The Art of Storytelling | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 25, 1999 | |||
Recorded | 1998–99 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 73:28 | |||
Label | Def Jam Recordings | |||
Producer | ||||
Slick Rick chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from The Art of Storytelling | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Billboard | (favorable) [2] |
Robert Christgau | A− [3] |
Entertainment Weekly | B+ [4] |
Rolling Stone | [5] |
The Source | [2] |
Spin | (7/10) [6] |
USA Today | [7] |
Vibe | (favorable) [2] |
The Washington Post | (favorable) [8] |
The Art of Storytelling is the fourth and most recent studio album by British-American rapper Slick Rick. Originally scheduled for a February 1999 release, it was ultimately released May 25, 1999, on Def Jam Recordings. The album features production from DJ Clark Kent and Kid Capri, among others. Upon its release, The Art of Storytelling proved to be Slick Rick's highest-charting album, peaking at number eight on the Billboard 200, and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and was certified gold by the RIAA within a month of its release. [9]
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [10]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Jail Skit" (featuring Ed Lover, Redman & Rev Run) | Bimmy Antney | 1:20 | |
2. | "Kill Niggaz" | DJ Clark Kent | 2:50 | |
3. | "Street Talkin'" (featuring Outkast) | Jazze Pha | 3:41 | |
4. | "Me & Nas Bring It to Your Hardest" (featuring Nas) | 2:36 | ||
5. | "I Own America Part I" |
|
| 3:09 |
6. | "Bugsy Radio Skit" | Bimmy Antney | 0:19 | |
7. | "Who Rotten 'Em" |
| Nod | 3:28 |
8. | "2 Way Street" |
| DJ Clark Kent | 3:33 |
9. | "King Piece In The Chess Game" (featuring Canibus) |
| Tyrone Fyffe | 3:20 |
10. | "Trapped In Me" |
| Rashad Smith | 3:42 |
11. | "Impress The Kid" |
| S&S | 3:34 |
12. | "Q-Tip & Peter Gunz Skit" (featuring Q-Tip & Peter Gunz) | Bimmy Antney | 0:35 | |
13. | "I Run This" |
| 4:09 | |
14. | "Frozen" (featuring Raekwon) |
|
| 3:12 |
15. | "Why, Why, Why" |
|
| 3:23 |
16. | "Adults Only" |
| Dame Grease | 4:16 |
17. | "Memories" |
| DJ Clark Kent | 4:06 |
18. | "Unify" (featuring Snoop Dogg & Kid Capri) |
| Kid Capri | 3:59 |
19. | "Bugsy Radio Skit" | Bimmy Antney | 0:18 | |
20. | "I Own America Part 2" |
|
| 3:30 |
21. | "CEO Outro" | Slick Rick | 0:05 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
22. | "We Turn It On" (featuring Doug E. Fresh) |
| Vada Nobles | 3:35 |
23. | "La Di Da Di (Live)" (featuring Doug E. Fresh) |
| Slick Rick | 4:37 |
24. | "The Show (Live)" (featuring Doug E. Fresh) |
| Slick Rick | 6:09 |
Sample credits [10]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) [15] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Richard Martin Lloyd Walters, better known as Slick Rick, is an English-American rapper and record producer. He rose to prominence as part of 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.
The Black Album is the eighth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on November 14, 2003, through Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. It was advertised as his final album before retiring, which is also a recurring theme throughout the songs, although Jay-Z resumed his recording career in 2005. For the album, Jay-Z wanted to enlist a different producer for each song, working with Just Blaze, Kanye West, the Neptunes, Eminem, DJ Quik, Timbaland, 9th Wonder and Rick Rubin, among others. The album also features a guest appearance by Pharrell Williams.
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot is the debut album by American rapper DMX. It was released on May 19, 1998, by Def Jam Recordings and Ruff Ryders Entertainment. It was supported by four singles—"Get at Me Dog", "Stop Being Greedy", "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" and "How's It Goin' Down", in order of release—and their accompanying music videos.
Southside is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Lloyd. It was released on July 20, 2004, by The Inc. Records and The Island Def Jam Music Group. The singer teamed with several of record producers such as Chink Santana, Rodney Jerkins, Irv Gotti and Jasper Cameron, among others.
10 is the ninth studio album by American rapper LL Cool J. It was released by Def Jam Recordings on October 15, 2002 in the United States. LL Cool J and 10 hit a milestone in Def Jam history, being the first artist ever on Def Jam to have ten albums under the same record label. The album peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200, while also reaching number 26 on the UK Albums Chart.
