Who is Slick Rick?

Slick Rick, also known as Rick the Ruler and Ricky Dee is a critically acclaimed rapper who rose to fame with hits like ‘La Di Da Di’ and ‘Children’s Story’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjNTu8jdukA

As a child he had lost the vision in one eye and started wearing an eye-patch which eventually became his trademark. He met Doug E. Fresh in 1984 and joined his Get Fresh Crew. He played using the stage name MC Ricky D and was featured on the single, ‘The Show’ and track, ‘La Di Da Di’.

In 1988 he decided to go solo and released his album, ‘The Great Adventures of Slick Rick’. The album had the singles ‘Children’s Story’ and ‘Teenage Love’ and reached the No.1 spot on Billboard’s R&B/Hip Hop chart.

In 1990 he shot two people and was indicted on two counts of attempted murder and sentenced to five years in prison. He released his second album while he was out on bail. His album, ‘The Ruler’s Back’ was out in 1991. It featured songs by Vance Wright and Mr.Lee along with Rick. The single, ‘I Shouldn’t Have Done It’ peaked at No.2 on the Hot Rap Singles.

In 1994 while still in jail he released the album, the aptly titled, ‘Behind Bars’. This too featured productions from Vance Wright and others like Prince Paul, Large Professor, Easy Mo Bee and Warren G.

His fourth and so far the most recent album was ‘The Art of Storytelling’ which was released in 1999. DJ Clark Kent and Kid Capri had contributed to the album production. It was his highest charting album which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u1Ps6ZlDxA

Slick Rick is performing for the first time in New Zealand at Powerstation in Auckland with Raekwon from Wu-Tang Clang. Ticket details HERE.