The name “Royce” came from his R shaped Turkish link chain which was said to have resembled a Rolls Royce logo. During high school Royce was one of the shortest players on his basketball team, standing 5′9” at age 18.
Royce signed with Tommy Boy records in 1998 and later was slated to release his debut album Rock City. Though this relationship was premature, Royce ended up leaving the label citing creative differences.
Royce began working with well known Game Recordings who helped get him in front of the right people to negotiate a deal with Columbia Records. Royce’s Rock City debut was yet again plagued with delays, during which the album was heavily bootlegged. Though not in their favor, Columbia chose to release Rock City in limited quantity and quickly went out of print by the time Royce left Columbia.
Around this time Royce dropped the underground banger “Boom” with production by Dj Premier. Soon thereafter he joined up with Koch / Game Recordings and released Rock City (Version 2.0) independently.
Most well known for his association with Slim Shady – the two met at a concert while Slim was promoting his Slim Shady EP. The two formed a Duo called Bad Meets Evil, releasing a number of tracks including “Renegades” [Original Version], “Nuttin’ to Do”, “Scary Movies”, “She’s the One”, and “See You In Hell”, which appeared on Eminem’s album The Slim Shady LP, titled “Bad Meets Evil”.
In 2001 Royce was set to work with Dr Dre’s Chronic 2000 project as a ghostwriter. He contributed tracks including “The Message”, “The Throne Is Mine”, “Stay In Your Place” and the original version of “Xxplosive” titled “The Way I Be Pimpin’”.
Royce’s association with Dr. Dre ceased when his manager, Kino Childrey spoke to a reporter about Eminem and Dre in the studio. Royce refused to dismiss his manager and long time friend, ending his relationship with Dre.
Royce and Em had a mutual friendship with Proof. Though Royce had bad blood with D12 member, Bizarre, stemming from a earlier freestyle battle with Royce’s brother. Misscommunication escalated the beef between the pair, causing it to spiral out of control and include all members of the rap group D12.
In 2002, Royce called Eminem to request to be signed to Shady Records. Eminem declined and soon thereafter signed 50-cent to Shady Records instead.
Royce released several diss tracks including “Shit on U” (over D12’s “Shit on You”), taking shots at Bizzare of D12. Royce continued record dis tracks including “We Ridin’”, “Death Day”, and “Malcolm X”. There’s speculation that Royce and Em often wrote bars dissing each other subliminally.
From 2002-2003 Royce kept a low profile releasing releasing Build & Destroy, and Build & Destroy: The Lost Sessions Part 1 across the mixtape circuit.
In 2003, Royce’s beef with D12 finally reached its tipping point. Royce and Proof and their entourages spilled into the streets of Detroit arguing but the issue dissipated once firearms were drawn. The two rappers spent a night in jail, and settled their beef.
In 2004 Royce released his sophomore effort Death Is Certain on Koch records, as well as two mixtapes from his crew M.I.C. (Make it Count). The crew includes members Royce, Kid Vishis,and June.
2005 marked Royce’s third full length album release Independent’s Day on Trouble/M.I.C. Records.
Royce Da 5′9″ was sentenced to jail on September 19, 2006 for parole violation for a prior DUI charge. Royce was sentenced to one year in the clink at Oakland County Jail, Pontiac, Michigan. On January 9, 2007, Royce got out of jail on work-release.
Royce has a strong ghostwriting resume including the track “Tell Me” ft. Christina Aguilera for Diddy’s album Press Play.
In May 2007, Royce Da 5′9″ released a mixtape called The Bar Exam which features DJ Premier and Statik Selektah on the Wheels of Steel.
In 2008, Royce confirmed that he had officially resolved his longstanding differences with Eminem and celebrated with a reunion concert on July 12, 2008 at Saint Andrews Hall. A mixtape of the reunion concert was soon released thereafter.
Royce also had beef with other industry majors including Mistah Fab, Cashi$, and Joe Budden, Kanye West and the Ruff Ryders.
