Third studio album for Richard Walters aka Slick Rick, British rapper who dominated the US hip-hop scene, being considered one of the most influential and capable guys for new East Coast artists. The production is handled by Prince Paul, Vance Wright, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Easy Mo Bee, Greg Nice, Pete Rock, Large Professor and Warren G, while guests are Doug E. Fresh, Nice & Smooth and Warren G.
It opens the title track, produced by Prince Paul: honest jazzy boom bap, lean drum, good samples, slow and smooth delivery of the interpreter. Slick Rick delivers effortlessly in the following cut, over a good relaxed jazzy soundscape devised by Vance Wright. Doug E. Fresh is the first guest of the edition in "Sittin' in My Car": he also produces the song, boom bap jazzy, lively drum, excellent piano sample. Slow and smooth delivery of the two MCs, in a youthful choice with sung chorus. After trying the commercial song, Slick Rick brings out the ballad-dancehall: jazzy rhythm performed by Ricky D himself, decent samples and drums, slow delivery, almost spoken, with functional hook. Easy Mo Bee stands out among the best producers of the album on track number five: rhythmic jazzy music carpet, vibrant drum, honest samples, good rapper smooth delivery. Greg Nice produces "Let's All Get Down", a joint that presents Nice & Smooth in the role of guests: the production is good, jazzy rhythm, vibrating and pounding drum machine, honest samples, smooth delivery of the performers, a bit too bland song.
Pete Rock places a dry, pounding hard drum for the seventh choice, honest soundscape for Slick Rick's bars. The Bronx producer also made the beat for the following tune, "Get a Job": great rhythm, jazzy boom bap with hard thumping and dry drum accompanied by an honest sample, good smooth delivery of the MC, acceptable bridge on the functional chorus. "A Love That's True (Part II)" is the continuation of the first song: same jazzy production, good sample, lively drum, quick Slick Rick delivery, in a filler-dancehall tune similar to the previous one. "It's a Boy (Remix)" is the tenth piece: jazzy boom bap, tight drum, good sample, Christmas bells hidden in the background. It's a nice soundscape created by Large Pro for Slick Rick's fluid rapping, before the final track, a remix of the title track made by Warren G: the boy from Long Beach realizes a great beat, jazzy boom bap with hard and vibrant drum, sample dope, and present but distant Christmas bells in the background, to support Slick Rick's slow and smooth delivery. Even though he seems uninspired, the MC sounds dope.
Released by Def Jam, the album achieved good commercial success, reaching the top 50 threshold on the Billboard 200 and the top 10 threshold among rap records. Nonetheless, it's received less-warmly by critics. Consisting of 9 songs + 2 remixes for a total of 40 minutes, it's a smooth and flowing record: he's still imprisoned when he records the entire CD, and the result is a bit questionable. The production is fluctuating, sometimes excellent, sometimes less good than the average, while Slick Rick's rapping appears uninspired and less confident, albeit still calm and flowing, delivering darker and more negative themes, often dwelling on the opposite sex in the midst of some fillers. In a year that has cemented NY's comeback as a main hip-hop scene, Slick Rick is making his voice heard once again: it's not his finest work, but it's hard not to recommend it for East Coast fans.
Highlights: "Behind Bars", "Sittin' in My Car", "Get a Job", "It's a Boy (Remix)".
Rating: 7/10.
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