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.
Off Parole
Royce da 5'9" Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be quiet (Yeah)
I know what you thinking (Yeah)
Who the hell is that (Yeah)
You in the club minding ya own business (Yeah)
And out of nowhere you here this (Yeah)
How you supposed to act (Yeah)
Neptunes (Yeah)
It's my year baby, uh (Uh)
[Royce da 5'9 (Pharrell)]
Twelfth grade rode around, started out small (Uh)
My father told me, before you walk, you gotta crawl (Uh)
We was all outlaws wit our fists balled (Uh)
We couldn't even count bars, we was just raw (Uh)
MCer's battlin' at the club, for the plug
Rappin' for the other rappers, strictly for the love
That was cool 'til my life turned, and got tough
I got a girl, got serious, got her knocked up (Uh)
Uh oh, reality check, hold up (Uh)
I gotta figure out a way, to get this dough up (Uh)
I don't want my son to hate me, when he grow up (Yeah)
So I gotta blow up, and leave it to' up (5'9, baby)
I listened to my pops, whenever it got hard (Yeah)
He said look if you gon' be a star, be a star (Yeah)
I got hot, got a deal took rap (Yeah)
Took the whole city wi me, and never looked back, baby (Uh)
[Royce da 5'9 (Pharrell)]
We can do it now, nigga I'm off parole (Uh) [Repeat: x8]
[Royce da 5'9 (Pharrell)]
Yo, yo, it's all simple, make a million off the intro (Ugh)
Y'all don't want it, 'cause you still say ya fin' to (Ugh)
I'm finna blow, like this shit is so mental (Yeah, ugh)
That's your life, your problem, and your pencil
Cut the jokes, everybody wanna be rich (Whoo)
You a fool if you don't, you see this (Bitch)
Look at this chain, this bracelet, you hear me (Bling, bling)
I don't won't respect, I want you to fear me (Yeah)
Now look at me, this shit is getting real now (Uh)
I want your money, I'ma spit what you can feel now (Uh)
I tell the truth, so I guess I keep it real now (Uh)
You thought I was ill befo', now I'm ill now (Come on baby)
Come on wit it, I can afford to kill now (Afford, baby)
Look at my son, ask him how he feel now (How you feel)
It's real now, daddy's got a pill now
Wave bye-bye we out of the hood, (Bye) what the deal now (Uh)
[Royce da 5'9 (Pharrell)]
We can do it now, nigga I'm off parole (Uh) [Repeat: x6]
We can do it now, nigga I'm off parole (Yeah)
We can do it now, nigga I'm off parole
[Tre' Little (Pharrell)]
Detroit came up, you know we hot (Uh)
30 years where it became a big lot (Uh)
600s on chrome, you don't stop (Uh)
Detroit we just hot (Come on)
Young niggas stay fly at all times (Uh)
Hoes 21 and under with gangsta rides (Uh)
Keep our guns by our sides at all times (Uh)
Detroit we just fly (Rock City)
[Royce da 5'9 (Pharrell)]
Yo you would love for me and you to switch places won't cha (Uh)
You love hatin' don't cha, hate just to hate, don't cha (Uh)
In the clubs yelling loud, like you wanna fight (Uh)
But I just whisper, you ain't trying to die tonight (Naw, baby)
I'm the king, yo I'm like the son of Jesus
We got guns, and we'll use 'em, so please believe it (Yeah)
Last had to try me, yeah I looked passed him
But notice he's nowhere around, for you to ask him (Ha, ha, ha)
Long as I gotta crew, and two in the safe baby (Yeah)
You could scream 'til you BLUE in the face baby (Yeah)
We getting ours, we don't care who in the way baby (Yeah)
Lock and key, ain't nothin' you could save baby
We don't want the bitches dog, we just want the honeys (Who)
And we don't want the game neither, we just want the money
It makes sense don't it, the blocks wit me (What)
Welcome to the new world, Detroit Rock City (Yeah)
[Chorus: Royce da 5'9(Pharrell)]
We can do it now, nigga I'm off parole (Uh) [Repeat: x7]
We can do it now, nigga I'm off parole (Detroit Rock City)
We can do it now, nigga I'm off parole (Uh) [Repeat: x6]
We can do it now, nigga I'm off parole (Bring it back baby, uh)
We can do it now, nigga I'm off parole
[Tre' Little (Pharrell)]
Detroit came up, you know we hot (Uh)
30 years where it became a big lot (Uh)
600s on chrome, you don't stop (Uh)
Detroit we just hot (I hear you, baby)
Young niggas stay fly at all times (Uh)
Hoes 21 and under with gangsta rides (Uh)
Keep our guns by our sides at all times (Uh)
Detroit we just fly
[Pharrell]
Click, click, blow (Uh)
Click, click, blow (Uh)
Click, click, blow (Uh)
How you like us now
The song "Off Parole" by Royce da 5'9" featuring Pharrell is a celebratory anthem about success and overcoming hardship. The opening lines introduce Pharrell’s signature ad libs with a luxurious sound and opens with Royce 5’9 introducing himself. In the first verse, Royce reminisces about his early days in the music industry where he and other MCs were battling in the club for the love of rap. He then talks about the turning point in his life when the reality of becoming a father hit him, and he had to find a way to provide for his family. So, he hustled to make a name for himself and took the city of Detroit along with him.
