Richard Martin Lloyd Walters, better known as Slick Rick, is a multifaceted English-American artist, born on January 14, 1965. His career as a rapper and record producer has spanned decades, with a remarkable rise to prominence in the mid-1980s alongside Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew.
Their collaborative songs, "The Show" and "La Di Da Di," are widely regarded as hip-hop classics, with "La Di Da Di" being one of the most sampled songs in history. In 1986, Slick Rick became the third artist to be signed to Def Jam Records, a testament to his talent and dedication to his craft.
Throughout his illustrious career, Slick Rick has released four studio albums: The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988),The Ruler's Back (1991),Behind Bars (1994),and The Art of Storytelling (1999). His music has been incredibly influential, with over 1,000 songs interpolating or sampling his work, featuring an impressive array of artists such as Eminem, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Beastie Boys, TLC, Nas, Miley Cyrus, Kanye West, MF DOOM, Czarface, Black Star, The Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, MC Ren, Montell Jordan, Tech N9ne, and Color Me Badd.
As a result, Slick Rick has become one of the most-sampled hip-hop artists of all time, with many of these songs going on to become hit singles. His impressive legacy has been recognized through various accolades, including being a VH-1 Hip Hop Honors honoree, and ranking No. 12 on About.com's list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time, as well as No. 15 on The Source's list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.
In addition to his music, Slick Rick has also made appearances in 10 movies and videos, further solidifying his status as a talented and versatile artist.
