Rap Treats #101: Slick Rick "Behind Bars" (Prince Paul Unreleased Original Version) + News Reports ('94 & '95)

Slick Rick is my hero. Seriously one of the artists who solidified my love of Hip-Hop. From his records with Doug E Fresh ("The Show" & "La-Di-Da-Di") to his ultra classic solo debut The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick it was clear that MC Ricky D was a cut above the rest when it came to story telling rap. Fuck it, when it came to rapping in general. When he caught the charges that landed him in jail I felt that shit. Everything that he recorded since couldn't compare to his original body of work. The free Slick Rick music was exactly what Rick wanted to put out, while the "Free Slick Rick" music was mostly the record labels versions of rushed music he recorded before he went to jail. "Behind Bars" was one of those songs. The world got the Warren G version of the record which was cool, but it has Def Jam's fingerprints all over it. This is the original version that Slick Rick and Prince Paul recorded that until recently could only be found in a pile of old reels that Paul had locked away. Big up Prince Paul for liberating the original version of "Behind Bars" (as well as a bunch of other treats from the early '90s that you can check HERE). To keep the whole Behind Bars theme going, above is a news piece that aired in 1994 about Rick's incarceration, and below similar piece that aired in '95. 

Long live The Ruler, you CRUMBS!!!

Slick Rick

"Behind Bars" (Prince Paul Unreleased Original Version)

Leaders Of The New School Reunite @ BK Hip-Hop Fest!

This is the greatest thing ever - a Leaders Of The New School reunion! I actually never thought I'd see the day, but it def brought a smile to my face (and a tear to Flipout's eye) to see Dinco D, Charlie Brown, and Busta Rhymes performing "Case Of The P.T.A." complete with the East Coast Stomp! On top of the L.O.N.S. reunion, Busta also brought out Phife & Q-Tip and for a "Scenario" performance with all 5 MC's. When was the last time that happened - the Arsenio Hall show back in '92?! (see video below)

Busta doesn't stop there as he also brings out M.O.P, Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun, and Slick Rick!

Records: Doug E. Fresh & MC Ricky D - "The Show" 12"

This is hands down my favorite 12 inch EVER, which means it is THE GREATEST 12 INCH OF ALL TIME! That is very debatable of course, but I'll debate it until the end of time. There isn't a song in Hip-Hop that I can think of that is sampled more than "La-Di-Da-Di", and "The Show" is an all time club classic. Every time I come across this record I buy it, which means I own 6 or 7 copies. It's too bad these guys never did a whole album together, but that is another reason this record is so classic. This record is the only time they put out music together in the '80's. "6 minutes, 6 minutes, 6 minutes Doug E. Fresh you're on!"

Doug E. Fresh & MC Ricky D

"The Show b/w "La-Di-Da-Di" 12"

(Reality Records)

A1 "The Show" (Vocal)

A2 "The Show"

B1 "La-Di-Da-Di"

B2 "The Show" (Instrumental)

Produced by Dennis Ball & Ollie Cotton

Co-Produced by Doug E. Fresh

Rap Treats #7: Slick Rick "Practice Over At Chill Will's Crib" (1984)

Slick Rick

"Practice Over At Chill Will's Crib"

The title speaks for itself. This isn't an actual song. It's MC Ricky D practicing over at Chill Will's Crib back in 1984. He was obviously down with the Get Fresh Crew but also still "down with the crew that's called The Kangol."

Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh

"Live At The Lincoln Projects"

They had the crowd going crazy! MC Ricky D on the mic and Doug E. Fresh on the beat box also from 1984. They start with "Treat Her Like A Prostitute", end with a beatbox version of "The Show", but the highlight is "La-Di-Da-Di" and the extra verse that isn't on the studio version of the song. After the "with your wrinkled pussy, I can't be your lover" line there is a whole next verse. Rick busts a rap about Miss America who turns out to be "that hoe" Vanessa Williams and she ends up giving Rick head. He even sings again. This was recorded just before they went in the studio and made "The Show"/"La-Di-Da-Di" record - which is still my all time favorite 12inch EVER!

BONUS...

Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh

"La-Di-Da-Di" (Live)

This is Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh performing live in 1999 - 15 years later. They still sound dope. Greatest duo ever in my books, even if their run together was short lived.