Customer Reviews

Rulers Back

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Chances are, you were inspired by Slick Rick's more popular songs (Children's Story, Mona Lisa, Lodi Dodi, The Show, etc.) to look him up on Amazon. You probably then stumbled upon this lesser known album, "The Ruler's Back." Do not let the shortage of reviews for this album fool you, you have just discovered what I proclaim to be the most underrated album in Rap history. To say this album was ahead of it's time is an understatement. The beats, courtesy of Slick's one time right hand man Vance Wright (probably the greatest beat-maker you've never heard of) are hypnotic and possess a complex layering unheard in modern day rap music. This is best expressed in tracks like "Moses" and "Mistakes Of A Woman." The lyrics are typical Slick: brilliant. His flow, which revolutionized the way rap artists delivered lyrics, are as fluid as they are intense. Listen to the tracks "Ship," "It's A Boy" and "I Shouldn't Have Done It" for example and realize the flow is about 5 years ahead of it's time. Listen to the originality of a track like "Runaway" or "Venus" and realize there are no rap songs that sound like them (try to say that about modern day rap.) Overall, the album is a testament to the greatest lyricist to ever grace a mic, and takes us back to a time when rap could be both technically profound and entertaining. I wish there were more like it, but I guess to quote Ricky D. himself, "there is no competition cuz we are the best here."

Considering the circumstances surrounding this album, Slick Rick could be excused for phoning it in. Indeed, the prospect of phoning in his rhymes from the Island, and the unenviable task of following up an undisputed classic...why, that's a mighty cross to bear. Doesn't quite feel like a complete work, but the man hasn't lost his knack for narrative. The beats are dense, the drums so hard and fast they'd slap you like it was Tuesday. Large Pro on the ghost production? Extra P did officially contribute a non-LP remix of "It's a Boy". Me, I prefer the "Mr. Magic" sampling version here. "Moses" finds Rick kicking it OT style (that's old testament, baby) over a reggae break, and it's the obvious highlight. Yeah, there's a misstep or three. "Ship" just sucks, and that house remix of "Teacher Teacher"...what was Def Jam thinking? Still, it's a miracle this is anything but a disaster, let alone a decent record. A lost gem? Hardly. An uneven period piece that's worth a few spins? That's the ticket, man.

The great Slick Rick is one of hip-hop's all time greats. Forget gangster rap and all that paranoid junk. Instead listen to Ricky D who's old school style captures the story telling essence of hip-hop. Slick Rick tends to 'keep it real!' - a must buy!

I'm assuming that after such a ground-breaker as "The Great Adventures," when people stumbled upon this gem, it didn't have the same sound, same vibe, so they left it on the shelf. That was a big mistake.

Let me say, I have been about Hip-Hop for over a decade, and have compiled a collection of over 200 hip-hop cds. I have never heard (and probably will NEVER hear) anyone on the same level as Ricky D. Just slighty behind OutKast's Andre Benjamin, Slick Rick is my favorite MC of all time. Nobody can do what he does. He takes his clever, witty lyrics and twists and bends them in a flow that can't be immitated or even duplicated. And we all know that he's the ULTIMATE storyteller (he cements that claim all-over this LP). Listening to Slick Rick on the mic, is like a roller-coaster of rhymes...literally. He is articulate, and coherent with a tone of voice that perfectly suits the verse.

This album also has great production by his boy Vance Wright (one of hip-hop's most unknown and most underrated beat-makers). Pretty much every song is fast-paced, which Rick rips like only he can. Take my advice, this album is incredible.

Bottom Line: Amazing. Ricky, you The Man & don't forget it. 4 stars. Peace.

