The Ruler's Back
Slick Rick · 1991
45 min · 12 tracks · hip-hop
A playful yet poignant blend of storytelling and rhythmic flair that defines the essence of golden age hip-hop.
Top tracks — play these first
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Moses — This track highlights Slick Rick's ability to weave complex narratives with humor while addressing themes of faith and perseverance in a memorable way.
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Mistakes of a Woman in Love With Other Men — This song showcases Slick Rick's storytelling prowess by exploring emotional complexity and infidelity through a catchy hook and engaging verses.
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Slick Rick—The Ruler — As the album's closing track, it serves as a self-reflective anthem that encapsulates Slick Rick's journey and reestablishes his presence in hip-hop.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases Slick Rick's storytelling prowess and inventive production, marking a solid entry in his discography.
What we noticed
- The album features a narrative style where Slick Rick often adopts different characters, enhancing the storytelling aspect of each track.
- Several tracks incorporate playful sound effects and samples that complement the lyrical themes, creating a vivid auditory landscape.
- The pacing varies significantly, with some tracks maintaining a steady rhythm while others shift to more reflective tempos, particularly in the latter half.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady narrative flow throughout
- playful humor in storytelling
- reflective moments with sharp commentary
- engaging tales for social context
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- dislike cohesive listening experiences
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1991, The Ruler's Back was Slick Rick's follow-up to his acclaimed debut, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. At this point in his career, he was navigating the challenges of maintaining his status after a brief imprisonment, which influenced both his lyrical content and thematic reflections on identity and legacy.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Doug E. Fresh· Biz Markie· Kool Moe Dee
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 King 3:43
- 2 I Shouldn’t Have Done It 4:05
- 3 Bond 2:53
- 4 Moses 4:04
- 5 Tonto 3:17
- 6 Mistakes of a Woman in Love With Other Men 4:08
- 7 Venus 3:45
- 8 Ship 3:06
- 9 It’s a Boy 3:29
- 10 Top Cat 3:23
- 11 Runaway 3:49
- 12 Slick Rick—The Ruler 6:07
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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