Royce Da 5′9: Slaughtering Emcee | Entertainment Interviews
Lyrics and hip-hop is very much alive just listen to Royce Da 5’9. Royce entered the music industry at a very young age. Not only that, but he worked with legends when he wasn’t even 21 yet. First of all he had a partner in rhyme by the name of Eminem and then he went on to write for some guy named Dr. Dre who made some album called The Chronic 2001.
Royce has had both underground success (Boom produced by DJ Premier) and he has mainstream success writing for Puff Daddy’s last album “Press Play.” If you are a fan of hip-hop and never heard of Royce or his music then your not a fan. Go back listen to “Death is Certain” then come back and buy Slaughterhouse (the super group with Joe Buddens, Joell Ortiz and Crooked I) when it comes out in September. You can thank me later once you find out how sick Royce actually is.
Redhands: Growing up what did you listen to?
Royce: Everything man NWA, the Chronic, back to Redman and Keith Murray. Snoop Dogg, Run Dmc, Beastie Boys, Steady C, and more.
Redhands: Have you ever been star struck by a certain rapper?
Royce: Not really, because I never met any when I first started and young. Well actually maybe when I met Dre. After I worked with him and around him I got desensitized, because he is a legend. I started meeting a lot of people through him so I never got that star struck. I got in the game when I was young. I am not a huge fan of rappers no more its more like a respect thing. If a rapper is real good I just really respect him.
Redhands: Your first deal was with Tommy Boy right?
Royce: Yea I was like 19 at the time. I came out in 1996 and my son was born in 1997 and I think I signed in 1998 or 1999.
Redhands: What got you the deal?
Royce: I made a demo gave it to Em (Eminem) and he gave it to Dre (Dre). Dre liked what he heard and flew me out to California to write him some songs. I also was on the “Slim Shady LP” and then I had Dre and Tommy Boy on the table. Being a youngin I went with Tommy Boy, because they offered me a lot more money. I played Tommy Boy my demo before I linked up with Dre. Then they hear I am working with Dre and they take a listen to my demo again. I am talking not one new song.
Redhands: That’s a prime example of how the industry is. So you had a deal with Aftermath?
Royce: I wouldn’t say it was on the table, but Dre was interested and it was definitely a situation. Tommy Boy was ready to go and they offered me a shyt load of money. I thought Dre would ride would me regardless, because that is what Dre said (he laughs). If I would’ve known now at 30 years old what I knew then I wouldn’t of went with Tommy Boy. I didn’t know it don’t just work like that, he’s not going to blow me up so someone else can make a lot of money off his hard work.
Redhands: What was Dre working on at this time?
Royce: He was working on Chronic 2001. I wrote a couple songs for him including “The message by Mary J Blidge.” The other songs didn’t make the album.
Redhands: How did you link up with Eminem?
Royce: I met him here, because we are both from Detroit. It was hard for us not to meet each other we were both making noise in the scene. I was doing a show one day and he was selling his “Slim Shady ep” at the show. My manager step to him like you ever heard of Royce and he was like yea I want to meet that dude. We started talking on the phone about hip-hop and exchanging verses. One time we were on a three-way call it was me Em and Pharrel from the Neptune’s. We were battling over the phone on three way.
Redhands: That is both crazy and random how did that happen?
Royce: My man Rick moved to New York from Detroit and he knew Pharrell’s manager. They kept telling us how ill the Neptune’s were and my manager told me how Pharrell could rap. We get on the phone Pharrell raps then I rap and Pharrell was like man this dude needs a deal make sure he gets signed. A few years later Pharrell blows up and it is just crazy how things happen.
Redhands: Would you say that you won that battle?
Royce: I don’t know if it was really a battle, because he gave me my props. They had some other dudes on the call named the Clinic. We definitely served those nikkas, but I can’t really remember how active Em was in it, but I know he definitely spit something. Pharrell can definitely rap though.
Redhands: So you and Em met up when you were like 17 or 18? You guys put in work early doing shows.
Royce: We met in ‘97 so yea we were young. I didn’t start doing open mics and stuff until my senior year of high school. Em is a little older than me so he was killing it before I got there.
Redhands: What was it like doing songs together? Scary movie blew me away when I first got into hip-hop.
Royce: It was an inspiration for me and we were both very competitive. He would wait for me to finish my verse and record it then he would write and go in and kill me. I didn’t know at the time what he was doing. Me and Em in the studio is like Slaughterhouse and me in the studio its nothing new. Everybody wonders how do we get along so well its, because I been in the lab with crazy emcee’s before. You got to step up your pen game, because if you don’t you know you’ll get murdered.
Redhands: How does the songs come together in Slaughter House?
Royce: Joey picked some artist he wanted on a song and it was perceived well and he just decided to keep the same line up and we made a bunch of songs. We got a good response from a lot of fans.
Redhands: I have seen your videos in the studio would you describe your relationship as a brotherly rivalry?
Royce: Definitely, because we don’t even argue in the studio. We usually argue about other shyt and make fun of each other. There will always be some type of argument, because so many egos. The more time we spend with each other the closer we get as well.
Redhands: Were you ever hesitant to join, because you’re a solo artist?
Royce: I wasn’t hesitant, but I never thought it would actually happen. Like all these dudes with this much talent in one group? I was like if it happens cool if not ill keep it moving. I was all in from the beginning though I just wasn’t sure if it would happen.
Redhands: So the album is done and handed in. What producers are on it?
Royce: Street Runner Nottz, Denaun Porter, Focus, my man Filthy Rockwell from Detroit, DJ Khalil, and some others slip my mind.
Redhands: How did you guys go about picking what producers or what beats? How do four guys pick a beat?
Royce: It’s easy, because I don’t have to be in love with a beat but if three out of four are love it I will rock with it. I think we all got similar minds like that.
Redhands: How were the producers picked?
Royce: We all came to the table with beats. I had a lot of beats in my itunes already, because I always collect beats and I got a lot of relationships. I forgot we also got Alchemist on the album. Crooked I brought us a sick Dj Khalil beat as well. That was probably the easy part picking beats.
Redhands: So what do you have coming up solo wise?
Royce: I got my digital Ep coming and we also have Slaughterhouse coming. Everybody in the group actually have digital Ep’s and solo projects coming. We are trying to control the underground and some of the mainstream.
Redhands: What are your plans to attack the mainstream?
Royce: We as a group and solo wise have a lot of crazy records to put out. Slaughterhouse is going to take us there.
Redhands: Any words of advice for people trying to get into the industry?
Royce: Stay consistent and keep trying to get better. I am still around today, because I stayed consistent. Opportunities come when you at least expect them they may come once or three times.
Redhands: Thanks for taking the time out to do this interview. The way you rhyme you wouldn’t think you would be so humble.
Royce: Thanks man I appreciate you as well
