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.
Merry Go Round
Royce da 5'9" Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have tried in vein
Never had success
So it seems my life is nothing but a mess
I have lost, my only friends
Now it seems I have to start again
Merry go round
Went from goin' somewhere about to die
Went from callin' my chick a chicken
Cause she look like she got poultry around her thighs
To callin' your piece a chicken
Cause she got no teeth and she got crow feet around her eyes
How hard are y'all? I got a heart the size of Arkansas
Count to five, these birds gon' hit the ground
And they ain't from out the Sky
Went from havin' an outta-this-world-flow,
To doin' the video, doin' the coon dance
To watchin' my good friend Eminem winnin' a moonman
I remember cause I was in New York with all of my boys to start shit
Lettin' 'em stay with me, long story short,
They tore up my corporate apartment
Went from bein a kid addicted to basketball
To bein' an ignorent nigga addicted to alcohol
Round and round we go is how this movie would end
Self-proclaimed King of my city,
Not really just truly the King of losin' a friend
Who would've thought this goof
In the park who's true to his ark would lose
Or win just by givin' his thoughts 'n' views
[Chorus]
You would hear that Ryan's skilled
Might even hear Ryan kills
You will never hear Ryan steals
Here to put the "I" in ill
My mind is still
Like a merry-go-round spill
Like leavin' only guns to my kids when I'm killed
I got an iron will
Intellect as ion I don' went from high on pills
To triumph, to hidin' from bills, to buyin' buildin's
Then I went from writin' for Dre
To wonderin' if my head was on straight on the sidelines
Feelin' I forgot about listenin' to "Forgot About Dre"
From there I went to about a bottle a day
Tellin' who we know "Get outta my face!"
Okay I know what Kino said about Dre
I look at Kino to this day like that was a stupid mistake
But if it wasn't for him doin' that, what would I be doin' today?
If it wasn't for Cassius sayin' that he gonna beat my ass
Then me and Em probably wouldn't be laughin' bout us gettin' past it
If it wasn't for me bein outcasted I woulda never been on the underground
Rappin' wit slaughterhouse!
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Royce da 5'9"'s song Merry Go Round is a reflection of the artist's life, how he has gone from success to failure and back many times, and how things have been spiraling out of control since 1995. In the chorus, he suggests that he has tried but failed to achieve any significant success, and that his life is now a mess. He has lost all his friends, and it seems like he has to start over again. The words "Merry Go Round" symbolize the repeated cycles of success and failure in life.
The verses reflect the various ups and downs of Royce's life. He talks about his past struggles with addiction and mentions how his friends destroyed his apartment. He also highlights his fall from grace in the music industry and how his priorities have shifted from basketball to alcohol. He mentions his friend Eminem's success, but instead of feeling happy for him, he seems to be reflecting on his own failures.
In the final verse, Royce talks about his journey from addiction to success, from writing for Dr. Dre to being an outcast, and finally, to being a part of the underground rap scene with Slaughterhouse. He reflects on how every mistake he made and every bad situation he faced led him to where he is today, and he is grateful for those experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
I have tried in vein
Despite my best efforts, I have not succeeded.
Never had success
I have never achieved the desired outcomes.
So it seems my life is nothing but a mess
Based on the lack of success, my life seems to be chaotic and disorganized.
I have lost, my only friends
I have lost the only people I considered to be friends.
Now it seems I have to start again
It appears that I need to start over from scratch.
Merry go round
My life feels like a repetitive cycle of ups and downs.
My life's been goin' around 'n' round since ninety-five
I have been experiencing the same cycles in my life since 1995.
Went from goin' somewhere about to die
I was on the brink of death before my circumstances changed.
Went from callin' my chick a chicken
I used to refer to my girlfriend as unattractive.
Cause she look like she got poultry around her thighs
I made this comparison because she appeared to have excess skin around her lower body.
To callin' your piece a chicken
I now refer to your girlfriend as unattractive.
Cause she got no teeth and she got crow feet around her eyes
I use these physical characteristics to describe why I find her unattractive.
How hard are y'all?
I am questioning the toughness of the people around me.
I got a heart the size of Arkansas
I have a large heart, both literally and figuratively.
Count to five, these birds gon' hit the ground
I am confident in my abilities to take down my enemies.
And they ain't from out the Sky
These birds are not coming from above, but rather from my surroundings.
Went from havin' an outta-this-world-flow
I used to have an exceptional talent for rapping.
To doin' the video, doin' the coon dance
I have lowered my standards for music videos and am now doing something that is considered degrading.
To watchin' my good friend Eminem winnin' a moonman
I am happy for my friend Eminem's success in the music industry.
I remember cause I was in New York with all of my boys to start shit
I recall being in New York with my friends, ready to cause trouble.
Lettin' 'em stay with me, long story short,
I allowed my friends to stay with me for a while, and to avoid a long story, things went poorly.
They tore up my corporate apartment
My friends caused damage to my place of residence that was intended for business purposes.
Went from bein a kid addicted to basketball
I used to be obsessed with basketball as a child.
To bein' an ignorent nigga addicted to alcohol
I transformed into an uneducated man addicted to alcohol.
Round and round we go is how this movie would end
The cyclical nature of my life will lead to an inevitable conclusion.
Self-proclaimed King of my city,
I assert myself as the ruler of my hometown.
Not really just truly the King of losin' a friend
Instead of being a true king, I only excel at losing friends.
Who would've thought this goof
It would be unlikely to believe that someone like me could have such a life story.
In the park who's true to his ark would lose
I, who stayed true to my origins and beliefs, have still lost in life.
Or win just by givin' his thoughts 'n' views
Alternatively, I could win by expressing my opinions and ideas.
