The Ruler's Back
The Ruler's Back | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 2, 1991 | |||
Recorded | 1990–91 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 45:55 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Slick Rick chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Ruler's Back | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [7] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 5/10[8] |
The Ruler's Back is the second studio album by
Upon its release, The Ruler's Back achieved notable chart success, peaking at number 29 on the
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.[4]
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."[12]
Track listing
No. | Title | Producer | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "King" | Vance Wright, Slick Rick | 3:42 |
2. | "I Shouldn't Have Done It" | Vance Wright | 4:05 |
3. | "Bond" | Vance Wright | 2:53 |
4. | "Moses" | Vance Wright, Slick Rick | 4:04 |
5. | "Tonto" | Vance Wright, Slick Rick | 3:17 |
6. | "Mistakes of a Woman in Love With Other Men" | Vance Wright, Slick Rick | 4:08 |
7. | "Venus" | Vance Wright | 3:45 |
8. | "Ship" | Vance Wright, Slick Rick | 3:05 |
9. | "It's a Boy" | Vance Wright | 3:29 |
10. | "Top Cat" | Vance Wright, Slick Rick | 3:23 |
11. | "Runaway" | Slick Rick, Vance Wright | 3:49 |
12. | "Slick Rick - The Ruler" | Mr. Lee | 6:06 |
Samples
- "I Shouldn't Have Done It"
- "The New Rap Language" by The Treacherous Three
- "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
- "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins
- "The New Rap Language" by
- "It's a Boy"
- "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
- "Mister Magic" by Grover Washington, Jr.
- "Impeach the President" by
- "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
- "Double Barrel" by
- "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
- "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 Freddyfeat. Beside
- "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
- "Change the Beat (Female Version)" by
- "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
- "Public Enemy
- "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
- "Change the Beat (Female Version)" by Fab 5 Freddyfeat. 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
Chart (1991) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200[13] | 29 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[14] | 18 |
References
- ^ a b "Slick Rick". Trouser Press. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ "The Ruler's Back - Slick Rick | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Slick Rick". www.robertchristgau.com.
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 525.
- ^ "The Ruler's Back". EW.com.
- ^ a b "**** SLICK RICK "The Ruler's Back" Def Jam : Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five (a classic)". Los Angeles Times. 11 August 1991.
- ISBN 9780743201698– via Google Books.
- ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 359.
- ^ "Slick Rick | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ "Slick Rick: 'You learn from prison time – what doesn't kill you makes you stronger'". the Guardian. 24 November 2016.
- ^ Allah, Sha Be (2 July 2015). "The Source |Today In Hip Hop History: Slick Rick Drops His Album 'The Ruler's Back' 24 Years Ago".
- ^ Mills, David (31 July 1991). "RAPPERS' VIOLENT REALITY" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
- ^ "Slick Rick Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ^ "Slick Rick Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.