Congrats! Hip Hop Legend Slick Rick Finally Becomes A U.S. Citizen After 40 Years! (Pics)

It took 40 years, but hip hop legend Slick Rick finally became a U.S. citizen on Friday, May 15.
Rick, real name Ricky Walters, and his family migrated from London, England in 2006. They eventually settled in The Bronx, New York.
In 1985 the rapper collaborated with Doug E. Fresh on what would become one of hip hop's most beloved songs, "La Di Da Di.In 1988, the man known for always rocking hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold jewelry, released his debut solo album titled "The Great Adventures of Slick Rick," which spawned the hit songs "Children's Story" and "Hey Young World."Rick ran into legal trouble in 1989 when he shot his cousin Mark Plummer, who had threatened to kill him and his mother. Another bullet hit a bystander.

Neither of the wounds were life threatening, but Rick would eventually spend five years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted murder, assault, use of a firearm, and criminal possession of a weapon.

He went on to release three more albums, including 1991's "The Ruler's Back." It featured the hit single "I Shouldn't Have Done It."

The British-born rapper was nearly deported following a 2001 arrest by the Immigration and Naturalization Service while aboard a docked Caribbean cruise ship. The INS claimed Rick's felony record prevented him from living in America.

However, after 17 months he was released from custody.
All of that is behind now. TMZ reports that Rick is now officially a citizen of the United States."I am so proud of this moment. And so honored to finally become an American citizen," the 51-year old said outside of a New York City courtroom on Friday.