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.
Murder
Royce da 5'9" Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Six in the morning, anonymous, that said
"Yeah nigga, we got him" and then they hung up
Then I looked down at my iPhone
At the private number saying "Who the fuck is this" to the dial tone
I said fuck it, the next second my phone buzzes
My nigga's wife said nigga's just ran up on cousin
What niggas? She said it was some rappers from Ohio
Ran up on him and did what then?
She said they stomped him at the club then pandemonium erupted
(Murder)
Going through my mind, is she telling me shots was fired
Them Ohio nigga's is rock supplying
Heated, stop answering, start spending them niggas calls
Every time he went to see him he went in them rented cars
So it was even harder to find him so they figured
They'd go to the D tomorrow and surprise him
Did they kill him? "Nah, they only shot a couple times
Heard they was hitting walls." The nerve of these niggas' balls
Who was he with? "He was with Tre"
He in the hospital too? "Nah." Needless to say, call you back
I called up Tre, Tre answered, I said
Hey man, keep it real fam, why the fuck you still standing?
He said, "Nickel I'm a killer, not a fighter
So I got up out the way because my weight's a lot lighter
Them niggas was big so I slid but I promise on my kids
We can get them, I know where them niggas is"
Where them niggas at then? I heard what their crew do
Real niggas, if y'all was in my shoes what would you do?
You going murder
Jumped up, pumped up, feeling like Manson Malvo Groucho
My bitch staring out me, I'm out though
I ain't visting cuz in the hospital
Till I got at least one of them nigga's chain in my hand like Alpo
Car headed to where Tre at
Eject the BI to put in T.I., skip to (ASAP)
He off of the freeway in the projects
I hit the exit without blinking to thinking in the process
Tre come running out with a fully on some hot shit
I'm like weapons ain't a thing, killing is the object
What was you doing when they was kicking all on my fam?
He said, "Nickel, we about to get them niggas, goddamn
Why you got to be so obnoxious?"
What? Just tell me where them niggas at before I take your ass hostage
He said "Alright. Around six around five
Of them niggas was riding around here in a maroon Crown Vic"
I said alright, pulled out of the lot and made right
You in the car that fit the description, say goodnight
You got to pay the price
Tre said, "There they go in the alley
Sitting in the car they probably blazing right
And they can't see us cause we behind them"
This ain't the time
"But what if this our only opportunity to find them"
I said you right, pulled into the alley and seen two people in front of them niggas' car taking out garbage
I said wait till these people finish, they innocent
Soon as they go back in their cribs we going to finish it
No sooner than a second after
Tre jumps out of the passenger side blasting
Past them niggas we here to kill, hitting them innocent bystanders
Tearing their trash up
Our enemies jumped out of their car waving badges
They all shooting at me, nobody blazing at him
This ain't adding up
Car in reverse, now I'm mashing, leaving Tre behind
Even though it's some questions that I got to ask him
Murder
Burning rubber away from there in a bullet riddled car
Trying to piece this shit together, hitting the boulevard
If them niggas is the police, what the fuck is Tre?
He ain't dead or in jail by now then he the other way
Snitch or pig, I got to talk to my cousin
That nigga setting me up then I'm a lift his lid
That nigga know how hostile my reactions
I call and try to find out what hospital he at then
Every nigga pickup just laugh when I ask
Have you heard about cuz getting smashed maybe I'm the ass then
Head hurting like a motherfucker, looking for a gas station
Now a nigga need a fucking aspirin
I hear a familiar ringtone from my phone
It's my bitch texting me telling me don't come home
I'm thinking damn should I text back, why me
My phone starts ringing it's Tre on the ID
He said, "Them niggas tried to get me but I slid"
He want to tell me in person, meet me at my crib
I said nigga please
I threw the phone out the window rolled over it crushed it into a million pieces
I hit the blinker quick then hit the highway
If I'm a be a target y'all know I'm a do it my way
After I rolled for a few hours I'd say
I was tired after I got out of the tri-state
Can't help but feel like another lame exposed
Pulling up to an old telly in the rain and cold
In Royce da 5'9"'s song Murder, we get a vivid insight into the rapper's mind as he receives a phone call at six in the morning, letting him know that people have come for his cousin. A few seconds later, he receives another call only to find out that his cousin has been stomped on by some rappers from Ohio who were known for their bone-thug style. Not many details are given about the incident but Royce is left feeling heated and upset. He starts receiving several calls but he stops answering the phone and decides to take matters into his own hands. He finds out through his cousin Tre's wife that Tre was with his cousin when he was attacked, and he goes on a mission to search for him and the attackers.
