Hip hop legend Slick Rick is set to make his long anticipated return with Victory, his first full length release in over 26 years. The trailblazing rapper, renowned for his masterful storytelling and signature flow, has collaborated with actor and producer Idris Elba to executive produce the 30 minute visual album, arriving June 13 via Elba’s 7Wallace imprint and Nas’ Mass Appeal Records.
Created over a four year span and filmed across Europe, Africa, and North America, Victory captures Slick Rick’s artistic evolution. The project’s teaser offers a glimpse of Rick’s signature narration, exploring the transformative power of language and framing the album as both a personal reflection and a bold creative vision.
“This is more than just music, it’s an unapologetic statement,” Slick Rick shared in a press release. “Victory is about resilience, storytelling, imagination, and growth. It’s a visual fusion of art and emotion.”
Idris Elba added, “Getting to work with Slick Rick, back in the U.K., and then bringing something remarkable to the hip hop world has been an incredible experience. It truly is a gift.”
Mass Appeal co-founder Nas also weighed in stating, “Slick Rick and I go way back, so it was great to reunite in the studio for this project,” said the Queensbridge icon. “He’s such a pivotal figure in hip hop, and I’m excited for a new generation of listeners to experience this body of work.”
The visual album will feature guest appearances from Nas, Giggs, and Estelle, with direction by Meji Alabi, whose credits include Beyoncé’s Black Is King. The production team also includes renowned engineer Young Guru and iconic hip hop photographer Jonathan Mannion.
Victory will make its global debut at SXS7 London on June 7 at Shoreditch Town Hall, followed by a U.S. premiere at the Tribeca Festival in New York City on June 13. Both premiere events will include appearances and Q&A sessions with Slick Rick, Idris Elba, and Meji Alabi.
That same day, the Victory visual album will be released on all major streaming platforms and made available for purchase.
Slick Rick’s last studio album, The Art of Storytelling, dropped in 1999 and earned gold certification. Now, with Victory, the iconic MC returns to the spotlight, offering a cinematic, reimagined take on hip hop’s storytelling tradition, powered by two of the U.K.’s most influential creative forces.
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