Slick’s best work sonically, but I do appreciate that he chose a variety of different cuts and inspirations from

-Electronic

-Reggae

-Old School Hip Hop

-New School Hip Hop

-Funk

-RnB 

And as he’s always done, he’s pulling out maximum charisma and flavour out of the tracks and making them his own. 

I can already tell there’s gonna be a lot of people complain and bitch about these instrumentals because they aren’t ’what they use to be’ or ‘too odd and out there’ and to those who do end up thinking that I want you to remember that even from his very first album he’s been pushing the boundaries and innovating new sounds and ideas that no one else has ever done until him. 

So while I maintain it’s not my favourite of all his discography I feel it’s a fun, vibrant and refreshing take from a man who has nothin left to prove in this game and is just making an album for the fun of it and I love it!

As far as the MC work goes he hasn’t lost a step. That’s the magic of Slick, no matter what era whether it’s the 80’s/90’s/2000’s/2010’s/2020’s he’s always ahead of the game and his signature English sway and smooth wordplay and flow has remained untouched. 

I honestly believe he was born with the ability to perfectly glide through a beat because even on his worst song he was never faulted because of his own work! He was flawless then he remains so now!

The one track I love is ‘I Did That’ essentially a skit with Slick reminding everyone the impact and generational influence he caused. I’d say most Hip Hop Heads haven’t forgotten but for the new generation they need to know why he’s such a renown figure and to hear him give himself his flowers was an epic moment!

Also, his track ‘Documents’ with Nas was also dope! Two of the greatest lyricists from any generation coming together for a dope, vocabulary session that is a present for the old heads! 

I also love how he continues to find a way to bring his animated story telling aspects throughout the album! Like the song ‘Landlords’ the first person I’ve ever heard make a pro landlord song which I found dope! Also throughout most of the tracks either at the start or end he includes his trademark quips of voice acting as different people to tell some kind of narrative is classic Slick!

Look, this ain’t gonna get no critical acclaim and probably won’t be considered anyone’s favourite Slick album BUT for someone who is mostly retired and someone who has already put his time into the game and earned his spot in the ‘Greatest Of All Time’ conversation this isn’t an album he needs to prove anything with it’s just a legend with the same passion for the art as he has in the 80’s coming back to show the world how to make a fun, catchy and vibrant record! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5S7fMBF2TiKtLPKgVVAARB?si=bZDZQjKrRX6TM7xn0QfUxg