The Ruler's Back

The Ruler's Back is the second studio album by British-American rapper Slick Rick, released in 1991 on Def Jam Recordings.^[2][3]

The Ruler's Back achieved notable chart success, peaking at number 29 on the Billboard 200, and number 18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album features the hit single "I Shouldn't Have Done It", which peaked at number 2 on the Hot Rap Singles.^[4]

Production

The album contains production from Vance Wright, Slick Rick and Mr. Lee. The Ruler's Back was recorded in three weeks, while Rick was on bail before starting a jail sentence that would end in 1996.^[5]

Critical reception

The Los Angeles Times wrote that "there’s the eerie feeling that you’ve experienced something but you’re not sure what, as you might after reading a Denis Johnson novel or seeing an old Cocteau film late at night on public TV. The Ruler’s Back moves along at the speed of thought."^[6] Trouser Press called the album Rick's "most entertaining and least offensive longplayer."^[1] The Washington Post called the album "disappointing," writing that "for some reason, Rick has adopted a high-speed rapping style that undercuts his two great strengths -- humor and storytelling grace."^[7]

Samples

• "I Shouldn't Have Done It"
  • "The New Rap Language" by Spoonie Gee and the Treacherous Three
  • "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
  • "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins
• "It's a Boy"
  • "Impeach the President" by the Honey Drippers
  • "Mister Magic" by Grover Washington, Jr.
• "King"
  • "Uphill Peace of Mind" by Kid Dynamite
  • "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
  • "The Ruler's Back" by Slick Rick
  • "King of Rock" by Run-DMC
• "Mistakes of a Woman in Love with Other Men"
  • "Double Barrel" by Dave & Ansel Collins
  • "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins
  • "I'm Broken Hearted" by James Brown
• "Moses"
  • "Sunday Coming" by Alton Ellis
  • "Impeach the President" by the Honey Drippers
  • "Different Strokes" by Syl Johnson
• "Bond"
  • "Sing a Simple Song" by Please
  • "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy
  • "Stoned Out of My Mind" by the Chi-Lites
  • "Theme from the Planets" by Dexter Wansel
  • "Do the Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas
  • "Kool Is Back" by Funk, Inc.
• "Runaway"
  • "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins
  • "The Show" by Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick and the Get Fresh Crew
• "Ship"
  • "Change the Beat (Female Version)" by Fab 5 Freddy feat. Beside
  • "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
• "Slick Rick - the Ruler"
  • "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
• "Top Cat"
  • "Funky President" by James Brown
  • "Rock Steady" by Aretha Franklin
  • "Don't Worry About It" by Jimmy "Bo" Horne
• "Venus" (1991) sampled
  • "Venus" by Frankie Avalon
  • "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
  • "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy
  • "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
  • "Change the Beat (Female Version)" by Fab 5 Freddy feat. Beside
  • "Atomic Dog (Extended Version)" by George Clinton

Personnel

• Slick Rick - performer, producer, executive producer
• Vance Wright - producer, executive producer
• Mr. Lee - producer
• Russell Simmons - executive producer
• Francesca Spero - executive producer
• Darroll Gustamachio - engineer, mixing
• Thom Leinbach - Gabriel moreno - engineer, mixing
• Everett Ramos - engineer, mixing
• Rory Young - programming, engineer
• Cey Adams - design
• Jules T. Allen- Alvaro Almagro - photography

Charts

References

1. ^ "Slick Rick". Trouser Press. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
2. ^ "Slick Rick | Biography & History". AllMusic
3. ^ "Slick Rick: 'You learn from prison time – what doesn't kill you makes you stronger'". the Guardian. November 24, 2016.
4. ^ Allah, Sha Be (July 2, 2015). "The Source |Today In Hip Hop History: Slick Rick Drops His Album 'The Ruler's Back' 24 Years Ago"
5. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 525.
6. ^ "Slick Rick 'The Ruler's Back'". Los Angeles Times. August 11, 1991.
7. ^ Mills, David (July 31, 1991). "Rappers' Violent Reality". The Washington Post

External links

• The Ruler's Back at Discogs