14 Shots to the Dome is the fifth studio album by American hip hop recording artist LL Cool J. It was released on March 30, 1993, via Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions took place at Marley's House Of Hits, at Cove City Sound Studios and at Unique Recording Studios in New York, and at QDIII Soundlab in Los Angeles, at Bobcat's House in Palmdale, and at Encore Studio in Burbank. Production was handled by Marley Marl, DJ Bobcat, Quincy Jones III, Andrew Zenable and Chris Forte. It features guest appearances from Lords of the Underground and Lieutenant Stitchie.
Todd Smith is the eleventh studio album by American rapper LL Cool J. It was released on April 11, 2006 by Def Jam Recordings. It includes collaborations with Jennifer Lopez, Pharrell, Juelz Santana, Teairra Mari, Jamie Foxx, Ginuwine, Mary J. Blige, 112, Mary Mary, Ryan Toby and Freeway. Producers on the project include Pharrell, Scott Storch, Bink!, Shea Taylor, Keezo Kane and Trackmasters.
Richard Anthony Simpson, also known as Chubb Rock, is an American rapper who released several successful hip hop albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A National Merit Scholar, Chubb Rock dropped out of Brown University to pursue his musical career.
Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood is the second studio album by American rapper DMX. The album was released on December 22, 1998, by Def Jam Recordings and Ruff Ryders Entertainment, over seven months after his debut album, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot.
The Ruler's Back is the second studio album by British-American rapper Slick Rick, released in 1991 on Def Jam Recordings.
Out of Business is the sixth studio album by American hip hop duo EPMD. The album was originally scheduled for a December 1998 release under Def Jam Recordings, but had been delayed numerous times as a result of a merger between Seagram's PolyGram and Universal Music Group's MCA Records, combining Def Jam and Island Records' operations together under the Island Def Jam Music Group. Ultimately, the album was released on July 20, 1999. It is the first official Def Jam album released under the newly-formed Island Def Jam Music Group and the group's last album released under the label as they left the imprint a year later before going inactive for the second time.
"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.
Diplomatic Immunity is the debut studio album by American hip hop group The Diplomats, released via The Island Def Jam Music Group, Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records, and Cam'ron's Diplomats Records.
"Just Another Case" is song by American hip hop group Cru featuring a verse from Slick Rick. It was released on June 17, 1997, through Violator/Def Jam Recordings as the lead single from their debut album Da Dirty 30. Recording sessions took place at Animation Sound in New York City. Production was handled by member Yogi Bear, who used a sample of "The World Is a Place" performed by Rhythm, an interpolation of "Everybody Plays the Fool" performed by The Main Ingredient, and a sample of "Mona Lisa" performed by Slick Rick.
Apollo Kids is the ninth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan-member Ghostface Killah, released on December 21, 2010, by Def Jam Recordings. Guests on the album include several Wu-Tang members and affiliates, as well as Redman, Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz, and Game, among others.
The Tunnel is a collaborative album by American DJs Funkmaster Flex and Big Kap. It was released on December 7, 1999, via Def Jam Recordings.
Under Pressure is the debut studio album by American rapper Logic. It was released on October 21, 2014, by Visionary Music Group and Def Jam Recordings. Development and composition of the album began in 2013, with recording taking place during a two-week span at the beginning of 2014. The album's production was primarily handled by No I.D., with smaller contributions from a variety of record producers, including 6ix, DJ Dahi, DJ Khalil, S1, Jake One and Dun Deal. The standard edition of the album contained no guest appearances; Big Sean and Childish Gambino were featured on the album's deluxe edition.
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.
The Lost Tapes 2 is a compilation album by American rapper Nas, released on July 19, 2019 by Mass Appeal Records and Def Jam Recordings. It is the sequel to the compilation album The Lost Tapes, released in 2002. The Lost Tapes 2 features unreleased tracks from Nas’ last four studio albums: Hip Hop Is Dead (2006), Untitled (2008), Life Is Good (2012) and the album scrapped in favor of Nasir (2018). It includes production from producers such as RZA, Swizz Beatz, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, No I.D., Pete Rock and The Alchemist, among others.
"Unify" is the song written and performed by American hip hop recording artists Kid Capri, Snoop Dogg and Slick Rick. It was recorded at Larrabee Studio in Los Angeles, at Bearsville Studio in Bearsville and at The Hit Factory in New York City, and released in 1998 through Track Masters/Columbia Records as the only single from Kid Capri's sophomore studio album Soundtrack to the Streets. It was produced by Kid Capri himself, and contains a sample from "One Mint Julep" written by Rudy Toombs. Its remix version was produced by Poke & Tone, and contains portions of "Good Times" written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers.