Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick Celebrate 40 Years With Limited Edition La Di Da Di and The Show Vinyl
Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick celebrate 40 years of hip-hop history with an exclusive vinyl release of their genre-defining tracks “La Di Da Di” and “The Show,” issued by Fat Beats Distribution to mark the milestone. This limited-edition 12-inch pressing features the original cuts of both songs, a rare demo version of “The Show” and an unreleased street take of “La Di Da Di” captured live at the Lincoln Projects in Harlem. The release pays tribute to the duo’s landmark 1985 recordings with the Get Fresh Crew, which featured DJ Chill Will and DJ Barry B. At the time, Slick Rick performed under the alias M.C. Ricky D.
First pressed on August 13, 1985, “La Di Da Di” paired Doug E. Fresh’s pioneering beatboxing with Slick Rick’s vivid storytelling and became one of the most sampled songs in hip-hop. “The Show” offered a backstage look at life on stage, underscoring the raw excitement that defined early rap culture. “La Di Da Di” laid out playful rhyme patterns and tight rhythms that many MCs later adopted as a blueprint. Both recordings have been interpolated, quoted or sampled in over 1,000 tracks by artists such as The Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, Beyoncé, the Beastie Boys and Miley Cyrus. Their influence still resonates across modern music.
In 2025, both songs were added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, recognized for their “cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.” Their inclusion stands alongside other landmark recordings in American music history.
Doug E. Fresh, known to many as “The Original Human Beatbox,” helped give vocal percussion a central place in hip-hop. Born in London, Slick Rick earned his reputation as a master storyteller and went on to become one of the genre’s top lyricists. Together, the pair created music that not only defined a generation but also extended hip-hop’s reach well beyond its early audiences, leaving a lasting legacy.
Today, “La Di Da Di” and “The Show” remain among the most iconic recordings from hip-hop’s formative years and still bring energy four decades later.
Fat Beats Distribution is overseeing this 40th anniversary vinyl release, offered exclusively through Fat Beats outlets.
