Search - Slick Rick :: Behind Bars

Not bad, under the circumstances

Andre M. | Mt. Pleasant, SC United States | 07/19/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When one considers that Rick recorded this while on a brief furlough from prison in a rushed amount of time, this is not bad, especially his reunification w/ Dougie Fresh in "Sittin In My Car" (based on Billy Stewart/GQ's "Sitting In the Park.")"

Why was they hatin?

Fyah Mon | Washington Heights, NYC | 07/16/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When I was 11 Slick Rick dropped "Great Adventures." Growing up in New York City in the 80's I was exposed to hip hop, and did like hip hop, but it wasn't until 94's "Behind Bars" that I TRULY got into Rick. When your 11, at least back then, hip hop wasn't as all pervasive as it is now. Remember, it wasn't really until 1986 with RUN DMC gettin down with Steven Tyler and crew that "rap" was even shown on MTV with any regularity! Well, needless to say I loved "Behind Bars" when it came out. I thought Rick's wordplay was fierce and it was THIS album that brought me back to his classic 88 debut. He recorded this on a work release furlough and although it's not his BEST album it still smokes. People were straight hatin on the Ruler and called this album trash. Everyone expected Rick to do a "Children Story 2" and that wasn't how he was living. Truth was that Rick was a convicted felon and went from on top to bottom of the barrel in a few short years. 1994 was an epic year for hip hop, so compared to Illmatic, Hard to Earn, TICAL, Street Level( don't you DARE sleep on the Beatnuts!!) of course it doesnt sound all of that, but it is still Slick Rick and i like the down and out Rick. I give it 3 and half stars but to this day i appreciate this album for turning me on to the best storyteller hi hop has ever, and will ever know."

Behind The Patch

Carltouis Stevenson | Angeles Mesa, Los Angeles | 05/12/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Slick Rick the Ruler pressed forward with the release entitled Behind Bars. Most of the tracks on here have been remixed before we could even judge the original ones. Rick doesn't stray from his storytelling, imaginative nature of rhymes. The heartfelt and reality striken "All Alone (No One To Be With)" gives a tale of life without love. He goes to back to his so called singing on "Sittin' In My Car" and "A Love That's True (Part I)". On "A Love That's True (Part II)" he comes with a reggae, freestyle flow. The never ending bounce and bass lick production by Greg Nice on "Let's All Get Down" has the Ruler flowing between the energetic Nice & Smooth. To end the lp on a high note "Behind Bars (Dum Ditty Dum Mix)" features Warren G and was also produced by him as well. This is definately the highlight Behind Bars! I gave this four stars and this is the weakest release by Slick Rick and that says everything."