| The Ruler's Back | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 2, 1991 | |||
| Recorded | 1990–91 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 45:55 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
| |||
| Slick Rick chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from The Ruler's Back | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B[5] |
| Los Angeles Times | [6] |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [7] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 5/10[8] |
The Ruler's Back is the second studio album by British-American rapper Slick Rick, released in 1991 on Def Jam Recordings.[9][10]
Upon its release, 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.[11]
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.[4]
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."[6] 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]
| No. | Title | Producer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "King" |
| 3:42 |
| 2. | "I Shouldn't Have Done It" | Vance Wright | 4:05 |
| 3. | "Bond" | Vance Wright | 2:53 |
| 4. | "Moses" |
| 4:04 |
| 5. | "Tonto" |
| 3:17 |
| 6. | "Mistakes of a Woman in Love With Other Men" |
| 4:08 |
| 7. | "Venus" | Vance Wright | 3:45 |
| 8. | "Ship" |
| 3:05 |
| 9. | "It's a Boy" | Vance Wright | 3:29 |
| 10. | "Top Cat" |
| 3:23 |
| 11. | "Runaway" |
| 3:49 |
| 12. | "Slick Rick - The Ruler" | Mr. Lee | 6:06 |
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[13] | 29 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[14] | 18 |
