The Ruler's Back

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This article is about the album by Slick Rick. For the song by Jay-Z, see The Blueprint.
The Ruler's Back
File:Therulersback.jpg
Studio album by
Slick Rick
ReleasedJuly 2, 1991
Recorded1990–91
GenreHip hop
Length45:55
Label
Producer
  • Vance Wright
  • Slick Rick
  • Mr. Lee
Slick Rick chronology
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
(1988) 		The Ruler's Back
(1991) 		Behind Bars
(1994)
Singles from The Ruler's Back
  1. "I Shouldn't Have Done It"
    Released: November 6, 1990
  2. "Mistakes of a Woman in Love with Other Men"
    Released: June 1991
  3. "It's a Boy"
    Released: November 21, 1991

The Ruler's Back is the second studio album by British-American rapper Slick Rick, released in 1991 on Def Jam Recordings.[2][3]

The Ruler's Back achieved notable chart success, peaking at number 29 on the Billboard 200, and number 18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album features the hit single "I Shouldn't Have Done It", which peaked at number 2 on the Hot Rap Singles.[4]

Production

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The album contains production from Vance Wright, Slick Rick and Mr. Lee. The Ruler's Back was recorded in three weeks, while Rick was on bail before starting a jail sentence that would end in 1996.[5]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg[6]
Robert ChristgauA−[7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStarFile:Star empty.svgFile:Star empty.svgFile:Star empty.svg[5]
Entertainment WeeklyB[8]
Los Angeles TimesStarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg[9]
The New Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarStarHalf starFile:Star empty.svg[10]
Spin Alternative Record Guide5/10[11]

The Los Angeles Times wrote that "there’s the eerie feeling that you’ve experienced something but you’re not sure what, as you might after reading a Denis Johnson novel or seeing an old Cocteau film late at night on public TV. The Ruler’s Back moves along at the speed of thought."[9] Trouser Press called the album Rick's "most entertaining and least offensive longplayer."[1] The Washington Post called the album "disappointing," writing that "for some reason, Rick has adopted a high-speed rapping style that undercuts his two great strengths -- humor and storytelling grace."[12]

Track listing

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The Ruler's Back track listing
No.TitleProducerLength
1."King"
  • Vance Wright
  • Slick Rick
3:42
2."I Shouldn't Have Done It"Vance Wright4:05
3."Bond"Vance Wright2:53
4."Moses"
  • Vance Wright
  • Slick Rick
4:04
5."Tonto"
  • Vance Wright
  • Slick Rick
3:17
6."Mistakes of a Woman in Love with Other Men"
  • Vance Wright
  • Slick Rick
4:08
7."Venus"Vance Wright3:45
8."Ship"
  • Vance Wright
  • Slick Rick
3:05
9."It's a Boy"Vance Wright3:29
10."Top Cat"
  • Vance Wright
  • Slick Rick
3:23
11."Runaway"
  • Vance Wright
  • Slick Rick
3:49
12."Slick Rick – The Ruler"Mr. Lee6:06

Samples

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Personnel

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  • Slick Rick - performer, producer, executive producer
  • Vance Wright - producer, executive producer
  • Mr. Lee - producer
  • Russell Simmons - executive producer
  • Francesca Spero - executive producer
  • Darroll Gustamachio - engineer, mixing
  • Thom Leinbach - Gabriel moreno - engineer, mixing
  • Everett Ramos - engineer, mixing
  • Rory Young - programming, engineer
  • Cey Adams - design
  • Jules T. Allen- Alvaro Almagro - photography

Charts

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Chart performance for The Ruler's Back
Chart (1991) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[13] 29
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[14] 18

References

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  13. ^ "Slick Rick Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "Slick Rick Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
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