Slick Rick

Slick Rick (aka Ricky Walters) was the centerpiece of hip-hop's golden era, that period of time after Run-DMC had its success and before MC Hammer started dancing for Kentucky Fried Chicken. In 1988 he released The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, a masterpiece filled with witty lyrics and the MC's hilarious storytelling. Unable to celebrate his debut's success for very long, however, in 1990 he was arrested and jailed for the attempted murder of his cousin. Rick released two albums while incarcerated, but neither lived up to the brilliance of Great Adventures. He was released in 1996 and free just long enough to issue 1999's critically acclaimed The Art of Storytelling. He found himself behind bars again in 2002 for allegedly violating immigration laws (although he lives in the Bronx, he's a native of London) and was paroled in late 2003. With his legal troubles finally behind him, Rick recently finished contributing to the new video game Def Jam: Fight for NY and is slated to release a new album next year. Let's hope the FREE SLICK RICK signs stay in the closet.