Slick Rick
Ricky Martin Lloyd Walters (born January 14, 1965), known professionally as Slick Rick, is a British and American rapper and record producer based in New York City. He rose to prominence as part of Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew in the mid-1980s. His songs "The Show" and "La Di Da Di" are considered early hip-hop classics. "La Di Da Di" is one of the most sampled songs in history.
As Slick Rick, Walters became the third artist to sign with Def Jam Recordings in 1986. He debuted with The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988), showcasing his storytelling structure mixed with humor and complex rhymes, including his signature song, "Children's Story".
Facing murder charges and incarceration, Walters released two albums: The Ruler's Back (1991) and Behind Bars (1994). After being released from prison in 1997, Walters made a comeback with his fourth studio album, The Art of Storytelling (1999). In 2025, he dropped Victory on Mass Appeal Records. A VH1 Hip Hop Honors honoree, About.com ranked Slick Rick No. 12 on its list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time, while The Source ranked him No. 15 on its list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.
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