Albums Royce Da 5'9" - Book Of Ryan [Discussion Thread]

[Khalil's_Black_Excellence]

Just a few. And those will be the songs that get spins from me in the future.

His personal story is interesting, and like I said I'm glad he told it, but honestly that's not his strong suit. It's like all his rhyming skills take a back seat to just getting the story out.

I disagree, as his rhyme schemes and versatile flows are still masterfully done during the story tracks. He does story takes very well actually. Odd that one would even think otherwise. The only thing I would think some Royce fan may have issues with on this album is his singing. It was very jarring for me at first, but I've come appreciate it throughout multiple listens now.

 

[MeachTheMonster]

I disagree, as his rhyme schemes and versatile flows are still masterfully done during the story tracks. He does story takes very well actually. Odd that one would even think otherwise. The only thing I would think some Royce fan may have issues with on this album is his singing. It was very jarring for me at first, but I've come appreciate it throughout multiple listens now.

Yeah the singing is terrible.

But nah man you listen to songs like First of the month, cocain, life is fair, etc. he's almost not even really rhyming. At least not like he does on his other songs.

Royce is one of the few that still comes with just hard beats and rhymes. He stepped away from that for this album.

 

[Khalil's_Black_Excellence]

Yeah the singing is terrible.

But nah man you listen to songs like First of the month, cocain, life is fair, etc. he's almost not even really rhyming. At least not like he does on his other songs.

Royce is one of the few that still comes with just hard beats and rhymes. He stepped away from that for this album.

Eh...he's rhyming on all cylinders on way more tracks than he's "barely rhyming" as you say.

Woke
Stay Woke
Dumb
Caterpillar
Legendary
God Speed
Summer On Lock

All of those tracks are him in top rhyming form. And tracks like Power, Outside and Strong Friend have a very fine balance of heavy personal shyt without much of any singing nor "sacrifice" (if you wanna call it that) of rhyming.

I feel that some of ya'll feel/want some artists to play it too safe and one-dimensional.

 

[MeachTheMonster]

Eh...he's rhyming on all cylinders on way more tracks than he's "barely rhyming" as you say.

Woke
Stay Woke
Dumb
Caterpillar
Legendary
God Speed
Summer On Lock

All of those tracks are him in top rhyming form. And tracks like Power, Outside and Strong Friend have a very fine balance of heavy personal shyt without much of any singing nor "sacrifice" (if you wanna call it that) of rhyming.

I feel that some of ya'll feel/want some artists to play it too safe and one-dimensional.

Can't really disagree here. I admitted as much. Like I said, I ain't mad at him for what he did here, I just like his other projects more in the context of me listening to them far into the future.

 

[HiiiPower]

As much as I loved Death Is Certain, I'm pretty sure that this all album is better.

Nah

I’d put this 3rd behind Street Hop.

 

[Khalil's_Black_Excellence]

Nah

I’d put this 3rd behind Street Hop.

This is easily better than Street Hop.

 

[HiiiPower]

This is easily better than Street Hop.

Count for Nothing
Something To Ride To
Warriors
New Money
Shake This
Street Hop 2010
On The Run
Murder
Part Of Me
Hood Love

Completely disagree, but to each his own

 

[Khalil's_Black_Excellence]

Count for Nothing
Something To Ride To
Warriors
New Money
Shake This
Street Hop 2010
On The Run
Murder
Part Of Me
Hood Love

Completely disagree, but to each his own

Street Hop had a grip of dope tracks, but it wasn't cohesive at all. Beats were all over the place as well. If anything, it had a more typical feel.

 

[Suspicions]

Royce has all the talent in the world but never seems to be able to craft great albums.


Their always good for great songs but never the complete classic package.

Yeah love his rapping but im bound to only keep a couple tracks and other freestyle type tracks

 

[Juggalo Fred]

this album might be his best yet

 

[aceboon]

I don't usually fukk with Royce's solo albums but this is dope, definitely could have benefited from some quality control tho. 20 tracks is too damn long, shave this shyt down to 13-14, eliminate some of the extended monologues and he could have made a strong album even better.

 

[King P]

This is easily better than Street Hop.

I wouldnt say it's easily better. Street Hop's highs >>> Book Of Ryan's highs.

However, Book Of Ryan was well put together. Much more cohesive than Street Hop. But then again, Book Of Ryan has a theme to it, and albums that have a specific theme around them are supposed to he more cohesive so

Can't call it though, will have to revisit Street Hop, it's been a minute for me

 

[HiiiPower]

I don't usually fukk with Royce's solo albums but this is dope, definitely could have benefited from some quality control tho. 20 tracks is too damn long, shave this shyt down to 13-14, eliminate some of the extended monologues and he could have made a strong album even better.

Exactly

Intro
Woke
Caterpillar
God Speed
Dumb
Who Are You Skit
Cocaine
Life Is Fair
Boblo Boat
Summer On Lock
Outside
Power
Protecting Ryan Skit
Strong Friend
Stay Woke

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Low key there's some influence from Phonte on here. Makes sense as they are friends.

 

[Yayo Toure]

Listened to this a few times on the train.

Decent so far. The production is not bad, Royce's biggest problem has been hooks and forced punchlines. The forced punchlines have been minimized since he's sobered up, but the hooks are still very hit and miss. I'll give the album a few more spins to decide if it's his best work.

Sidebar, it's crazy how after all these years he's working with T-Pain, after T-Pain said he didn't want to work with him on Bar exam 2, so Royce auto tuned his own voice on alot of that mixtape.