Stanisland Magazine

The legendary rapper returns to music after a 25-year hiatus from the hip-hop scene. Here’s everything you need to know

Updated on 3rd July 2025

Hip-hop heads, rejoice! Slick Rick the Ruler is back with a fresh cut of music for rap aficionados everywhere. His new album, titled Victory, dropped on the 13th June.

The soft voiced lyricist is a legend in his own right—not only to fans of the genre, but to his contemporaries. The thought on everyone’s mind now is, what does the eye-patch-wearing rapper have up his sleeve?

What We Know About Victory

The LP is the rapper’s first full-length project since his 1999 album Da Art of Storytellin,’ a release known for its dense tales and stylish flow. 

Rick (real name Richard Martin Lloyd Walters) has been on hiatus for more than 25 years—coming out of retirement for a surprise release on Mass Appeal and Idris Elba’s label, 7Wallace.

READ MORE: What We Know About Raekwon’s Fresh Album ‘ The Emperor’s New Clothes’

The album features high profile names, including Nas, as well as British rappers Giggs and Estelle in a nod to his London roots. 

Short Film

Studio sessions took place between London and France, with a short film set to accompany Victory.

It will premiere at Shoreditch Town Hall, London, on 7th June at the SXSW festival. A second screening on the 13th will be held at the SVA 1 Theater for the Tribeca Festival.

Album Themes

In a statement, the lyricist told how the release will touch on themes of “perseverance, storytelling, imagination, and evolution,” while Idris Elba said it is a “gift” to hip-hop.

Review and the Verdict

It’s a classic return to form for Slick Rick as he channels the vibrant and relaxed charm he is known for. Both seasoned fans and newcomers will appreciate his latest vaunt into a multisensory ‘have it before you hear it’ music industry, as he tends to a preserved compositional structure in a contemporary scene. The opening track featuring Giggs, Stressed, is a reintroduction to the rapper who is not afraid of exploring the reaches of the genre.

READ MORE: Here’s What We Know About The New Nas and DJ Premier Album

The album not only sounds like it meant a lot to the eye-patch-wearing lyrical maestro, he’s having fun at the same time, as heard on tracks like Cuz I’m Here and the skit Come On Let’s Go, with some interesting additions and features.

For Mass Appeal, it’s a launchpad for their “Legend Has It…” series, in an album that includes an appearance from Nas — who, unleashes delectable skill on, Documents. He hasn’t lost any of the juice he is known for — his oiled-down approach to verbalising game remains as intact as ever over beats he has also contributed to.

Hiatus

Following the release of his acclaimed 1999 album, The Ruler took a step back from music to focus on family life. This decision was influenced by the demands of touring and recording, which he felt took over his life. 

READ MORE: New Hip-Hop Releases | Upcoming Albums & Singles

Walters said he didn’t want to record an album until he felt his artistic vision could be realised. Now, at 60-years-of-age, he returns with a project billed as a visual and musical evolution.

Mass Appeal Revives the Hip-Hop Icons Who Shaped the Genre

Record label Mass Appeal took to social media to announce they will release a series of projects by legends of the game. A statement released by the company said: “Dropping between now and the end of 2025, Legend Has It… brings new music from Nas & DJ Premier, Ghostface Killah, Mobb Deep, Raekwon, De La Soul, Big L–and a surprise guest of honor.

This is more than music. It’s a tribute to the icons who shaped hip-hop who took it from the streets of NYC to the world.” We now know that the surprise was indeed – Slick Rick.