Slick Rick is getting ready to release his first album since 1999. The hip-hop artist will share Victory, a follow-up to The Art of Storytelling, on June 13. Victory is described, in a press release, as a visual album that Slick Rick executive-produced with Idris Elba. It’s accompanied by a 30-minute film, directed by Black Is King collaborator Meji Alabi, that will premiere at SXSW London, on June 7, and also screen at Tribeca Festival on June 13. Watch a trailer for Victory below.
Slick Rick wrote and recorded Victory in London and France, and the film was shot in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Africa, a press release notes. The album will have guest appearances from Nas, Giggs, and Estelle.
“Victory is all about perseverance, storytelling, imagination, and evolution,” Slick Rick said in a statement. “A visual blend of art and heart—a sonic journey that reflects where I’ve been and where I’m going. Victory isn’t just music—it’s a bold in your face statement, showcasing British artistry at its finest!”
Idris Elba added, “Working with Slick Rick… back home in the UK, and then offering the world of hip-hop something amazing has been a blessing. It’s literally a gift!”
Read about Slick Rick’s debut, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, in Pitchfork’s “The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s.”
