He Got Soul: Slick Rick

Slick Rick to perform at Soul Train Awards. Dec 1st @ 8pm/7C

The Adventures of Slick Rick - His first album was a certified-platinum classic, but before he could record a follow-up, Slick Rick was arrested for attempted murder. Out on bail thanks to Def Jam Records' label head Russell Simmons, Rick recorded The Ruler's Back in three weeks and released the album in 1991. After his release from prison two years later, he recorded Behind Bars for a 1994 release. (Photo: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images)
The Art of Storytelling - After being released from prison in 1996, Slick Rick remained with the Def Jam label and on May 25, 1999, released a fourth album entitled The Art of Storytelling. Generally considered the authentic follow up to his 1988 debut, The Art of Storytelling was an artistically successful comeback album that paired him with prolific MCs like Nas, OutKast, Raekwon, and Snoop Dogg among others. (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images)
Slick Rick  - Hip hop pioneer Slick Rick makes an appearance on stage this year as part of a special throwback performance. 
Hip- Hop Honors - In 2008 Slick Rick was honored by VH1's Hip-Hop honors shows which celebrated all his contributions to Hip Hop. (Photo: C Flanigan/WireImage)The Sampling of Slick Rick - "La Di Da Di", "Mona Lisa" and "Children's Story" are among Walters most well known songs, with "La Di Da Di" being covered nearly word-for-word by Snoop Dogg on his 1993 album Doggystyle. Lines from "La Di Da Di" were borrowed by other multiple high profile artists. "Children's Story" was sampled by Montell Jordan for his 1995 hit, "This Is How We Do It", and rapper Everlast covered the song for his album Eat at Whitey's. Rapper Eminem also borrowed from the song extensively in his diss track "Can-I-Bitch". "Children's Story" was covered with similar lyrics by the MC duo Black Star on their 1998 album Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star, as well as by Tricky on the album Nearly God. It was also paid tribute to by A Tribe Called Quest on their song "8 Mill...

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The Art of Storytelling - After being released from prison in 1996, Slick Rick remained with the Def Jam label and on May 25, 1999, released a fourth album entitled The Art of Storytelling. Generally considered the authentic follow up to his 1988 debut, The Art of Storytelling was an artistically successful comeback album that paired him with prolific MCs like Nas, OutKast, Raekwon, and Snoop Dogg among others. (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images)

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