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If there's one thing Slick Rick has mastered, it is The Art of Storytelling. Ever since his debut, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, he has been known for his literate, winding narratives, but his career was marred by legal troubles that kept him in prison for much of the '90s. Consequently, The Art of Storytelling is only his fourth album, but it's the first to rank as a worthy sequel to his classic debut. The Ruler's Back came close to capturing the feel of The Great Adventures, but The Art has a continually stunning set of stories and tales, and the presence of guest artists -- even rappers as talented as OutKast, Nas, Raekwon, and Snoop Dogg -- only emphasizes what a singular talent Rick is. The smooth production may be a little bit mired in contemporary rap clichés, but it's all enjoyable. Besides, Rick is about the lyrics, not the music, and he has written a stellar set of songs here, songs that are continually surprising and thought-provoking. It's a masterful set from one of the true lyrical masters of hip-hop.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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D. Davis, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - Redman, FeaturedArtist - Nas, FeaturedArtist - Ed Lover, FeaturedArtist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist - DJ Rev Run, FeaturedArtist - James "Bimmy" Antney, Producer
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Slick Rick, MainArtist - DJ Clark Kent, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
OutKast, FeaturedArtist - Antwan Patton, ComposerLyricist - P. Alexander, ComposerLyricist - A. Benjamin, ComposerLyricist - Jazze Phá, Producer - Slick Rick, MainArtist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
N. Jones, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - Nas, FeaturedArtist - Samuel J. "Tone" Barnes, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist - Quran Goodman, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Tyrone Fyffe, Producer, ComposerLyricist - JAMES BROWN, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Bugsy, FeaturedArtist - Unknown, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - James "Bimmy" Antney, Producer
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Slick Rick, MainArtist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist - J. Etienne, ComposerLyricist - NOD, Producer
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Slick Rick, MainArtist - DJ Clark Kent, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Tyrone Fyffe, Producer, ComposerLyricist - D. Malone, ComposerLyricist - G. Williams, ComposerLyricist - Canibus, FeaturedArtist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Rashad Smith, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist - Chano Pozo Gonzales, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
S&S, Producer, FeaturedArtist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - S. Everett, ComposerLyricist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - James "Bimmy" Antney, Producer
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
D. Davis, ComposerLyricist - Darryl McDaniels, ComposerLyricist - Joseph Simmons, ComposerLyricist - Edward Heyman, ComposerLyricist - Frank Eyton, ComposerLyricist - Robert Sour, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - John W. Green, ComposerLyricist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist - Jam Master Jay, ComposerLyricist - Russell W. Simmons, ComposerLyricist - DJ Rev Run, Producer - Raymond Deal, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Corey Woods, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Geoff Barrow, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Utley, ComposerLyricist - Thomas Rusiak, Producer - Slick Rick, MainArtist - Bill Conti, ComposerLyricist - Beth Gibbons, ComposerLyricist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist - Christopher West, ComposerLyricist - James "Bimmy" Antney, Producer - D. Almer, ComposerLyricist - Shelly Conti, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
JAMES BROWN, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - DJ Clark Kent, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Ricky M.L. Walters, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Damon Blackmon, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist - Dame Grease, Producer
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
C. Reid, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - DJ Clark Kent, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
R. Toombs, ComposerLyricist - Snoop Dogg, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist - Kid Capri, Producer - D. Wayne Love, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Bugsy, FeaturedArtist - Unknown, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
B. Wright, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - Webb, Producer - Colleone, Producer - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist - D. Almer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - Slick Rick, MainArtist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Douglas Davis, ComposerLyricist - Doug E. Fresh, FeaturedArtist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist - Vada J. Nobles, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Juan Allen, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Douglas Davis, ComposerLyricist - Doug E. Fresh, FeaturedArtist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - Richard William Walters, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Douglas Davis, ComposerLyricist - Doug E. Fresh, FeaturedArtist - Slick Rick, MainArtist - Ricky M.L. Walters, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Album review
If there's one thing Slick Rick has mastered, it is The Art of Storytelling. Ever since his debut, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, he has been known for his literate, winding narratives, but his career was marred by legal troubles that kept him in prison for much of the '90s. Consequently, The Art of Storytelling is only his fourth album, but it's the first to rank as a worthy sequel to his classic debut. The Ruler's Back came close to capturing the feel of The Great Adventures, but The Art has a continually stunning set of stories and tales, and the presence of guest artists -- even rappers as talented as OutKast, Nas, Raekwon, and Snoop Dogg -- only emphasizes what a singular talent Rick is. The smooth production may be a little bit mired in contemporary rap clichés, but it's all enjoyable. Besides, Rick is about the lyrics, not the music, and he has written a stellar set of songs here, songs that are continually surprising and thought-provoking. It's a masterful set from one of the true lyrical masters of hip-hop.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 24 track(s)
- Total length: 01:13:14
- Main artists: Slick Rick
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: RAL (Rush Associated Label)
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 1999 Def Jam Records Inc. ℗ 1999 Def Jam Recordings
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