Many people associate hip-hop with the current barrage of garbage(i.e. Cash Money, Nelly), but the fact of it all is that a true ruler was found in the late 80's with an amazing flow & awsome story telling skills to boot. Released while still doing a bid, TRB has plenty of heat to hold the crowd. Check out the skills in detail on tracks like Moses, Tonto, & the two singles I Souldn't have Done It & Mistakes... Although not as efficient all the way thorugh like his debut it still packs enough heat & thought provoking lyrics that make you sorely miss the days of old when rap meant something. My personal fav is Mistakes. There was only one flaw to me & that was Top Cat which had a very good idea(retelling life as an alley cat..get it alley cat) but the but just comes off uninspiring. Well worth the money I would definitely say this should be in a true hip-hopper's CD collection. With beats by Vance Wright(you probably never heard of him..huh) this CD will continue to bang in my system. peace

I'm happy that most of the reviewers got it right about this one. Except for the one who equated old school's truck jewels with the pimp lifestyle. All those old schoolers who trucked jewels weren't about the pimpin' lifestyle, they were just flossin' they're discretionary income & were smart enough not to mention where it came from.

This one is a five star, though when calibrated to how many worse albums are rated as five stars. The most fascinating thing about this release, if I remember properly, was that Rick wrote this one right before he got locked for blastin' on his cousin, who he said tried to set him up. Knowing that gives new meaning to the song title "I shouldn't have done it." In fact that's why I originally bought it in '91 because I thought that song would be about how he shouldn't have blasted on his cousin even though he tried to rob him.

Rick continues his master storytelling on this one with Moses. Check out the crazy whistling on this one and on Venus, pure talent at work. Even on Venus, he just starts singing the Frankie Avalon lyrics & then just whistles to end the track. I checked out Frankie's Venus just to see if Rick bit the whistling. Nope, all his. On Tonto: we have what might be termed a 'violation' in progress. Not more than two fillers on this album, making it a timeless classic from the golden era of hip hop which I take to be (mid 80's to mid 90's).

NOT EVEN THE MAGAZINE CRITICS OR ANYONE CAN GET THIS ONE RIGHT..THIS IS RICK AT HIS BEST..TELLING STORIES AND BRAGGING BEHIND UPTEMPO CLEAR BEATS..THE BEATS ARE GREAT..NOONE KNOWS ABOUT THIS ALBUM..I STILL LISTEN TO IT EVERYDAY ALMOST..EVERY SONG IS GREAT..5 MIC CLASSIC..BEHIND BARS IS GREAT TOO..QUIT LISTENING TO CRITICS AND LISTEN FOR YOURSELF..

SLICK RICK the RULER!!! This album (which was highly underated) was and is probably the best lyrical word play ever given to tracks.......But wait that's not even the half! When listening to this album I notice that unlike any other songs I've listened to, the beat or the instrumental is as alive as the MC, meaning the tracks in full becomes a duo or some type of super being. the back and forth between the two makes you feel that there is more presence on the album besides Ricky D. What can I say it got Crack!!

Released after his classic Great Adventures album, Slick Rick's "The Ruler's Back" is a classic in its own right. I'm guessing that since it had a different feel and vibe altogether than Great Adventures people put it back on the shelf. Big mistake. While not as solid a record as the groundbreaking "Great Adventures Of Slick Rick", this album is full of gems. Considering it was done while Rick was in jail, this is an exceptional album. Makes me wonder how great it could have been had he been out of jail. I remember seeing the videos for I Shouldn't Have Done It and Mistakes Of A Woman back in 1991 and thinking damn, these beats are off the hook. It wasn't until I bought the album years later (and by this time it was on CD, it was originally on cassette tape and vinyl) that I was able to absorb Rick's lyrical genius. Excellent production by DJ Vance Wright. The beats are really original and hip hop today should learn from it. From the uptempo I Shouldn't Have Done It, to the whimsical ditty Top Cat, to the slower and more serious Mistakes and Runaway, Rick delivers with an uncanny lyrical talent and his signature storytelling ability. No rapper out now can match Rick's lyrical ability or Vance Wright's original and innovative beats. Truly in a class by himself, Slick Rick in my opinion surpasses many of his peers who came out the same time he did. Do your ears a favor, buy all this man's albums and remember what real hip hop is supposed to sound like.

Although the first album smashed this one like porsche to a wall, i gotta say that with some very savvy lyrics he kept this one afloat barely. But i will give credit where credit is do, "Mistakes of a woman in love with other men" & i shouldn't have done it got my money and til' this day both cd's sit in my changer in prime condition. Hey! it's a young world....