The Art of Storytelling is the fourth studio album by British-American rapper Slick Rick. Originally scheduled for a February 1999 release, it was ultimately released May 25, 1999, by Def Jam Recordings. The album features production from DJ Clark Kent and Kid Capri, among others. Upon its release, The Art of Storytelling proved to be Slick Rick's highest-charting album, peaking at number eight on the Billboard 200, and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and was certified gold by the RIAA within a month of its release.[1]
The Art of Storytelling received positive reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called it a "worthy sequel" to Slick Rick's debut album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. While praising its "smooth production", he believed The Art of Storytelling had a strong emphasis on lyrics, which he described as "continually surprising and thought-provoking".[2] Matt Diehl of Entertainment Weekly highlighted Slick Rick's vocal performance, saying that "his breathy singsong delivery remains a hip-hop national treasure".[3] Steve Jones of USA Today commended the rapper's "unique blend of chest-thumping rhymes, razor-sharp witticisms and pointed observations".[7]
Robert Christgau of The Village Voice called it an "unflappably deft comeback". He believed that the album's minimalistic production "showcase[s] the feyly effeminate king's-honeydrip singsong".[8] Kris Ex of Vibe wrote: "Thoroughly entertaining throughout, Rick spins unique couplets, melds vocal inflections, and breaks those nasal vocals into song".[9]
Comparing it to contemporary releases, some reviewers viewed The Art of Storytelling as a throwback to golden age hip-hop. Raquel Cepeda, in a review for The Source, called it a "memoir of a B-boy's dream", adding that Slick Rick "sharply wields the garish style he pioneered back in '85".[5] Describing it as a "genuine return to form", Joe Gross of Spin highlighted the fact that hip-hop's vocal techniques improved dramatically while Slick Rick was in jail. "Seems like no one told Rick, and the results are weirdly charming", added the journalist.[6]The Washington Post's David Wall Rice named it Slick Rick's best album since the debut, adding that the rapper "[is] staying true to his original concept of presenting dance-ready rhymes that don't take themselves too seriously". He criticized the opening track "Kill Niggaz" for its darker themes, believing that playful tracks fit "Rick's nonchalant delivery" better.[10]