The lyrics are autobiographical, and Royce's powerful storytelling gives the impression of a conversation taking place as he shares details of the events that unfolded, including the savage attack on his cousin and his decision to take matters into his own hands. The lyrics take the listener on a journey as Royce hunts down the perpetrators, seemingly fearless and determined to avenge his cousin and make them pay. Even though Royce and Tre locate the attackers, things quickly go south, and they find themselves in a serious feud.
The lyrics are brimming with emotions and intensity, and the lines that stand out the most are the hooks that repeat "Murder." They give off a feeling of unbridled anger, frustration, and the thirst for revenge. Overall, the lyrics draw a picture of street life, violence, and the consequences of getting involved in such a life.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a phone call
I received a call
Six in the morning, anonymous, that said
It was an anonymous call at 6 am
"Yeah nigga, we got him" and then they hung up
The caller said, "Yeah nigga, we got him" and then hung up
Then I looked down at my iPhone
I checked my iPhone
At the private number saying "Who the fuck is this" to the dial tone
I tried to call back the private number in shock
I said fuck it, the next second my phone buzzes
I ignored it and then received another call
My nigga's wife said nigga's just ran up on cousin
My friend's wife informed me that someone attacked our cousin
What niggas? She said it was some rappers from Ohio
I asked who attacked our cousin and she said it was Ohio rappers
That been out here known for banana bone thugging
The rappers from Ohio were known for being violent
Ran up on him and did what then?
I asked what they did to our cousin
She said they stomped him at the club then pandemonium erupted
She informed me that they beat him at the club and chaos followed
Going through my mind, is she telling me shots were fired
I wondered if shots were fired during the altercation
Them Ohio nigga's is rock supplying
I suspected that the Ohio rappers were drug dealers
Heated, stop answering, start spending them niggas' calls
I stopped answering their calls and blocked them
Every time he went to see him he went in them rented cars
Our cousin always used rental cars, which made it difficult to track him
So it was even harder to find him so they figured
They thought it would be easier to find him in Detroit
They'd go to the D tomorrow and surprise him
They planned to come to Detroit the next day and attack our cousin
Did they kill him? "Nah, they only shot a couple times
I asked if our cousin was killed and was informed that he was shot but survived
Heard they was hitting walls." The nerve of these niggas' balls
I was shocked by their audacity to attack someone in public
He was with Tre
Our cousin was with Tre
He in the hospital too? "Nah." Needless to say, call you back
Our cousin was not in the hospital but they will call back later
Keep it real fam, why the fuck you still standing?
I asked Tre why he didn't defend our cousin
He said, "Nickel I'm a killer, not a fighter
Tre said he was not a fighter but a killer
Them niggas was big so I slid but I promise on my kids
Tre couldn't fight them because they were too big but he promised to retaliate
Where them niggas at then? I heard what their crew do
I asked where the Ohio rappers were so we could retaliate
Real niggas, if y'all was in my shoes what would you do?
I asked my peers what they would do if they were in my situation
Jumped up, pumped up, feeling like Manson Malvo Groucho
I felt energized and empowered to seek revenge
My bitch staring out me, I'm out though
My girlfriend was looking at me strangely but I left anyway
I ain't visiting cuz in the hospital
I didn't visit our cousin in the hospital
Till I got at least one of them nigga's chain in my hand like Alpo
I wouldn't stop seeking revenge until I had one of their chains as a trophy
He said "Alright. Around six around five
Tre gave me information on where the Ohio rappers might be located
I'm like weapons ain't a thing, killing is the object
I was ready to kill the Ohio rappers
Soon as they go back in their cribs we going to finish it
We were waiting for them to go back to their homes before attacking them
He said, "Them niggas tried to get me but I slid"
Tre informed me that the Ohio rappers tried to attack him but he avoided them
I threw the phone out the window rolled over it crushed it into a million pieces
I destroyed my phone to avoid being tracked
If them niggas is the police, what the fuck is Tre?
I suspected that the Ohio rappers were actually police officers and wondered about Tre's involvement
He want to tell me in person, meet me at my crib
Tre wanted to meet in person to discuss our next move
I hit the blinker quick then hit the highway
I quickly turned on my hazard lights and left the area
Can't help but feel like another lame exposed
I felt vulnerable and exposed
Pulling up to an old telly in the rain and cold
I arrived at a motel in poor weather conditions
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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