Slick Rick

Slick Rick is one of rap's greatest storytellers, unleashing foundational hip-hop classics like "Children's Story" and "La-Di-Da-Di" before a prison stint derailed his career.

Slick Rick, born Richard Walters in 1965, first made his mark as a sideman to another hip-hop pioneer, Doug E. Fresh. Rick was a member of the Get Fresh Crew, and was heavily featured in Fresh's biggest hits, "The Show" and its B-side "La-Di-Da-Di." The latter was essentially a showcase for Rick, who wove a story of ludicrous romantic entanglement over an amazing display of unaccompanied beat boxing by Fresh.

Slick Rick's 1988 debut album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick topped Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop chart, its success fueled by the cautionary "Children's Story," like "La-Di-Da-Di" one of the most sampled rap songs of all time. Slick Rick was arrested for attempted murder in 1990 and eventually served five years in prison, and while he continued recording and performing live, his career never recaptured its initial momentum.