ER
Royce da 5'9" Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Operating on it with my instruments I'm the doc
It's crunch time, line up rappers I don't like
And call that shit a punch line
These niggas e-beefin', that's ain't what war's about
Ain't nothing dying but the game put her organs out
These niggas dissin' like they wonderin' where Malcolm's at
I ain't been hearing heart, I'm bout to check his pulse
With my stethoscope pressed against the record store
We ride in, we gon' W-I-N
I will check a bitch's ass ass like a OBGYN
I'm respected like a killer, a record like Thriller
I will keep a tab on you like Twitter
Now feel the hate and roll
Nickel give 'em oxygen and shock 'em with that
That defibrillator flow
As long as I'm alive the game gon' be breathin'
Even though it's wheezin'
Hit 'em like, like clear! clear!
Wake his ass up, he was sleepin' yeah
I said as long as I'm alive the game gon' be breathin'
Even though it's wheezin'
Hit 'em like, like clear! clear!
Wake his ass up, he was sleepin'
I'm alive
They almost killed me but I survived, hip hop has been revived
Surprise! Oww stop shocking now
Tell your nurse she could put the scalpel down
I'm back ready to rap, took a little nap
Ready to go off, stick to my pen?
Never again will I ever doze off
No more bozo rap, it hurt me!
The new dojo, in beast mode, I'm John Crease, no mercy!
My saliva and spit could fly through a brick
Put your ass by a lighter and spit gas at the fire, flick
Gave up on me huh? I was worse than the racists and rapists
Now I'm feelin' like Kobe 'fore he scored eighty one!
Really feeling new!
Missed me with the skinny jeans and Uggs,
Fuck outta here! I ain't feelin' you!
Fuckin' incredible, I can dig a hole to hell
Just to beat the devil over over the head with a fuckin' shovel
As long as I'm alive the game gon' be breathin'
Even though it's wheezin'
Hit 'em like, like clear! clear!
Wake his ass up, he was sleepin' yeah
I said as long as I'm alive the game gon' be breathin'
Even though it's wheezin'
Hit 'em like, like clear! clear!
Wake his ass up, he was sleepin'
In Royce da 5'9"'s song "ER," the lyrics are filled with medical terminology, metaphorical references to the music industry and messages of perseverance. In the opening lines, Royce compares himself to a doctor, stating that he is operating on hip-hop with his instruments, which are clever punchlines. The second line emphasizes his skill and importance to the rap game, positioning himself as the one who decides which rappers to operate on by creating punchlines or clever disses. In the next line, he further differentiates between e-beef, which is dissing someone online, and real war, where people die. Royce notes that the real war is not what these rappers think it is when they engage in e-beefing, and instead of killing someone, the industry is killing the game with their inability to create great music.
Continuing with the medical theme, Royce references Malcolm X, who was assassinated, and speaks of splitting someone where their scalp is at, indicating that he is not only a skilled rapper but also a killer in the sense that he can lyrically destroy someone. He then references his stethoscope and compares it against the record store, indicating that he is reviewing the state of the industry and taking the pulse of what is happening musically. Royce then states that he will check a bitch's ass like an OBGYN, meaning that he is going to perform an examination of someone's musical abilities with extreme scrutiny. He then notes that he is respected like a killer, which is a metaphorical reference to his skill and how people view him, and that he will keep a tab on someone like Twitter.
