One thing that I love about Royce is that he only talks about what he knows. He spits pure truth, but unlike other rappers who do this, it doesn't get repetitive or boring. He speaks his financial troubles and other real life problems, but the material stays fresh which is almost shocking. Ufortunately, most of his subject matter was the depression Royce was experiencing. Imagine being best friends with a guy who is bringing along his other friends, but leaving you in a place where you are making no money. At that point Royce became an alcoholic and his life was spiraling in a negative direction. He went from a young aspiring to a rapper, to a guy who may just never make it in the rap game. This depression was genuine and doesn't feel forced at all. While the reasoning was sad, this music became very emotional and interesting.
Everything in the above paragraph led to the dark subject matter, title, and overall sound of this album. Royce went from the gangster we heard on Rock City to this hungry, to the point of desperation rapper almost begging for a way out of the situation he was in. Needless to say this made for some very intense music. Now that you have really the entire life story of Ryan you can go into this album knowing what to expect. I do that because anyone looking for the happy Royce you hear on the Slaughterhouse albums would be disappointed. The only thing left is to see what this Detroit MC did with this rush of crazy emotion, which is why I'm here.
1. Intro
After that buildup you are left with twelve seconds of, why the hell did this even have to happen. Footsteps! That is literally the only noise found on this intro! Why? I haven't the slightest clue.
2. Regardless
If you have never listened to Royce, his flow is very similar to Eminem's so the way he starts off the song by twisting the "Lose Yourself" lyrics is brilliant. The beat is very piano heavy with a basic drum line, and some some guitar sounds. The lyrics on this song are fantastic, though. Back to the use of Em's lyrics, this was a great way to start off an album. The only reason people knew him was because of his association with Em. So people probably lost their mind's when they heard that line. The hook is very good and turns out a good track.
3. Throwback
The hook on this song is crazy catchy, which is hard to do on a pure rap record. This is a song that could have been huge if it had been on a big market and heard by the masses. It has a much more dark and intense beat, and it once again lyrically incredible. He has another reference to Eminem, but this time addresses the beef straight up. He says he's, "finished with slim and his help," which is bold, but intense nonetheless. Once again under different circumstances this could have easily been a hit, but at this point in his career, while Ryan was spitting gold, no one was listening.
4. What I Know
This beat is once again piano heavy, and opens with something that sounds like it came from Charlie Brown cartoons. The flow in this song is once again, and while he is still very solid lyrically, and he has a few lines including the KRS-ONE reference and yet another Eminem name drop, nothing really sticks out here. Not to say that this is a bad track, but while the other two had standout points, this was just a solid song. What I can say is that if a solid song is a step down from your usual you are doing a hell of a job already on an album.
5. I Promise
The start of this beat is almost identical to that of the start of Throwback. In fact the entire beat just sounds like a lighter version of Throwback. The hook is much different, but equally good, but the verses on this song are fucking dope as shit. The second verse is too good to pull a line from, I just urge you to listen to it. Hell, I don't know why I'd only include the second verse, the first and third are also dope as hell. I love when a rapper can put together three verses without one being standout as bad. Usually the artist falters a bit at the second verse but that is obviously not the case here.
6. Call Me Never
Have you ever thoroughly enjoyed a skit? Neither have I, but this one was really good. It wasn't funny but it told a story. We go into the voice mail box of Royce. You go from two girls going from record store to record store and not finding a single person who has heard of him, all the way to Primo saying he's sent him a beat. Very entertaining.
7. Hip Hop
This is critically acclaimed as the best song Royce has ever made. The beat is produced by Primo, and it is fucking stupid delicious. The rhyming on this track is impeccable. The hook is awesome, and the verses manage to be better. There is nothing wrong with this song, and is the closest Royce has ever really gotten to a solo hit (other than Boom). We have another three verse song, with ill lyrics throughout all of them. I hear entire albums with less substance to the lyrics than these three verses alone. This is a track that is one you can bump with your crew and have a great time, and also feel like a hip-hop head, because the lyrics are so damn good. This is a song that panders to all audiences, and if you are too damn cheap to spend the four dollars at the record store that this album would cost, at least buy this single off Itunes.
8. Gangsta (ft. Cutty Mack)
I don't really like this track. I think the hook is cool, and the lyrics are obviously good, but just think it's a weak track.I like the point of it, because it paints the picture of a real gangster, and not any other studio gangster you hear on the radio. This is a real track about real street gangsters, and while that is really cool, something just doesn't do it for me. It might have to do with the fact that I really hate Cutty's verse. I think he thought it'd be funny to completely go against the theme of the song and spit a generic thug verse, that could have been included on any song ever.
