A new example of the Mandela Effect surfaced on social media comprising renowned rapper Slick Rick. Many people didn’t know he was raised in London before migrating to the Bronx.
Real name Ricky Martin Lloyd Walters, Slick Rick’s “About” page on his website highlighted that the rapper was born in London to Jamaican parents. In 1976, he emigrated to The Bronx, where he discovered his admiration for music, leading him to meet rapper and producer Doug E. Fresh, who welcomed Slick Rick to join The Get Fresh Crew, known for their international hits “La Di Da Di” and “The Show.”
Slick Rick is one of the top five greatest storytellers in hip hop history, alongside Biggie Smalls and Nas. His posh verbals led many to believe he was putting on an act and was indeed from New York.
A TikTok user named Nyamka Ayinde filmed her reaction to Slick Rick’s interview on The Estelle Show, where his British accent stood out tremendously. She claimed she thought that he was just “really proper.”
@nyamkasayinde I was today years old when I found out #slickrick was #british @zonefour4 ⏠original sound – Nyamka S Ayinde
Some people in the comments section thought it was a Baltimore accent.
One Twitter user, @LaCienegaBlvdss, posted a video of The Estelle Show interview and stated they never knew the “Children’s Story” rapper had a British accent.
I have never heard Slick Rick speak with a British accent in my life⊠pic.twitter.com/c75uRBiOMF
â Whitey Got Ur Wife on VH1 and That Bitch Cant Read (@LaCienegaBlvdss) October 3, 2022
More people chimed in, claiming they didn’t know the Hip Hop mogul had an accent, while others were more surprised that people didn’t know. Some compared the “new revelation” to instances like when Black people didn’t know Bobby Caldwell was white.
People finding out Slick Rick is British is about to do Bobby Caldwell Is White numbers.
â Tony Stanza, Songwriter Extraordinaire (@EyanJ) October 3, 2022
Finding out that Slick Rick is british really just ruined my day
â Big Cozy (@cozyq42) October 5, 2022
Iâm not gunna lie, I didnât know Slick Rick was British. I just thought he used that stupid English accent on purpose
â D. Rose (@DavidRoseTheBar) October 4, 2022
AightâŠIâm tripping! I know Slick Rick raps in a British accent but I did now know he was British for real! đđ He from LondonâŠI definitely thought he was from the west coast! đđđ
â Timeni V. Washington (@TiM_DiGGiTY) October 4, 2022
I can expect somebody in their 20s didnât know Slick Rick was British. Câmon guys when the last time Rick was interviewed and why a 20 yo checking for him in 2022?
â Chairman of the Bored (@getthefortune) October 3, 2022
In the early 2000s, Slick Rick faced the threat of deportation as a convicted felon for attempted murder. A year after 9/11, the Immigration and Naturalization Services was on edge and tightened up on security. In 2002, Slick Rick was arrested in Florida after returning from a Caribbean concert cruise. In April 2016, he became an American citizen.