Slick Rick is rightly being celebrated in all corners of the rap world. The British-born, Brooklyn-raised lyricist is extensively thought-about one of many best storytellers in hip-hop.

Rick’s love of hip-hop began when he and his household immigrated from London and arrived within the Bronx, N.Y., in 1979. As a child, he immersed himself within the tradition and developed his now influential cool persona. In 1984, he partnered with beatboxer Doug E. Contemporary and in 1985 they established themselves as Doug E. Contemporary and MC Ricky D with the basic membership anthem “The Present.”

Nevertheless it was the B-side single, “La Di Da Di,” that garnered MC Ricky D his worldwide fame. The rhymer’s comical story of his typical day full with sonic particulars like his feminine voice and yawning influenced numerous MCs after him who adopted that very same narrative construction.

In 1988, Slick Rick launched his seminal album, The Nice Adventures of Slick Rick, which featured a number of execeptional storytelling tracks. Amongst a number of the notable songs embody, “Deal with Her Like a Prostitute,” “Mona Lisa,” “Indian Lady (An Grownup Story)” and “The Second I Feared.” The album’s standout monitor “Kids’s Story,” which is a cautionary story of how crime would not pay, has been lined and reinterpreted numerous instances all through the historical past of the style.

As we speak, Slick Rick nonetheless instructions the respect of revered artists like Jay-Z, Nas, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, KRS-One and extra. Listed below are 50 tracks that give a shout-out to Slick Rick.

Lengthy stay The Ruler.

See 50 Hip-Hop Songs That Pay Tribute to Slick Rick