Children's Story

Last updated
"Children's Story"
Slick Rick - Children's Story.jpg
Single by Slick Rick
from the album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
ReleasedApril 4, 1989
Recorded1988
Genre Hip hop
Length4:02
Label
Songwriter(s) Ricky Walters
Producer(s) Slick Rick
Slick Rick singles chronology
"Teenage Love"
(1988)
"Children's Story"
(1989)
"Hey Young World"
(1989)
Music video
"Children's Story" on YouTube

"Children's Story" is a song recorded by British-American hip hop artist Slick Rick. Taken as the second single from his album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick , the song was a Top 5 hit on both the Hot R&B Singles and the Hot Rap Tracks charts. It is one of the most sampled rap songs of all time. [1]

Contents

Background

The song interpolates the notes of the bassline from Bob James' song "Nautilus". Throughout the outro, it contains vocal samples from Lyn Collins and James Brown in their song "Think (About It)".

Reception

About.com listed it at 44 on their list of the top 100 rap songs, [2] and is ranked #61 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. [3]

Commercial performance

Children's Story reached 5 in the Hot R&B Singles, staying there for 19 weeks [4] and 2 on the Hot Rap Tracks, remaining on the charts for 11 weeks. [5] This was the best performing single from The Great Adventures of Slick Rick .

Adaptations

On March 21, 2017, it was announced that "Children's Story" was going to be produced into a children's book by Get On Down, a record label based in Boston, Massachusetts. The book was released with a reissue of the album on Record Store Day. [6] [7] [8]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Black Singles [9] 5
US Billboard Hot Rap Singles [10] 2
US Billboard Dance Club Songs [11] 39

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slick Rick</span> American rapper (born 1965)

Richard Martin Lloyd Walters, better known as Slick Rick, is an English-American rapper and record producer. He rose to prominence with Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew in the mid-1980s. Their 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sing for the Moment</span> 2002 single by Eminem

"Sing for the Moment" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his fourth album The Eminem Show (2002). It was released in 2003, as the fourth single from The Eminem Show and the final single in the United States. The song samples "Dream On" by American rock band Aerosmith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Name Is</span> 1999 single by Eminem

"My Name Is" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his second album The Slim Shady LP (1999). It is also the opening song and lead single of the album. The song samples British singer Labi Siffre's 1975 track "I Got The..." as a bass and guitar riff played by British pop rock duo Chas & Dave. The song was ranked at #26 on "VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s". "My Name Is" was also ranked #6 on Q Magazine's "1001 Best Songs Ever". "My Name Is" peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Eminem's first top 40 hit there. Outside the United States, "My Name Is" peaked within the top ten of the charts in Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, and United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hail Mary (2Pac song)</span> 1997 single by Tupac Shakur

"Hail Mary" is a song by American rapper Tupac Shakur from his fifth studio album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (1996). It was released after his September 1996 murder under the Makaveli stage name as the album's third single. Hail Mary features rap verses by Kastro, Young Noble and Yaki Kadafi of the Outlawz rap group and vocals from reggae musician Prince Ital Joe. A music video was shot for the song and can be found on the DualDisc of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Breaks (song)</span> 1980 single by Kurtis Blow

"The Breaks" is a 1980 single by American rapper Kurtis Blow from his self-titled debut album. It peaked at #87 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the first certified gold rap song, and the second certified gold 12-inch single. In 2008, the song ranked #10 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lookin Boy</span> 2008 single by Hotstylz featuring Yung Joc

"Lookin' Boy" is a song by American hip hop group Hotstylz, released on May 13, 2008, as their lone single. The song, which was produced by Southern hip hop producer Nitti, features vocals from fellow American rapper Yung Joc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Stroke</span> 1981 single by Billy Squier

"The Stroke" is a song written and recorded by American rock artist Billy Squier. It was released in 1981 as the debut single from his 3× Platinum album Don't Say No.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crack a Bottle</span> 2009 single by Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent

"Crack a Bottle" is a song by American rappers Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent. The song was released as the lead single from the former's sixth studio album Relapse (2009). On February 12, 2009, the song broke the first week digital sales record with 418,000 downloads, topping the previous record held by "Live Your Life" by T.I. featuring Rihanna. This record was broken again the following week by "Right Round" by Flo Rida. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slam (Onyx song)</span> 1993 single by Onyx

"Slam" is a song by American hip hop group Onyx. It was released on May 11, 1993 by JMJ Records and Rush Associated Labels as the second single from Onyx's debut album, Bacdafucup. The song introduced slamdancing into hip-hop.

