In Los Angeles, the iconic hip-hop artist Slick Rick is making a bold comeback, showcasing that his artistic flair remains unscathed. The celebrated rapper, distinguished by his iconic eye patch and remarkable ability to weave captivating narratives, has ventured back into the music scene with a brand new project. Nearly three decades after his last, Slick Rick brings forth a visual album titled “Victory,” ushering in a reminder of his enduring talent in the rap genre.
This fresh release marks his first album since the 1999 hit, “The Art of Storytelling.” True to his style, most of the project is self-produced, with Slick Rick taking charge of 95% of the production. Sharing executive producer duties with him is Emmy-nominated actor and intermittent rapper-DJ, Idris Elba. Notably, the album features collaborations with artists like Nas, Giggs, and Estelle.
Reflecting on his evolution, Slick Rick notes, “You was a young adult, then a middle-aged man and now you’re an older man, so my mentality has to grow with it,” stressing that his thematic content has matured alongside him. Slick Rick remains a legendary figure for tracks like “Children’s Story,” “La Di Da Di” with Doug E. Fresh, and “Mona Lisa,” all of which contributed to his debut album, “The Great Adventures of Slick Rick,” reaching Number 1 on the Billboard R&B/hip-hop charts back in 1988.
The journey to create “Victory” spanned four years, during which Slick Rick, now 60 years old, penned and recorded the album while traveling between London and France. The visuals accompanying the album were captured in locations around the United States, the United Kingdom, and Africa, enhancing the global appeal of his work.
Highlighting the relevance of his voice in today’s hip-hop landscape, Slick Rick expresses how his topics have evolved over time, saying, “Can’t always be children all the time. We grow and talk about things that interest us at this age.” In recent discussions, he elaborated on the role storytelling plays in modern rap, his collaboration process with Elba, and the limitless realm of hip-hop.
Slick Rick details his professional partnership with Elba, recounting their initial meeting at a party which led to them collaborating: “We met at a party and then we clicked. His people reached out to me, and they wanted to make an album. I hung out with Idris at his cribs in England and France, and we just did what we do. We just had fun, and when we were finished, we decided we’re ready to bring it to the marketplace.”
Addressing any hesitation about his return, Slick Rick maintains, “It might’ve been a little hesitation, but you’re just having fun. We’re bringing it to the marketplace to see what happens. There’s no pressure.” He emphasizes the importance of gauging the project’s reception through the reactions of those around him, noting their happiness and engagement during the studio sessions with Idris.
Discussing the musical variety on the album, he describes blending typical hip-hop sounds with genres like reggae and house music, explaining, “It’s what Black people like. We’re not just hip-hop. We like reggae, house music. We go all over the place.”
When it came to the album’s production, Slick Rick chose to handle most of it himself to maintain authenticity. “In my creative process, I need to have a lot of input or it’s not going to be authentic Rick,” he specifies.
On the importance of storytelling in rap as we approach 2025, Slick Rick asserts, “It’s an open space. It hasn’t been filled, the whole storytelling thing. Before it gets lost back into just one frequency, expand your horizons. You don’t always have to be rough. Be romantic. Be humorous. Be vulnerable. Explore different dimensions.”
With “Victory,” Slick Rick not only brings his exceptional narrative flair back to the forefront but also reaffirms his relevance and artistic vision in the ever-evolving world of hip-hop.