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.
T.O.D.A.Y. ft. Ingrid Smalls
Royce da 5'9" Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Na na na.
Hoooooooooooh-oooooooooh-ooooooooh, no no no
(Royce Da 5'9")
Yeah.. uhh, uhh
I done been in this game for years, it made me an animal
I learned that nobody else can be held accountable
Even he can f**k up a relationship
I learned it don't matter who's spittin better
While these rappers kill each other, them Jews they stick together
like glue; and generate more money than FUBU
For somethin made 'for you by you'
Every hip-hop nigga listen and wishin he had your style
to go against you if you rip him and pass him by (yeah)
A mastermind is somebody who's actually kind
to everybody, and try to see every autograph is signed
The humblest way to look at your career
is every nigga in here is one hit away
Yeah, whatever goes around in rap
happens to not come back to me, and I ask you
(Chorus: Royce + (Ingrid Smalls)
(If I was to die today
Wouuuuuld you pick me up because I'm down and out, na na na)
"T" - represents the 'time' when my hope, fades
"O" - is just a sign 'on' my mind on my broke, days
(Hoooooooooooh-oooooooooh-ooooooooh)
"D" - is for the 'dangerous' way that the flow, stray
"A" - represents the, 'answer' to the question I'm askin (no no no)
"Y" is it today I should (DIE!)
(Royce Da 5'9")
Damn, right after one quick summer
Am I Young MC or a one-hit wonder?
Is it a following that supports me
BET, MTV, or "E! True Hollywood Story"?
Can I hold my own
and rap without havin to go back to Pharrell or Poke & Tone?
Can a married man still appeal to broads
knowin everything he's spittin from here on in gon' be raw?
Can a nigga simply spit that real shit
just for niggaz that feel me, or will the system kill me? (uhh)
If I drop this album and it sells
and the next one don't top it, will it be considered a failure?
If I had to drop outta the limelight for a while
Would you still mob me? Hell naw!
You would not give a f**k about me
If I worked a regular job, I don't even gotta ask y'all
(Chorus)
(Ingrid Smalls)
We just wanna see you survive
Anytime you wanna talk, maybe either one of y'all
Wanna give a holla this way (yeah)
Every lady involved, is rootin for the underdog
You don't let him die today, no!
Oh no - we ain't tryin to see
You go - I want you here beside me
I don't want it to change - don't DIE!
(Royce Da 5'9")
Now as far as my weaknesses
I have a hard time competin the chart and on SoundScan
The media base, I respect Dre for teachin me that
Money is easy to make, but hard to keep
As far as my nigga 'Los, I love him
He showed me you can do a dope album with no budget
Yeah, with lethal rhymes - they get that
he brought you into the game, he can take you out outta people's minds
Yeah (DIE!) Those who feel my career will die
Those who choose to leave me behind
Are confused cause they don't hear me cry; rather ya ears
is ready or not, I know you can hear me now like Mary J. Blige
I will take the shit
I will burn yo' bridges and I ain't talkin 'bout our relationship
What goes around comes around with every person
Rather it's life or rap whatever, "Death Is Certain"
(Chorus)
(Ingrid Smalls)
Hoooooooooooh-oooooooooh-ooooooooh
No no no..
The song "T.O.D.A.Y." by Royce da 5'9" ft Ingrid Smalls is about the struggles and fears Royce faces as a rapper. In the first verse, he talks about how he has been in the game for years and how nobody else can be held accountable for his career except for him. Royce also discusses how in the music industry, there is a sense of competition that can lead to rappers killing each other. He notes that Jewish people "stick together like glue" and generate more money than FUBU. Additionally, Royce talks about how a mastermind is somebody who is kind to everybody and tries to sign an autograph for everyone.
In the chorus, Royce and Ingrid Smalls ask the question, "If I was to die today, would you pick me up because I'm down and out?" Royce uses the acronym T.O.D.A.Y. to represent his emotions, which are Time when hope fades, On his mind when he's broke, Dangerous when the flow strays, Answer to the question he's asking, and why he should die today.
In the second verse, Royce discusses his fears of being a one-hit wonder, the possibility of the system killing him, and whether or not he can maintain his appeal to women despite his explicit lyrics. Ingrid Smalls reminds Royce that she and others are rooting for the underdog and want him to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
I done been in this game for years, it made me an animal
I have been in the hip-hop industry for a long time and it has made me cruel and ferocious.
I learned that nobody else can be held accountable
but you for your career, not your manager, face it
I realized that I am solely responsible for my career and not my manager or anyone else.
Even he can f**k up a relationship
Even my manager can ruin my reputation and image.
I learned it don't matter who's spittin better
While these rappers kill each other, them Jews they stick together
I learned that it doesn't matter who is rapping better in the industry. The Jews in the hip-hop industry stick together and make more money than brands like FUBU.
The humblest way to look at your career
is every nigga in here is one hit away
The best way to view my career is to be humble and remember that every rapper is only one hit away from losing it all.
"T" - represents the 'time' when my hope, fades
"O" - is just a sign 'on' my mind on my broke, days
"D" - is for the 'dangerous' way that the flow, stray
"A" - represents the, 'answer' to the question I'm askin
The acronym T.O.D.A.Y. stands for the time when my hope fades, the sign of my mind during my broke days, the dangerous way my flow strays, and the answer to the question I am asking myself about my career.
Damn, right after one quick summer
Am I Young MC or a one-hit wonder?
I wonder if I am like Young MC, producer of the hit 'Bust a Move,' or if I am a one-hit wonder.
Can I hold my own
and rap without havin to go back to Pharrell or Poke & Tone?
Can I be successful and rap without depending on producers like Pharrell or Poke & Tone?
Can a married man still appeal to broads
knowin everything he's spittin from here on in gon' be raw?
Can a married man still be attractive to women when he is only rapping about raw and explicit things?
If I had to drop outta the limelight for a while
Would you still mob me? Hell naw!
If I had to leave the spotlight for a while, would you still support me? No way!
As far as my weaknesses
I have a hard time competin the chart and on SoundScan
I struggle with competing on the charts and with SoundScan.
The media base, I respect Dre for teachin me that
Money is easy to make, but hard to keep
I have respect for Dre for teaching me that it's easy to make money in the music industry but difficult to keep.
With lethal rhymes - they get that
he brought you into the game, he can take you out outta people's minds
With powerful lyrics, people will remember you, but if you don't keep up with it, they forget about you.
Those who feel my career will die
Those who choose to leave me behind
Are confused cause they don't hear me cry
People who think that my career will be unsuccessful are mistaken because they don't know how much effort I am putting into it.
Contributed by Alex Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chris
Brings me back man...the whole album does...damn dude
a-6_grindtime
Yea man.
Steve Zion
Same bro, haven’t listened to it since probably 2003 and it’s been in my collection ever since
UpNorthSound
This track always brings me back to reality..
thefatalveli1
Royce been beast since Day one, Definitely king of the D !!! Rip Proof....
EMCEE M. D.
God damn, how have I never heard this..... It's exactly how I feel. Long live real hip hop.
bobbydeazy
Mary J Blige - I love you sampled it too also a great song
55marpo
this is one of the best chill old school tracks
Y-No Richie
One of my favorite old skool Royce tracks
EnaZ CrainiaL
Still dope after all these years