Royce then switches the focus to himself, noting that he is alive and that the game will continue to breathe as long as he is still breathing. In the next lines, he references how he almost died, perhaps due to his actions or the music industry's actions. However, he did not give up, and instead, he is back and ready to rap. He notes that he took a little nap but is now ready to go off, indicating that he is now fully energized and motivated to create music. Royce then proceeds to state that he will never fall asleep on the game again and that he is not interested in bozo rap, which he despises because it hurts him personally. He then uses a metaphor to state that he is in beast mode, similar to his reference to John Crease in Karate Kid, indicating that he is ready to destroy anything and everything that comes his way. In the final lines, Royce makes it clear that he is not going anywhere and will continue to breathe life into the game, no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
Stop picture me in scrubs in the room with hip hop
Don't imagine me as a doctor performing surgery on hip hop with my skills
Operating on it with my instruments I'm the doc
I have my rap skills and I am 'operating' on hip hop with my talent
It's crunch time, line up rappers I don't like
It's time to show my skills, bring me rappers I dislike so I can prove myself
And call that shit a punch line
I will use their own words to knock them down and create a witty punchline
These niggas e-beefin', that's ain't what war's about
These rappers are only feuding online, that's not real war
Ain't nothing dying but the game put her organs out
The rap industry may be dying but it still keeps moving and changing
These niggas dissin' like they wonderin' where Malcolm's at
These rappers are questioning where the true voices are, like Malcolm X's
Till I split em where their scalp is at, where my scalpel at?
Until I destroy their egos, and make them realize their own faults
I ain't been hearing heart, I'm bout to check his pulse
I haven't been feeling any real emotion in their music, I need to test their authenticity
With my stethoscope pressed against the record store
I will listen keenly to their music, feeling a disconnection between the artist and their art
We ride in, we gon' W-I-N
We will come in strong and confident, knowing we will come out victorious
I will check a bitch's ass ass like a OBGYN
I will scrutinize their music and lyrics like a gynecologist examines their patient's health
I'm respected like a killer, a record like Thriller
I am respected in the industry for my talent, and my music is a hit just like Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
I will keep a tab on you like Twitter
I will monitor your every move and tweet like a stalker with Twitter
Now feel the hate and roll
Feel the aggression and energy in my music
Nickel give 'em oxygen and shock 'em with that
I will inject new energy and life into the rap industry with my music
That defibrillator flow
I will revive the rap industry with my fresh style and new ideas
As long as I'm alive the game gon' be breathin'
As long as I am here, the rap industry will always be active and evolving
Even though it's wheezin'
Even though the rap industry may be struggling
Hit 'em like, like clear! clear!
I am shocking and reviving the rap industry
Wake his ass up, he was sleepin' yeah
Wake up the industry and bring it back to life
I'm alive
I am still here and alive, with more music to offer
They almost killed me but I survived, hip hop has been revived
I went through tough times, but I've come out stronger, adding to the resurrection of hip hop
Surprise! Oww stop shocking now
Surprise! I'm back, don't be shocked anymore
Tell your nurse she could put the scalpel down
I don't need surgery or help, I am back in control
I'm back ready to rap, took a little nap
I took a break, but I'm back now and ready to make more music
Ready to go off, stick to my pen?
I'm ready to unleash my talent and creativity, sticking to my writing abilities
Never again will I ever doze off
I will never sleep on my talent or the industry again
No more bozo rap, it hurt me!
No more foolish or amateur music, it pains me to hear it
The new dojo, in beast mode, I'm John Crease, no mercy!
I am back with a new energy and power, ready to take over and show no mercy like John Crease in 'The Karate Kid'
My saliva and spit could fly through a brick
My lyrics are like bullets, they can penetrate anything and anyone
Put your ass by a lighter and spit gas at the fire, flick
My words can start a fire and ignite passion and revolution
Gave up on me huh? I was worse than the racists and rapists
People thought I was done or hopeless, worse than the worst, but I came back stronger
Now I'm feelin' like Kobe 'fore he scored eighty one!
I'm feeling on top of the world, just like Kobe Bryant before his legendary 81-point game
Really feeling new!
I'm feeling refreshed and renewed, with a new passion and drive
Missed me with the skinny jeans and Uggs,
I don't follow trends or fashion, I'm all about the music
Fuck outta here! I ain't feelin' you!
I don't care for or resonate with fake people or their music
Fuckin' incredible, I can dig a hole to hell
I have immense talent and power, I can do anything, even dig a hole to hell
Just to beat the devil over over the head with a fuckin' shovel
I will defy the odds and obstacles, taking down the devil himself with my talent and hard work
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: M MONTGOMERY, RYAN MONTGOMERY, NICHOLAS WARWAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind