Author Topic: New Royce 5'9 Interview (Read 239 times)

Mr. Humonculous · « **on:** June 22, 2005, 02:02:20 PM »

How have you been lately?

I've been good. Trying to stay real busy, stay real out of trouble.

"Independent's Day" is about to drop…are you happy with how it came out?

Yeah man, I'm real excited about it. The album actually started out as a mixtape and then we turned it into an album at the last minute. 'Los (6 July) came in and we did six more songs. I'm real comfortable with the release and how I was involved in everything. It feels a lot different now.

How did you handle this differently than "Death is Certain?"

I definitely wanted to make it not as personal as "Death is Certain." I didn't want it to sound as moody. I basically went in and tried to be more creative than dark. I wanted to give people other sides of Royce other than the dark, super-underground side. It's basically me just opening up a little bit and letting a few more people in as opposed to just reaching the main people. I like to stay in the median between "Death is Certain" and " Rock City." It has elements of "Rock City" with the brightness, and it has dark elements like "Death is Certain." And I feel like this is more lyrical than both albums. That's why I'm so excited with it, I took my time with the writing. "Death is Certain," I did in like two weeks because I felt like I had so much to say. With this album, I just took a lot more time to write everything out.

Did you get Primo on "Independent's Day?"

No, I didn't. another thing I was doing was not trying to be predictable. I think people were expecting that and I don't want it to get like that to where they're not excited about it anymore. You look at Jay-Z and Eminem, everything they do, the shock value is taken away because people are so used to hearing them do incredible shit, so when they do incredible shit, it's like the norm for them. It's crazy, you got these niggas ready to retire. I want people to not know what to expect from me so I'll last a little longer. I'll probably go with him for the next album, maybe, maybe not.

How's the work with Nottz coming?

I'm really enjoying working with Nottz, really feeling his vibe. We got about 20 joints. We're talking about doing a group album. We don't have a release for it yet. We don't know how we'll take it, whether we go independent or take it to a major. The important thing is to get it done. He's got two joints on the album just to give people a taste of our chemistry. I'm real excited about that.

What made you want to get Cee-lo on the album?

Cee-lo, I've always been a fan of. I'm a fan of talented people. And Cee-lo, I love Cee-lo's voice when he sings. I think he's a crazy MC but I like him as a singer better, and the reason is because there's nobody else that sounds like him. When you see somebody that's that distinct, you want him to be a part of what you're doing to kind of single out what you're doing. Nottz sent him a sample and he just re-sang the sample. It came out crazy so we just ran with it.

You've got a few guests we wouldn't expect, Sara Stokes, Yo Gotti…why go for them?

It's an independent album. It's spelt like "independent." So I went and got a lot of unsigned cats and we're just gonna give them that shine all over the world. I just decided to go with this independent movement, because that's the mind frame that I have right now so I'm just moving that way.

Are you looking for a major label or would you rather stay independent?

I'm gonna stay happy. That's what I found. I work best when I'm happy, when I'm comfortable. Right now, I'm happy and I'm comfortable. Right now, I feel that there's majors out there that I can start a home at and be just as happy if not more happy. So the door is always open for that, but the fact that I don't have to makes me happy. We're gonna move forward. Right now, we're good. I really want the pleasure of knowing I can push a record through radio the same way a major can and blow it up myself, and then go to a major and show them that I can do all the work. That's what I'm working on right now. The door is definitely open to a major, but I'm extremely happy with where I'm at right now.

"I.O.W.E" is a crazy song…what do you feel that Hip Hop owes you?

If I could say anything, it's just respect. I've always maintained my integrity. I've never really compromised. Whenever I've done a record, it's been me, even if it's commercial. It's just been a commercial side of me. I've always stood my ground, I've been through shit, a lot of people thought I would fold. Just respect me. That's all I really expect. And if I lash out to you, or do something to you, it's if you disrespect me. Other than that, Hip Hop doesn't owe me anything. There's plenty of money out here to get. I don't feel like Hip Hop owes me millions of dollars. I'm not where I wanna be, but I'm optimistic. I feel like I can earn this shit.

Do you feel like your albums that sound different from one another can throw people off?

It's just different sounds. Buy the album, and listen to the shit you like. If you don't like something, skip it. I think people make too big of a deal off a purchase. You have to understand I'm a complex individual. I'm a complex individual. I can sit at home with my wife for 24 hours and not talk to none of my niggas and then I can go out in party mode and drink like a fish, and then I can go out and commit a crime. When I go to the studio, I let that out because I know I'm not the only person like this. It's hard for me to just be one way. I'm a complex dude.

What are you doing with Proof?

Me and Proof did a song last week. I'm down to do whatever with Proof. I really respect Proof and I really appreciate where his mind is right now. He's somewhere around the same maturity level as me, mentally. We're really getting along right now. I'm down to do whatever with Proof. He's talking about doing a tour. We got a few tours in the works that niggas are trying to put together. I'm down for whatever. Whatever's gonna help the city and give us that unified front that cities like Atlanta has. We don't have that because a lot of people want to compete with each other instead of doing a joint together. It's hard to get radio support. A lot of people can't get shows because of beefs. I'm glad the D12-Royce beef is over. I'm down to do whatever it takes to move forward, I'm for the cause.

