The 1988 track was certified platinum by the RIAA on Tuesday (October 21).
Slick Rick received a major career milestone when the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified his legendary track “Children’s Story” as platinum on Tuesday (October 21).
The certification recognizes more than 1,000,000 units sold for the iconic single from his 1988 debut album, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. The Def Jam release became one of Hip-Hop’s most influential storytelling tracks and helped establish Rick as a master narrator in the genre.
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick reached the No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and became one of the first Hip-Hop albums to achieve Platinum status. The album showcased Rick’s distinctive British accent and vivid storytelling abilities that would influence countless rappers for decades.
The platinum recognition comes during a banner year for the 60-year-old rapper, who released his first album in 26 years with “Victory” in June 2025. The visual album featured collaborations with Nas and was executive produced by actor Idris Elba through his 7Wallace label in partnership with Mass Appeal Records.
Slick Rick has received multiple honors recently, including recognition at the Hip Hop Museum Gala in September 2025 alongside Fat Joe and the late Andre Harrell. He also celebrated the 40th anniversary of his collaboration with Doug E. Fresh on “La Di Da Di” and “The Show” with a special vinyl release in August.
The Library of Congress added “La Di Da Di” to its National Recording Registry in 2024, cementing Rick’s place in American cultural history. His influence on Hip-Hop storytelling continues to resonate with new generations of artists who study his narrative techniques and distinctive delivery style.
“Children’s Story” remains a cornerstone of Hip-Hop education and is frequently cited as one of the greatest rap songs ever recorded. The track’s cinematic approach to storytelling helped establish the template for narrative rap that artists still follow today.
More recently, Slick Rick released his first album in 26 years, Victory, part of Mass Appeal’s album series, Legend Has It.
