Slick Rick

An exceptional record, (though foolishly slept-on by the masses), this is by far The Ruler's best work since his classic 1988 debut. After a stint in jail and two rushed, un-even LPs, Rick silences any doubters with his trademark mellow flow and vivid storytelling rhymes. A great album all around, with appearances from Nas, Doug E Fresh, Outkast, Redman, and others.

The music on this unflappably deft comeback is unlayered, highlighting spare beats with simple scratches or vocal sound effects to showcase the feyly effeminate king's-honeydrip singsong that's been identifiable at 50 yards since "La-Di-Da-Di." Mostly he boasts about how pretty he is and how good he raps, proving the latter with cameos from such modern-day flowmasters as Raekwon, Nas, Snoop, and Big Boi. He plays his prison card by trumping the two-line auditions from the wannabes who serenade him as he walks to freedom with "Kill N*gg*z," which describes a fictional crime spree far deadlier than the attack he got sent up for. And he writes about f*cking with the detailed relish of someone who's read a lot of pornography. (Grade - A-)