The Art of Storytelling
1999 studio album by Slick Rick
The Art of Storytelling | ||||
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Studio album by Slick Rick | ||||
Released | May 25, 1999 | |||
Recorded | 1998–1999 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 73:28 | |||
Label | Def Jam | |||
Producer |
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Slick Rick chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Art of Storytelling | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Billboard | (favorable)[2] |
Robert Christgau | A−[3] |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[4] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Source | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | (7/10)[6] |
USA Today | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Vibe | (favorable)[2] |
The Washington Post | (favorable)[8] |
The Art of Storytelling is the fourth studio album by British-American rapper Slick Rick. Originally scheduled for a February 1999 release, it was ultimately released May 25, 1999, by Def Jam Recordings. The album features production from DJ Clark Kent and Kid Capri, among others. Upon its release, The Art of Storytelling proved to be Slick Rick's highest-charting album, peaking at number eight on the Billboard 200, and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and was certified gold by the RIAA within a month of its release.[9]
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[10]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Jail Skit" (featuring Ed Lover, Redman & Rev Run) | Bimmy Antney | 1:20 | |
2. | "Kill Niggaz" | DJ Clark Kent | 2:50 | |
3. | "Street Talkin'" (featuring Outkast) | Jazze Pha | 3:41 | |
4. | "Me & Nas Bring It to Your Hardest" (featuring Nas) | 2:36 | ||
5. | "I Own America Part I" |
|
| 3:09 |
6. | "Bugsy Radio Skit" | Bimmy Antney | 0:19 | |
7. | "Who Rotten 'Em" |
| Nod | 3:28 |
8. | "2 Way Street" |
| DJ Clark Kent | 3:33 |
9. | "King Piece In The Chess Game" (featuring Canibus) |
| Tyrone Fyffe | 3:20 |
10. | "Trapped In Me" |
| Rashad Smith | 3:42 |
11. | "Impress The Kid" |
| S&S | 3:34 |
12. | "Q-Tip & Peter Gunz Skit" | Bimmy Antney | 0:35 | |
13. | "I Run This" |
| 4:09 | |
14. | "Frozen" (featuring Raekwon) |
|
| 3:12 |
15. | "Why, Why, Why" |
|
| 3:23 |
16. | "Adults Only" |
| Dame Grease | 4:16 |
17. | "Memories" |
| DJ Clark Kent | 4:06 |
18. | "Unify" (featuring Snoop Dogg) | Kid Capri | 3:59 | |
19. | "Bugsy Radio Skit" | Bimmy Antney | 0:18 | |
20. | "I Own America Part 2" |
|
| 3:30 |
21. | "CEO Outro" | Slick Rick | 0:05 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
22. | "We Turn It On" (featuring Doug E. Fresh) |
| Vada Nobles | 3:35 |
23. | "La Di Da Di (Live)" (featuring Doug E. Fresh) |
| Slick Rick | 4:37 |
24. | "The Show (Live)" (featuring Doug E. Fresh) |
| Slick Rick | 6:09 |
Sample credits[10]
- "King Piece In The Chess Game" contains a sample from "Sad Feeling", written by Deadric Malone, and performed by Bobby Bland.
- "Trapped In Me" contains a sample from "Tin Tin Deo", written by Chano Pozo, and performed by Buddy Montgomery.
- "I Run This" contains samples from:
- "Children's Story", written and performed by Slick Rick.
- "Jam Master Jay", written by Darryl McDaniels, Jason Mizell, Joseph Simmons, and Russell Simmons, and performed by Run-DMC.
- "The Show" and "La Di Da Di", written and performed by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick.
- "Body and Soul", written by Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, and Robert Sour, and performed by Sonny Rollins.
- "Frozen" contains:
- an interpolation from "Make It Last All Night", written by Bill Conti, Shelby Conti, and Chris West.
- a sample from "Seven Months", written by Geoff Barrow, Beth Gibbons, and Adrian Utley, and performed by Portishead.
- "Why, Why, Why" contains a sample from "Funky President (People It's Bad)", written and performed by James Brown.
- "Memories" contains a sample from "The Best Girls Don't Always Win", written by Clarence Reid, and performed by Betty Wright.
- "Unify" contains a sample from "One Mint Julep", written by Rudy Toombs.
- "I Own America Part 2" contains a sample from "I Can't Go On Living Without You", written by Benjamin Wright, and performed by Tavares.
- "We Turn It On" contains a sample of "The Show" written and performed by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick.
Charts
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[15] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
See also
- List of number-one R&B albums of 1999 (U.S.)
References
- ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (25 May 1999). "The Art of Storytelling - Slick Rick | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ a b c "Slick Rick, "The Art of Storytelling [PA] *" - mymusic CD, Popular Album details". Archived from the original on 17 March 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
- ^ "CG: Slick Rick". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ Matt Diehl (28 May 1999). "The Art of Storytelling". Ew.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. p. 672. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ SPIN. p. 131. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ "ProQuest Archiver: Titles". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ "Rick's Still Slick on 'Art of Storytelling' - the Washington Post | HighBeam Research". Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
- ^ "Slick Rick :: The Art of Storytelling :: Def Jam". Rapreviews.com. 5 February 2002. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- ^ a b The Art of Storytelling (booklet). Def Jam. 1999.
- ^ "Slick Rick Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ^ "Slick Rick Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ "American album certifications – Slick Rick – The Art of Story". Recording Industry Association of America.
External links
- The Art of Storytelling at Discogs
- Album review at RapReviews.com
- v
- t
- e
- The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
- The Ruler's Back
- Behind Bars
- The Art of Storytelling
- "Teenage Love"
- "Children's Story"
- "Hey Young World"
- "I Shouldn't Have Done It"
- "It's a Boy"
- "Behind Bars"
- "Sittin' in My Car"
- "Unify"
- "Street Talkin'"
- "La Di Da Di"
- "I Like"
- "Just Another Case"
- "Da Art of Storytellin' (Pt. 1)"
- "Hip Hop Police"