The chorus repeats the line "We can do it now, nigga I'm off parole" with Pharrell's backing vocals to emphasize the success that Royce has achieved, both musically and personally. In the second verse, Royce talks about the lifestyle he is now living, with money and fame, and how powerful he feels. He also references the violence in the city and the fact that he and his crew have guns, but he says that they aren't looking for trouble unless it finds them. The song ends with Pharrell repeating the phrase "Click, click, blow" over and over again, a reference to the sound of guns firing.
Overall, "Off Parole" is a song about overcoming obstacles and succeeding in the rap game. It's a song that celebrates life and success post-parole.
Line by Line Meaning
Be quiet (Yeah)
Be quiet and listen up because something important is about to be said
I know what you thinking (Yeah)
I'm aware of the thoughts running through your mind right now
Who the hell is that (Yeah)
You might not know who I am, but you're about to find out
You in the club minding ya own business (Yeah)
You're just trying to have a good time and not bother anyone else
And out of nowhere you here this (Yeah)
Suddenly, you hear something that catches your attention
How you supposed to act (Yeah)
You're not sure how to react to this new situation
Twelfth grade rode around, started out small (Uh)
I was just a high school student with big dreams and not much else
My father told me, before you walk, you gotta crawl (Uh)
My dad gave me some wise advice to be patient and work hard before expecting success
We was all outlaws wit our fists balled (Uh)
My friends and I felt like rebels, ready to take on the world with our fists up
We couldn't even count bars, we was just raw (Uh)
We were new to the rap game and didn't even understand the basics of music structure, but we were passionate and talented
MCer's battlin' at the club, for the plug
I participated in rap battles at local clubs, trying to get noticed by established artists
Rappin' for the other rappers, strictly for the love
I performed for other rappers who appreciated the art form and respected my skills
That was cool 'til my life turned, and got tough
Things were going well until I faced some difficult personal challenges
I got a girl, got serious, got her knocked up (Uh)
I became a father and realized the importance of providing for my family
Uh oh, reality check, hold up (Uh)
I had to face the reality of my situation and figure out a way to support my family
I gotta figure out a way, to get this dough up (Uh)
I had to find a way to make more money, maybe through music
I don't want my son to hate me, when he grow up (Yeah)
I don't want my son to resent me for not being able to provide for him
So I gotta blow up, and leave it to' up (5'9, baby)
I have to become a successful musician so that I can give my family a better life and set a good example for my son
I listened to my pops, whenever it got hard (Yeah)
I listened to my father's advice and guidance, especially when things were tough
He said look if you gon' be a star, be a star (Yeah)
My dad encouraged me to dream big and go all-in if I wanted to achieve greatness
I got hot, got a deal took rap (Yeah)
Things started to go my way and I got a record deal as a rapper
Took the whole city wi me, and never looked back, baby (Uh)
I became a successful musician and brought my community up with me, never forgetting where I came from
We can do it now, nigga I'm off parole (Uh)
I have achieved success and can finally live without the limitations of parole
Yo, yo, it's all simple, make a million off the intro (Ugh)
It might seem like a simple goal, but my ambition is to make a million dollars just off the first track of an album
Y'all don't want it, 'cause you still say ya fin' to (Ugh)
Other rappers might be scared to compete with me because they are still new to the game
I'm finna blow, like this shit is so mental (Yeah, ugh)
I'm about to become a big thing, and it's all due to my mental strength and talent
That's your life, your problem, and your pencil
Other people's issues are their own, and they shouldn't let them distract from their goals
I don't won't respect, I want you to fear me (Yeah)
I don't care about other people's admiration, I want them to respect me through fear
It's real now, daddy's got a pill now
My success is real, and I can finally provide for my family like a responsible father
Detroit came up, you know we hot (Uh)
Detroit's music scene is on fire right now
Hoes 21 and under with gangsta rides (Uh)
Young women in our city are tough and independent, with impressive cars to match
Keep our guns by our sides at all times (Uh)
It's a rough world out there, so we always have to be prepared for anything
Click, click, blow (Uh)
The sound of a gun being loaded and fired, reminding everyone of the city's tough reputation
How you like us now
A rhetorical question asking how people feel about Detroit and the artists coming from the city now that they have achieved success
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: T. DOTSON, RYAN D MONTGOMERY, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, PHARRELL L WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind