In both a good and a bad way
This past April, Mass Appeal Records promised to release a series of new albums from Ghostface, De La Soul, Raekwon, Big L, Mobb Deep, Slick Rick and Nas & DJ Premier. This seems like pure nostalgia bait, even if we ignore the logistical problems of Big L, Trugoy and Prodigy being dead, Ghostface having fried his voice from too much Wu Goo TM and the simple fact that a Nas and Premier album is a quarter of a century too late.
But hey, a new album from Slick The Rick The Ruler is nothing to scoff at, right? Let’s dive in (ignoring the skits because who’s got time for that crap?) to see what Victory is all about.
‘Stress’
Loud drums and Rick rapping like he hasn’t missed a day of practice is a strong start. Then some other British bloke starts rhyming, which is fine but Rick doesn’t need guests on an album that’s less than half an hour long.
‘Angelic’
Another drum loop – are drums back? About effin’ time. Rick is kind of rambling here though – where are the stories we’re all here for?
‘Foreign’
Another drum loop, praise Breakbeat Lou. Rick is doing a Blueprint era BDP-style fake patois to impress his dad or something. Doesn’t really go anywhere.
‘Come On Let’s Go’
Holy mackerel, Hip-House for 2025. Who asked for this?
‘Landlord’
This is incredible – the one proper Slick Rick story rap on the album and it’s about collecting rent from deadbeat tenants at his various real estate investments!? This is either Ignorant Rap on the level of Convicts ‘Illegal Aliens’ or Rick just trolling all of his listeners who lack property portfolios. Maybe both.
‘Spirit To Cry’
This kicks along at a fair pace, complete with a sing-song hook and the whole nine yards. Is this about his former record label boss Russell ‘Rush’ Simmons having to hide-out in Bali for being a sex pest?
‘Documents’ feat. Nas
The longest song on the album at a whopping 2 minutes 49 seconds, Rick kicks it proper before Nas barges in with a contractually-obligated guest spot.
‘So You’re Having My Baby’
The best beat on the record matched with the finest flow…but it’s all over far too soon.
‘Cuz I’m Here’
Wait….another Hip House track? Did nobody tell Rick that Paradise Garage closed down in 1987?
‘Matrix’
Another breakbeat – let’s go! All well and good until Rick pulls a Micky Rooney in Breakfast At Tiffany’s at the end. May as well have gotten Rapping MC Breeze from Philly to do a cameo.
‘Another Great Adventure’
No idea what’s going on here with this ‘creepy adventure’, is this some kind of Alex Jones-inspired Pizza Gate/Q-Anon rap? Or just a weird song about a kid who can’t control their bladder? Either way…why?
And that’s that. Victory is a frustrating experience, since there are moments where it feels like we’re in the zone but then the song abruptly ends. Perhaps this is merely a snippet-tape style preview of a more ambitious full-length album from Slick Rick? Or did he just deliver the bare minimum to fulfil the advance that Nas wired him? If nothing else, Rick reminds us that drum loops are still good and Hip House is not. But maybe call Vance Wright for the next one.
Agree on ‘Landlord’. Best track, strangest theme. But sums up the confusion I have about themes on Slick Rick records. Great records, but why, on say, Art of Storytelling would you have the happy, nostalgia-laced ‘Memories’ play straight after the non-consensual, anal-obsessed ‘Adults Only’?! I guess it’s a similar theme switch from something like ‘Treat Her Like a Prostitute’ to ‘Hey Young World’ – but at least on Great Adventures they’re not back to back. Rick has some of the best positive joints, and some super disrespectful joints – often on the same records. He is large, he contains multitudes…he wants that rent money.
I’m still trying to figure out if I like the album
Arf!