Editing Slick Rick (section)

===Initial fame===
Walters' career began in 1985; he first gained success in the rap industry after joining [[Doug E. Fresh]]'s Get Fresh Crew, using the stage name MC Ricky D. He was featured on the single "[[The Show (Doug E. Fresh song)|The Show]]" and its even more popular [[B-side]], "[[La Di Da Di]]", which featured Walters' rapping over Doug E. Fresh's [[beatbox]].  Both tracks gained some mainstream attention, they appeared on ''[[Top of the Pops]]''<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/11mjaLQWZ6U Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150602085749/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11mjaLQWZ6U Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11mjaLQWZ6U |title=Doug E Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew -The Show Studio, TOTP |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=April 19, 2014 |access-date=July 13, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and ''[[Soul Train]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_Pmp8VtJwI | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108065507/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_Pmp8VtJwI&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=November 8, 2011 | url-status=dead|title=The Show - Doug E Fresh |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=February 10, 2011 |access-date=July 13, 2017}}</ref> with the Get Fresh Crew. Reflecting on the single in ''Rolling Stone'' magazine, Roots drummer and ''Tonight Show'' bandleader Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson said, "Point blank: Slick Rick's voice was the most beautiful thing to happen to hip-hop culture [...] Rick is full of punchlines, wit, melody, cool cadence, confidence and style. He is the blueprint."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/questloves-top-50-hip-hop-songs-of-all-time-20121217/doug-e-fresh-and-the-get-fresh-crew-the-show-la-di-da-di-1985-19691231|title=Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew, "The Show"/"La Di Da Di" (1985) - Questlove's Top 50 Hip-Hop Songs of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=April 11, 2016}}</ref>

In 1986, Walters joined Russell Simmons's Rush Artist Management and became the third artist signed to [[Def Jam Records]],<ref name="Biography of Slick Rick"/> the leading rap/hip-hop label at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/features/top-ten-def-jams|title=Top Ten Def Jams|website=Clash Magazine|date=May 2013 |access-date=April 11, 2016}}</ref> Collaborating with his friend, DJ Vance Wright, Walters produced his solo debut, ''[[The Great Adventures of Slick Rick]]'', which came out in 1988 on Def Jam.  The album was very successful, reaching the No.&nbsp;1 spot on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s R&B/Hip-Hop chart.  It also featured four charting singles: "[[Children's Story]]", "[[Mona Lisa]]", "[[Hey Young World]]", and "[[Teenage Love (song)|Teenage Love]]". The release is known for its storytelling and vocal characterizations. "With the combination of Rick's Dick Van Dyke-on-dope accent and his unique narrative style, the record was an instant classic," wrote critic Matt Weiner. "Each of Rick's songs was an amusing, enthralling story that lasted from the first groove to the last."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sabotagetimes.com/music/the-misadventures-of-slick-rick|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110192455/http://www.sabotagetimes.com/music/the-misadventures-of-slick-rick/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 10, 2011|title=The Misadventures of Slick Rick|last=Weiner|first=Matt|date=September 21, 2014|website=Sabotagetimes.com|access-date=April 11, 2016}}</ref>