How do you feel about the way artists in the spotlight represent Detroit?

I think they do a pretty good job. It just shows their side of things. See, Detroit is a lot like myself. Detroit is a very complex city. It's not just what you hear from D-12, or what you see from Eminem or "8-Mile." Those are just sides of Detroit. There's so many other elements that people don't know about yet. What they're doing, I feel like they're doing their best and they're doing a damn good job, but there's also a lot of other people that can contribute to that and that's what we're doing right now in bringing new artists to the forefront so people can see what we have.

What have you been doing with Ras Kass?

That's my nigga! The sky's the limit with him. I really respect him lyrically. He's a real cool dude. Ras Kass can call me and I'll drop what I'm doing and we'll do a song. The sky's the limit with him.

I heard your House of Blues show was crazy…

Yeah, him and Xzibit came on stage with me, that was love. Definitely a shout out to Xzibit and Ras…

What new artists are you working with?

I'm working with my little brother Kid Vicious, June, and my man Juan. I'll be doing a lot of things with him. He has his own company, Dirty Glove Entertainment. He's got his own TV show, Dirty Glove Network. We're doing a lot of things together, whatever can benefit both companies. My brother Regardless has Regardless Records. He has an artist called Cut-Throat that was on the "Death is Certain" album. We're doing shit together. There's a whole lot of things keeping me busy locally, and the aim is to bring the other elements of the D to the forefront.

What do you see in Juan and Kid Vicious that makes you want to work with them?

Well, Vicious…it's interesting about Vicious, because he just started rhyming a few years ago. I heard through somebody else that he was rhyming. I called him up like "whats up nigga, why didn't you tell me?" The fact that he didn't sweat me about it, and when I heard him he was crazy, he reminded me of a young me. Me at his age. My thing with him is that I want to develop him and teach him the elements. And Juan is ready. He's just ready. Juan is probably one of the illest freestyle niggas that I've ever heard in my life. You can sit there and just say a word and he'll just be rhyming about that word, then you throw another word out and he'll keep the flow. I really respect him lyrically. He's one of the MC's that keeps me on my toes. It's good to have people like that around.

The albums dropping next week, as of right now are you happy with everything as far as promotions have gone?

I'm happy man. The good thing is that with being on a major label, you can potentially put out a single and if you don't get the spins that they feel you should get, everything as far as the album being pushed just stops. With this, we can grind everything out slow. I know the album is gonna catch on. It's one of those word-of-mouth albums that people don't expect it to be what it is, then it picks up. I'm real excited about grinding this album out and pushing it where it needs to go.

Do you see this album having a more steady sales?

I think it's gonna be slow because of the timelines. Trying to get it out before the Fourth of July is one of the things. I could have pushed it back, but I figured why? I'm in charge of this. I'll put it out and grind it slow, and I'm recouping at 20,000 copies. That's the only number I'm thinking about right now. After that, it's recouping. No artist on any major label can say that unless they have a joint venture. I'm good man, I'm happy.

What do you want to say to all your fans out there?

Thank you for your support. Thank you for always supporting Royce da 5'9". I love y'all. Go get the album June 28, don't download it, buy it! And be on the lookout for all M.I.C., Regardless, Dirty Glove Entertainment ventures. Thanks for the support.

hiphopgame.com

Woozie · « **Reply #1 on:** June 22, 2005, 02:09:44 PM »

props...

good read

eKardz · « **Reply #2 on:** June 22, 2005, 06:58:05 PM »

Quote from: Mr. Humonculous on June 22, 2005, 02:02:20 PM

What are you doing with Proof?

Me and Proof did a song last week. I'm down to do whatever with Proof. I really respect Proof and I really appreciate where his mind is right now. He's somewhere around the same maturity level as me, mentally. We're really getting along right now. I'm down to do whatever with Proof. He's talking about doing a tour. We got a few tours in the works that niggas are trying to put together. I'm down for whatever. Whatever's gonna help the city and give us that unified front that cities like Atlanta has. We don't have that because a lot of people want to compete with each other instead of doing a joint together. It's hard to get radio support. A lot of people can't get shows because of beefs. I'm glad the D12-Royce beef is over. I'm down to do whatever it takes to move forward, I'm for the cause.

hell fuckin yeah. major label, nottz album, shady records
please god, then comes the bad meets evil album

eS El Duque · « **Reply #3 on:** June 22, 2005, 08:59:42 PM »

dope dope

I love that I Owe U track

Low Key · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2005, 10:47:06 PM »

When did the Royce/D12 beef end? I never heard anything about it.

eKardz · « **Reply #5 on:** June 22, 2005, 11:12:48 PM »

Quote from: $ on June 22, 2005, 10:47:06 PM

When did the Royce/D12 beef end? I never heard anything about it.

i think it ended when proof and royce pulled techs on each other. after that they squashed it. and despite what anyone says, i think how come was to royce.