<i>The Marshall Mathers LP 2</i> 2013 studio album by Eminem

The Marshall Mathers LP 2 is the eighth studio album by American rapper Eminem. It was released on November 5, 2013, by Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records. The album is Eminem's last to have the involvement of independent label WEB Entertainment. It serves as a sequel to his third album The Marshall Mathers LP (2000). The album was recorded from 2012 to 2013 with several different producers, with Dr. Dre and Rick Rubin serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Skylar Grey, Rihanna, Nate Ruess, and rapper Kendrick Lamar, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berzerk (song)</span> 2013 single by Eminem

"Berzerk" is a song by American rapper Eminem. The song, released on August 27, 2013, is the first single from Eminem's eighth studio album The Marshall Mathers LP 2. The song was produced by Rick Rubin and samples Billy Squier's "The Stroke", as well as the Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right", taken from their 1986 debut album Licensed to Ill, which Rubin had also produced, and Naughty by Nature's "Feel Me Flow". The song was heavily downloaded in its first week of release, resulting in the song debuting at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rap God</span> 2013 single by Eminem

"Rap God" is a song by American rapper Eminem. The song premiered via YouTube on October 14, 2013, and was released in the United States on October 15, 2013, as the third single from Eminem's eighth studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013). It contains references to previous conflicts in Eminem's career, as well as to other rappers' conduct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Headlights (Eminem song)</span> 2014 Eminem song

"Headlights" is a song by American rapper Eminem, featuring American singer Nate Ruess of the band Fun. It was written by Eminem, Emile Haynie, Jeff Bhasker, Luis Riesto, and Ruess, while being produced by the former three. In the song, Eminem apologizes to his mother, Debbie Mathers, for criticizing her in his earlier songs and for showing scorn and resentment towards her in the past. It was released on February 5, 2014, as the album's fifth and the final single. It peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Rhyme or Reason" is a song from Eminem's eighth studio album The Marshall Mathers LP 2. The song concerns his father's abandonment of his wife and Eminem when Eminem was born. Produced by the album's executive producer Rick Rubin, the song contains samples of The Zombies' "Time of the Season" from their 1968 album Odessey and Oracle. The song received positive reviews from music critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Sheep (group)</span> American hip hop group

Black Sheep is an American hip hop duo from Queens, New York, United States, composed of Andres "Dres" Vargas Titus and William "Mista Lawnge" McLean. The duo was from New York but met as teenagers in Sanford, North Carolina, where both of their families relocated. The group was part of the Native Tongues collective, which included the Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, and De La Soul. After getting together in 1989, Black Sheep debuted in 1991 with the hit song "Flavor of the Month" and later released its first album, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, which gained them praise and recognition in the hip-hop community for the album's unique rhythms and intelligent, often humorous lyrics. After six years together, Black Sheep disbanded in 1995, citing creative differences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slick Rick discography</span>

This is the discography for English-American hip hop musician Slick Rick. It includes 4 studio albums and 17 singles, including 8 as a featured artist.

<i>Teflon Don</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Rick Ross

Teflon Don is the fourth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross, released on July 20, 2010, on Maybach Music Group, Slip-n-Slide Records and Def Jam Recordings. Production for the album took place during 2009 to 2010 and was handled by several record producers, including Clark Kent, No I.D., The Olympicks, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Lex Luger, Danja, The Inkredibles, The Remedy and Kanye West.

"Cops Shot the Kid" is a song by American rap artist Nas featuring fellow rap artist Kanye West, and the second track off of Nas' eleventh studio album Nasir (2018). The track was written by Nas, West, Andrew Dawson, and Che Smith, with West handling production and Dawson providing additional production. The song samples "Children's Story" by Slick Rick throughout, and includes dialogue spoken by Richard Pryor from the film Wattstax (1974); both are also credited as writers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killshot (song)</span> 2018 diss track by Eminem

"Killshot" is a diss track by American rapper Eminem and produced by IllaDaProducer. The song is Eminem's response to Machine Gun Kelly's song "Rap Devil" that was released in 2018. Eminem had previously dissed MGK in his song "Not Alike" from his tenth studio album Kamikaze.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JID discography</span>

American rapper JID has released three studio albums, three compilation albums, two extended plays (EP), four mixtapes and fifteen singles.

References

  1. "Slick Rick". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  2. "Top 100 Rap Songs". Archived from the original on 2011-08-29. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  3. Stereogum: VH1’s 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs
  4. "Slick Rick - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  5. "Slick Rick - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  6. "Get On Down: Get On Down 2017 Record Store Day Releases! «". getondown.com. Archived from the original on 2017-07-06. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  7. "Slick Rick's 'Children's Story' Gets Turned Into Kid's Book - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  8. "Slick Rick's "Children's Story" Turned Into Actual Children's Book | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  9. "Slick Rick - Billboard Hot Black Singles". Billboard . Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  10. "Slick Rick - Billboard Hot Rap Singles". Billboard . Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  11. "Slick Rick - Billboard Dance Club Songs". Billboard . Retrieved September 19, 2021.