Royce 5'9" Archives

Royce Takes The Keys From Khaled & Jay Z And Unlocks A New Level (Audio)

Royce 5'9" says he's starting to have fun young again. That is deeply apparent on his "I Got The Keys" freestyle. In what may be shaping up to be a weekly song series from Nickel Nine, the Detroit, Michigan veteran takes one of the biggest records of 2016 (by DJ... Read more

January 16, 2017 Audio

UndergroundHipHop.com Will Remain Open After A Hip-Hop Artist Purchases Store

UPDATE: Following the December 28 report (below), UndergroundHipHop founder Adam "Quest" Walder has announced that the vendor and website will have some new ownership, preventing its previously announced closing. In a January 3 update, Walder discussed the outpouring of support from customers, forum users, and artists. "I had a fantastic... Read more

December 28, 2016 News

Here Are The Best Hip-Hop Performances & Videos Of 2016

2016 has been a unique year. With it, Hip-Hop had a lot to say, visually. Poets new and old, independent and well-heeled, used their art to promote awareness, suggest change, and when appropriate, provide distraction. At a time when the music video largely lives online, artists made statements—about themselves, their... Read more

December 13, 2016 Food for Thought

The Symphony 2016 Was Just 1 Of The Truly Amazing Performances & Videos Of The Year

2016 has been a unique year. With it, Hip-Hop had a lot to say, visually. Poets new and old, independent and well-heeled, used their art to promote awareness, suggest change, and when appropriate, provide distraction. At a time when the music video largely lives online, artists made statements—about themselves, their... Read more

December 12, 2016 Video

Royce 5’9″ Teams With Denaun & Marv Won To Show The Many Faces Of Racism (Video)

Detroit, Michigan can rightfully claim some of Hip-Hop's most celebrated spitters as its own, many of whom are equally gifted at attaining longevity in their careers. Royce 5'9" released the most successful album of his solo discography, Layers, earlier this year - an astonishing accomplishment for an MC who is... Read more

October 18, 2016 Video

Royce 5’9″ Blacks Out On A Song About Living Carefree (Audio)

Earlier this year, Royce 5'9" put some of the best work of his career down on the album Layers. As that self-released project continues to make its due rounds, Nickel Nine shows the world that he's in stride beyond just his album in 2016. "Carefree Black Man" is a song... Read more

July 28, 2016 Audio

Kay Slay Recruits Redman, Raekwon & Royce 5’9″ To Attack The Wack (Mixtape)

They do not call DJ Kay Slay "the drama king" for nothing. Since the late 1970s, the Harlem, New York graffiti writer-turned-DJ-turned-record executive seemingly lives for the spirit of competition. Now a Shade 45 radio mainstay, Kay Slay is one of the few talents who was making mixtapes 15 years... Read more

July 1, 2016 Mixes

Royce 5’9″, Pusha T & Rick Ross Put A Dirty Politician On Trial By The Streets (Video)

2016 has been a major turning point for Royce 5'9". The Detroit, Michigan MC already has an illustrious career behind him, but with the April release of Layers, he earned his first ever number-one LP. Buoyed by the critical acclaim of his Trust the Shooter EP, his sixth studio album... Read more

June 29, 2016 Video

Listen To The Best Hip-Hop Of April 2016 In One Playlist (Audio)

For years to come, April 2016 will be remembered as the month that brought purple snow in the form of Prince's death. In the wake of his departure, there have been countless tributes in the form of covers of his songs, new releases dedicated to him, and vaulted gems that... Read more

May 3, 2016 Audio

Royce 5’9″ Announces Layers North American Tour Dates

Earlier this month, Royce 5'9" released Layers, his first solo album in more than four years. Executive produced by Mr. Porter (D12) and Royce, the album earned the MC his highest charting placement of any solo album in his 15-plus-year career. Featuring Pusha T and Rick Ross, the LP is... Read more

April 27, 2016 Fresh

Royce 5’9″ Reintroduces Himself At The Top Of His Game On “Layers” (Album Stream)

Royce 5'9" album Layers is planned for April 15 release. However, the Detroit, Michigan gold-selling MC shares his self-released sixth LP four days early. Layers is the first Nickel Nine album since 2011's Success Is Certain, and unlike previous albums, seemingly covers every facet of Ryan Montgomery's life and career.... Read more

April 11, 2016 Audio

Royce 5’9″, Pusha T & Rick Ross Show That Each Has Many Layers As An MC (Audio)

With only 11 days until the release of his solo album Layers, Detroit's Royce 5'9" is in the home stretch of a promotional undertaking that has resulted in more than enough work to prove that one need not be the next hottest thing to put forth inspiring and lyrically punishing... Read more

April 4, 2016 Audio

Royce 5’9″ Proves Being Lyrical Is Cool While Destroying New School MCs (Video)

Shortly after releasing a video for the lead single for his forthcoming album Layers starring his son, Royce 5'9" is back with another video centered on intergenerational perspective, this time focused on taste and trends. While in "Tabernacle" Royce takes a micro approach to telling a story, "Which Is Cool" is broader... Read more

March 21, 2016 Video

Royce 5’9″ Blacks Out on Another Song & Announces Free EP (Audio)

In just under a month, Royce 5'9" will be releasing Layers, his sixth studio album and first since 2011's Success Is Certain. In the years since, he has proven himself to be an integral part of various groups like PRhyme and Slaughterhouse,but his longtime fans have always known of his... Read more

March 17, 2016 Audio

PRhyme & Logic’s Deluxe Collabo Goes To Animated “Mode” (Lyric Video)

For Logic, to be knighted by DJ Premier and Royce 5'9" at once is a huge deal. The Gaithersburg, Maryland MC is big on restoring a rawness to Rap through intricate lyrics, concept-driven songs, and feisty flows. Who more represents the success of that outlook than PRhyme? The trio (including... Read more

March 11, 2016 Video

Royce 5’9″ Explains Choosing To Sign With Tommy Boy Instead Of Dr. Dre (Video)

Royce 5'9" released his first gold album, care of Bad Meets Evil's Hell: The Sequel. The 2011 album released on Eminem's Shady Records, which is part of the same Interscope umbrella that includes Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, and previously, 50 Cent's G-Unit Records. Notably, while Royce is signed to Shady/Interscope... Read more

March 10, 2016 Video

Elzhi Drops First Visual Dose of “Lead Poison” & Describes Deeply Personal Inspiration

In the nearly five years it's been since Detroit MC Elzhi has released a full-fledged solo project in the form of his Elmatic mixtape, Heads have been eager for his return. So eager, in fact, that many gladly contributed to the rapper's Kickstarter campaign in an effort to raise the... Read more

February 29, 2016 Food for Thought, Video

Royce 5’9″ Is Releasing a New Solo Album & It’s His Best Work Ever. This Video Shows It.

Royce 5'9" (as it is now officially stylized) is releasing his sixth solo album, Layers, on April 15, 2016, his first in nearly 5 years. Distributed through his own Bad Half Entertainment, the Mr. Porter and Royce executive-produced LP delves deeply into the many sides of the Detroit, Michigan veteran... Read more

February 26, 2016 Exclusive, Food for Thought, Video