When you think of the artists who pioneered hip-hop into the Golden Age we all cherish, a few names could come to mind. Doug E. Fresh, LL Cool J, and Queen Latifa are some of the first names that come to mind, but Slick Rick is never too far from being mentioned. The innovative style brought a particular artsy nature to the genre, and the longevity of his 1988 debut, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, proves that he paved the way for creative storytelling in hip-hop. No one can paint a picture quite like Slick Rick. The imaginative narratives spin around the classic nimbleness of Golden Age drum patterns to create a refreshing sound at the time it skyrocketed Slick Rick to the forefront of the Hip-hop conversations and continues to do so to this day.
Nowadays, a Slick Rick sighting is rare. He can be seen providing features for fellow legends like DJ Muggs and giving flowers to modern pioneers like Westside Gunn, and that’s why, for this Golden Age Thursday, we witness an icon at his most powerful. In 1990, The Apollo Theater in New York City and The Palace Theater in Hollywood gathered some of the biggest names in Hip-hop together for a cross-country performance that made history for Rapmania. Two different showcases of Hip-hop royalty coincided and were brought directly to your TV to celebrate the 15 anniversary of the genre. Of course, no gathering of the Golden Age Gods would be complete without the mighty Slick Rick. During his performances at the iconic Rapmania, Rick performed his classic “Children’s Story,” a smash hit record that put the artist on the map and introduced the world to his colorful commentary. The self-produced track was the second single from The Great Adventures of Slick Rick and has become one of the most sampled songs in hip-hop history. Check out Slick Rick’s 1990 performance of “Children’s Story” below.
