| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Billboard | (favorable)[2] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[3] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[4] |
| Rolling Stone | [5] |
| The Source | [2] |
| Spin | (7/10)[6] |
| USA Today |  [7] |
| Vibe | (favorable)[2] |
| The Washington Post | (favorable)[8] |
The Art of Storytelling is the fourth and most recent studio album by British-American rapper Slick Rick, released May 25, 1999, on 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
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 (May 25, 1999). "The Art of Storytelling - Slick Rick | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 17, 2004. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
- ^ "CG: Slick Rick". Robert Christgau. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ Matt Diehl (May 28, 1999). "The Art of Storytelling". Ew.com. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Books.google.com. p. 672. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ SPIN. Books.google.com. p. 131. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ "ProQuest Archiver: Titles". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
- ^ "Slick Rick :: The Art of Storytelling :: Def Jam". Rapreviews.com. February 5, 2002. Retrieved January 14, 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 August 22, 2020.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- ^ "American album certifications – Slick Rick – The Art of Story". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.
External links
- The Art of Storytelling at Discogs
- Album review at RapReviews.com