Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Slick Rick" hosted by DJButterrock
Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Slick Rick" hosted by DJButterrock Ricky Martin Lloyd Walters[1] (born January 14, 1965),[2] 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, and "La Di Da Di" is considered one of the most sampled songs in history.[3]
As Slick Rick, Walters became the third artist to sign with Def Jam Recordings in 1986.[4] 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).[5] 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,[6] while The Source ranked him No. 15 on its list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.[7]
Early life, family and education
Ricky Martin Lloyd Walters was born January 14, 1965 in the southwest London area of Mitcham to Jamaican parents.[8] He was blinded in the right eye by broken glass as an infant, which led him to adopt his signature eye patch in his career.[9] In 1976, when Walters was 11, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in the Baychester area of the Bronx in New York City[10].
While he attended the Fiorello H. Laguardia High School of Music & Art, Walters majored in visual art and met fellow student Dana Dane. The pair became close friends and formed the Kangol Crew,[11] performing in school contests, parks, and small local clubs. Walters met Doug E. Fresh at a 1984 talent showcase.[12] Fresh was impressed by Walters' talent and made Walters a member of his Get Fresh crew. Fresh's beatbox and Walters' fresh flow turned "The Show"/"La Di Da Di" into international anthems that showcased hip-hop in its early years. Walters became the launching pad for "hip-hop's greatest storyteller."[13]
Career
As Slick Rick, Walters became the third artist to sign with Def Jam Recordings in 1986.[4] 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).[5] 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,[6] while The Source ranked him No. 15 on its list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.[7]
Early life, family and education
Ricky Martin Lloyd Walters was born January 14, 1965 in the southwest London area of Mitcham to Jamaican parents.[8] He was blinded in the right eye by broken glass as an infant, which led him to adopt his signature eye patch in his career.[9] In 1976, when Walters was 11, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in the Baychester area of the Bronx in New York City[10].
While he attended the Fiorello H. Laguardia High School of Music & Art, Walters majored in visual art and met fellow student Dana Dane. The pair became close friends and formed the Kangol Crew,[11] performing in school contests, parks, and small local clubs. Walters met Doug E. Fresh at a 1984 talent showcase.[12] Fresh was impressed by Walters' talent and made Walters a member of his Get Fresh crew. Fresh's beatbox and Walters' fresh flow turned "The Show"/"La Di Da Di" into international anthems that showcased hip-hop in its early years. Walters became the launching pad for "hip-hop's greatest storyteller."[13]
Career
