Hip-hop was still in its nascency when Ricky Walters and Douglas Davis teamed up for the eternal classics “The Show” and its B-side, “La-Di-Da-Di.”
This year, the duo, better recognized by their stage names, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh, are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release. The single turbocharged Walters’s career as a vibrant wordsmith who would directly influence artists like the Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg and Eminem.
“La-Di-Da-Di” is now one of the most sampled songs ever, and the Library of Congress last year inducted it into the National Recording Registry. In November, both songs were rereleased by Fat Beats on a vinyl 12-inch.
“It’s a good feeling,” Walters said of the milestone. “It brings me back to the beginning of my career, how I came along, how my struggles have gotten me to this point where we are now. It’s a reminiscing of my childhood coming into this higher tax bracket type of a situation.” He added, “Me and Doug E. Fresh, we came from way back.”
Walters, also known as Rick the Ruler, helped define hip-hop’s early aesthetic with his Kangol caps and gold chains. He is also still at his craft: “Victory,” his first studio album in 26 years, was released over the summer through Mass Appeal Records’ Legend Has It series.
During a telephone interview, Walters shared how he builds an ideal environment for his creative juices to flow, the “upper echelon” scent he loves and the soap opera he’s recently gotten into. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
James Brown’s Drums
Sometimes I stumble upon those James Brown drums when scrolling through my playlist: that raw unfiltered rhythm of the kick, the snare, the toms paired with James’s soulful melody. When they meet, it’s like feeding the soul exactly what it craves.
My iPhone
I always need that adrenaline drip, musically. I just throw on my headphones, open up my iTunes, I’m walking and well, I enter a different atmosphere — a world of imagination and sound, completely separate from my surroundings.
English Breakfast Tea
I can’t live without hot tea. I drink anywhere from four to six cups a day. No milk, no cream, no sugar. Strong and British. It’s the English side of me that never dies. The tea offers me great comfort memories of being from South London and all. Oh, and don’t forget some British Walker’s tea biscuits on the side.
Chanel No. 5
It’s got such a timeless, elegant scent. Chanel No. 5 has lasted generations for a reason: It carries that classic upper echelon aroma that never fades. I especially love catching a hint of it on my wife when we’re out on the town — it’s unforgettable.
‘Beyond the Gates’
It’s an all-Black soap opera, so you can connect to it as a brown person, and it’s just fun to watch because they speak your lingo sometimes. They speak to the bottom to the top from the brown communities, and plus it shows them on a higher scale, a higher tax bracket.
My Mother Mary Chain
My favorite jewelry piece — the one I walk around with and wear the most — is my Mother Mary. That’s, like, almost an everyday thing. It’s not as big. The other one is my Africa chain. That’s one when I have to really go all out.
Barbecue Chicken Pizza
My favorite comfort food. The onions and the barbecue sauce and the chicken on top of a pizza. Delicious. Perfect for a cozy Friday night, a good movie and the fireplace going.
Family Time
I enjoy intimate, after-hours lounge spots with the family. Think speakeasy vibes: a few drinks, instrumental music, card games and giggling about whatever’s clever. It’s about being in a relaxed, modern and welcoming space, a place where the family can truly connect, build memories and enjoy one another’s company peacefully.
Le Labo’s Santal 26
The aesthetic of the candles isn’t loud; they are clean and simple with a statement that says “class.” Le Labo builds presence through their subtlety, something I mirror my personal brand with as well. Less is more, but more is less.
Clarks Original Wallabee Hightops
The Wallabees just always been my vibe — clean, classic, with a great mix of high-end/street flair. You throw those on, you’re already saying something without saying a word.
Jonathan Abrams is a Times reporter who writes about the intersections of sports and culture and the changing cultural scenes in the South.
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