Slick Rick

THE RULER RETURNS!

“Who wouldn’t want to sing backing vocals for Queen?” ANNA MEREDITH ENVIES SPIKE EDNEY

What music are you currently grooving to?

A variety. Classic Latin, house music, old school, reggae, good hip-hop. I love Missy Elliott, Drake, shit like that. Dennis Brown, The Heptones. You can rely on the old styles but the new stuff will refresh you.

What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favourite album?

Woah. I have too many, but I’m going to say Make Way For Dionne Warwick, with Walk On By on it. So beautiful. Such a nice spirit and a nice tone, you get nostalgic.

What was the first record you ever bought?

And where did you buy it? It was a rap record called Catch A Beat from Crazy Eddie’s on Fordham Road in the Bronx in 1981, ’82, [poss Catch The Beat by T/Ski Valley].

Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be?

When Michael Jackson made Billie Jean, everybody was crazy about him, they all wanted to be that cool. But I’m happy being me, pretty much. Each to each one, you know? You grab from different areas and develop your own personality.

What do you sing in the shower?

I don’t. I might hum something, but I’m an in-and-out type of cat, ha ha!

What is your favourite Saturday night record?

A bunch of house records. House gets Saturday night jumping, it gathers different communities together, gets ‘em popping right away, you know what I mean?

And your Sunday morning record?

Depends. I’m not really a slow, laid back, Sunday morning type person. If I’m in a strong hip-hop mood and I need an emergency wakeup call I might listen to the Wu Tang Clan,

I might listen to Bounty Killer if I need a quick rush. And I’ve got a bunch of relaxing stuff from the ’60s and ’70s, pop, soft rock things. Glen Campbell sets the mood too. It’s all about the ambience.

The Deluxe 30th Anniversary Edition of The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick is out now on UMC/Mercury.