Slick Rick Discusses Storytelling, Style and 50 Years of Hip-Hop

Every rapper has a story to tell, but none can do it quite like Slick Rick, whose rhymes and style have influenced the culture for nearly 40 years. Rick is arguably hip-hop’s most superb storyteller, and has a catalog of renowned, imaginative tracks like “Mona Lisa” and “Children’s Story” demonstrating his skill. As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary in August, Slick Rick is honored with XXL’s Legends cover, part of a digital series celebrating some of the most impactful artists in hip-hop’s history.

Watch Slick Rick open up about his hip-hop style, what makes a great rapper, his career highlights and more.