9. T.o.d.a.y. (ft. Ingrid Smalls)
Now this song rebuilt the momentum lost on the previous track. The thing I love about Ryan in this stage of his career is his modesty and humble approach to rapping. His verses have a generic subject matter, but he puts together very solid bars. You feel the emotion and almost sadness in the track and it is a very good listen. The singing on the hook is not good, and corny as hell, but the actual," Today" part was pretty cool. I find myself playing this track a lot because of the meaning in within every lyric on the track. The soft and epic feeling piano beat adds a lot to the theme of the track, and there we have a great, yes great, track.
10. I & Me
The strings on this beat give it a dark, mafia-esque feel to it. It is a very dark track overall and it has an uneasy feel. The subject is integrity, and that what he does is for himself. That is amazing to me that an underground rapper with a tiny fan base has the nerve to say that he will not change his music for anyone. The hook is corny, but all of the verses are well delivered, and the killer here is the delivery, and mic presence the Royce brings. It is obvious that he believes every word he says, and as a fan of music I can really respect that.
11. Beef
Pause the song! If you have never heard the song Beef by Biggie then go listen to that first, and as long as the album is paused you might as well slap yourself for never hearing that song. I tell you to do that because the hook of this song is structured in the same format as the Biggie song. As far as this song, it is scary as hell. The beat is so dark, as is the tone in his voice. I don't know if Detroit rappers get shot up for beef a lot, but this is nothing how mainstream beef works. This isn't exactly talking about rap beef, but beef in life in general, so really any argument at all. After two verses of the horrors of beef and its repercussions, we are taken to three scenes that sound just terrifying. Very intriguing listen, nothing like your average hip-hop song.
12. Bomb 1st
Another very dark song, with a subject matter that fits it perfectly. I don't really like the use if the pitch modification on the hook, but I guess it works for the setting of the track. The strings on the beat almost stress me out. The lyrics on this song are flat out genius, and after the last two songs, I suggest you don't mess with Ryan. This song is short, but you get the point. A third verse is not necessary, because if you don't get what he is saying by the end of the second then you probably just won't get it, and you are dumb.
13. Everybody Goes
Well that's nice isn't it? We all know that everyone dies, but Royce just puts it out there so we don't forget. Hell, look at the name of the album, not a very optimistic view. This is another song where you are just left shocked by the lyricism, and ease in which Ryan delivers these lines with. He is like a toned down Ras Kass, with lyrics that might even be better. Just another dope track.
14. Death Is Certain Pt. 2 (It Hurts)
Talking about pessimism, that track title is so negative that it almost makes me laugh. Obviously death is not a funny topic, but the aura of gloom is almost hilarious. As for the track, I'm going to be bold and say this is the best on the entire album. It really tells a story of why Ryan is depressed, and feels the need to put such a pessimistic tone on his music. He tells the story of his friend who was killed, and it comes off so genuine that you really feel for Ryan. A lot of time the judgement of a song is what kind of emotion it sparks out of the listeners, and this certainly will do a number on anyone.
15.Something's Wrong With Him (ft. 6 July)
6 July did a lot of the production on this album, and is credited with the feature here. Ryan throws any positive views, and successfully kills the idea of happiness on the first verse. The verse might be my favorite on the album, and he includes a few lines about how his wife would rather listen to Joe Budden than his music. He then proceeds to say in effect, fuck Budden's music, which is really interesting as we now know these two as buddies in the group Slaughterhouse. He is so aggressive on this track, and it is downright nasty. This is the way this album had to end, as it summarizes all of the feelings of hatred and darkness displayed throughout the entire album.
Rating: 3.5/5
I love this album. I think it deserves your money, though I doubt it will happen. My main complaint is just the lack of personalty displayed by Ryan. He is a very funny guy, and all we got here was the dark, violent side of him. I understand these were his feelings during the album, so humor or happiness was nearly impossible, but regardless I find it to be a flaw. As much as I love a dark track, if I listened to this every day I'd get depressed. What I love is the lyricism and flow. There is not a track on the album in which Ryan just doesn't bring it. His personal performance on each track is very good, and he grabs your attention with every bar he spits. He has a few pipe bombs on this album leaving you to wonder how the mainstream media and rap game wasn't set on fire. If you love upbeat happy music (if your favorite song on the radio is by Miley Cyrus) then this album is not for you. While you may be able to appreciate it for its lyricism there is no getting past the dark feeling that surrounds every track on the album.