On Friday, April 15, Ricky Walters, more popularly known as Slick Rick, was sworn in as a U.S. citizen in New York City.

The British-born MC won a 23-year legal battle against the Immigration and Naturalization’s Department of the United States of America; a battle which, at one point landed him in jail, and multiple times threatened his legal status to live in the country.

In addition to being a hip-hop icon and a storytelling legend, Slick Rick is also now, officially, an American citizen.