You would hear that Ryan's skilled
People would acknowledge my talent and ability.
Might even hear Ryan kills
Some may even use the term 'kills' to describe how impressive I am.
You will never hear Ryan steals
However, my success is legitimate and not attained by stealing from others.
Here to put the "I" in ill
I am determined to be the best and stand out among others in the industry.
My mind is still
I possess mental fortitude and stability.
Like a merry-go-round spill
My mind is chaotic, similar to a messy break on a merry-go-round.
Like leavin' only guns to my kids when I'm killed
My only legacy to leave behind is violence and weaponry.
I got an iron will
My willpower is unbreakable and strong.
Intellect as ion I don' went from high on pills
My intelligence used to be clouded by drug addiction.
To triumph, to hidin' from bills, to buyin' buildin's
However, I have since overcome that obstacle and have found financial success.
Then I went from writin' for Dre
I went from writing songs for Dr. Dre.
To wonderin' if my head was on straight on the sidelines
To feeling unsure about my mental health, while on the sidelines of the music industry.
Feelin' I forgot about listenin' to "Forgot About Dre"
I neglected to heed Dre's advice in his song 'Forgot About Dre.'
From there I went to about a bottle a day
I began drinking heavily, up to a bottle of alcohol per day.
Tellin' who we know "Get outta my face!"
I have pushed away people in my life who care about me.
Okay I know what Kino said about Dre
I remember what my friend Kino said about Dr. Dre.
I look at Kino to this day like that was a stupid mistake
In hindsight, I believe Kino was wrong and made a foolish statement about Dre.
But if it wasn't for him doin' that, what would I be doin' today?
However, if Kino did not make that comment, my life's path could have been different and led me somewhere else entirely.
If it wasn't for Cassius sayin' that he gonna beat my ass
If another friend, Cassius, did not threaten me with violence,
Then me and Em probably wouldn't be laughin' bout us gettin' past it
Then, Eminem and I would not be able to joke about overcoming that situation in our friendship.
If it wasn't for me bein outcasted I woulda never been on the underground
If it was not for me being ostracized, I may not have found success in the underground rap scene.
Rappin' wit slaughterhouse!
Slaughterhouse, a successful rap group, is where I found my niche and success in the music industry.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats the cyclical nature of the artist's life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DOMINICK J. LAMB, RYAN D. MONTGOMERY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@onemakaaya9262
I have tried in vein
Never had success
So it seems my life is nothing but a mess
I have lost, my only friends
Now it seems I have to start again
Merry go round
My life's been goin' around 'n' round since ninety five
Went from goin' somewhere about to die
Went from callin' my chick a chicken
Cause she look like she got poultry around her thighs
To callin' your piece a chicken
Cause she got no teeth and she got crow feet around her eyes
How hard are y'all? I got a heart the size of Arkansas
Count to five, these birds gon' hit the ground
And they ain't from out the Sky
Went from havin' an outta-this-world-flow,
To doin' the video, doin' the coon dance
To watchin' my good friend Eminem winnin' a moonman
I remember cause I was in New York with all of my boys to start shit
Lettin' 'em stay with me, long story short,
They tore up my corporate apartment
Went from bein a kid addicted to basketball
To bein' an ignorent nigga addicted to alcohol
Round and round we go is how this movie would end
Self-proclaimed King of my city,
Not really just truly the King of losin' a friend
Who would've thought this goof
In the park who's true to his ark would lose
Or win just by givin' his thoughts 'n' views
I have tried in vein
Never had success
So it seems my life is nothing but a mess
I have lost, my only friends
Now it seems I have to start again
Merry go round
You would hear that Ryan's skilled
Might even hear Ryan kills
You will never hear Ryan steals
Here to put the "I" in ill
My mind is still
Like a merry-go-round spill
Like leavin' only guns to my kids when I'm killed
I got an iron will
Intellect as ion I don' went from high on pills
To triumph, to hidin' from bills, to buyin' buildin's
Then I went from writin' for Dre
To wonderin' if my head was on straight on the sidelines
Feelin' I forgot about listenin' to "Forgot About Dre"
From there I went to about a bottle a day
Tellin' who we know "Get outta my face!"
Okay I know what Kino said about Dre
I look at Kino to this day like that was a stupid mistake
But if it wasn't for him doin' that, what would I be doin' today?
If it wasn't for Cassius sayin' that he gonna beat my ass
Then me and Em probably wouldn't be laughin' bout us gettin' past it
If it wasn't for me bein outcasted I woulda never been on the underground
Rappin' wit slaughterhouse!
I have tried in vein
Never had success
So it seems my life is nothing but a mess
I have lost, my only friends
Now it seems I have to start again
Merry go round
@arbitterm
The beat is sick, the lyrics are tight, and that hook gives me chills...altogether this track is perfect.
@grantrmoore
Royce may just be the most underrated rapper ALL TIME
@ramonsanchez8882
Grant Moore hes a Detroit legend
@dee2vee122
this shit never gets boring
@lilwalgreenscoldandflu6968
Uhh this chanel holy fuck your my old account but I forgot the password to that shit and lost my flash of clans account and I couldn't get my password reset because I completely destroyed the old phone holy fuck mane
@lexnircola
most underrated song in history
@mygaffer
This is a great song.
@jasonelizanigel9381
Listened to this around 2012 when I first tried hydrocodone. Always gives me those bad goosebumps when I listen to it
@BarrywHiteFTW
Did you move on to other stuff?
@jasonelizanigel9381
@@BarrywHiteFTWnah, on the cool, went to school, got my bachelors in economics and I’m in graduate school at the moment.
Gotta leave the bullshit behind and move on.