Not even incarceration for second-degree attempted murder can prevent the enigmatic Slick Rick from being a presence of great importance on the hip-hop scene. His name and voice pop up everywhere. If a young buck isn't citing him as an influence, a DJ is cutting up a catch phrase from "La Di Da Di" or "Hey Young World." Much to the chagrin of some rap conservatives, Snoop Doggy Dogg paid his...

There's much to like about rapper Slick Rick and his debut album, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. It's a tremendously imaginative record, especially for a debut: Cross rhythms fly by and startle the listener, smartly chosen samples enliven the proceedings, and Rick's sly Brit raps are trenchant and angry.

The popularity of these raps is a good sign for hip-hop, as they foretell a return to the...

I Shouldn't Have Done It," a single from Slick Rick's latest album, The Ruler's Back, is a double-entendre. On the one hand, this confessional and verbose rap is a story about a guy who cheats on his girlfriend. On the other, the rap could, unfortunately, refer to the premature release of this album. Recorded in three weeks while Rick was out on bail, The Ruler's Back reflects the trauma and...