And I’m going, “Oh, that was me.” So I got a whole new kind of outlook on it. And it’s making me look at them different. And then I’m looking at some of the artists that are complaining, and I’m like, “y’all got the bullhorn all year.” You know? You guys are on your major label platforms, all we hear about is y’all and you get one little snub, and now you’re crying about it. So that tells me, I was making it about me. I don’t have any problem with the Grammys, because I’m nominated. You know, I’ve always been anti-Grammys, and “Nah, man they not this and that,” but they my boys this year. And I also loved to be forced to see things from a different perspective. So it’s kind of a win in that regard already. I get a real kick out of that on some levels.
And then I’m looking at some of the artists that are complaining, and I’m like, ‘y’all got the bullhorn all year.’ You know? You guys are on your major label platforms, all we hear about is y’all and you get one little snub, and now you’re crying about it. You know, I’ve always been anti-Grammys, and ‘Nah, man they not this and that,’ but they my boys this year. “I also loved to be forced to see things from a different perspective. I love to be able to just apply myself and kind of move the goalposts around how I want. And to kind of break down those kinds of barriers at this juncture in my career, and sort of do some of the things that I’m not supposed to be doing in the proverbial rulebook that’s been created. That means something to me in a different way from, like what something may sell or– there’s a lot of different layers to what you would call success or how you would look at success. And being looked at for the work that you do. So it’s a new thing for me to kind of get used to, but it’s cool. It’s doesn’t feel like a thing yet, you know? Nothing’s really changed aside from a bunch of people saying congratulations. I know you’ve described it as surreal before, but has it settled in yet? What does it mean to you to get that recognition? But first off, congratulations on the Grammy nom. Nice to finally meet you face to face. Are you at Heaven right now?Īlways up here, man. How are you feeling brother?įeeling pretty good.
This conversation has been edited for clarity - look for the full interview on YouTube soon.ĭay Nine: A Conversation with Royce Da 5’9″ “When you get to that point, now you’re in a bad spot.”įor more gems from Royce, including his take on The Grammys, the love-hate relationship between artists and media, and taking the plunge into the infinite possibilities of production, be sure to check out a complete transcription of our conversation below. “One thing I learned about labels, is that if you don’t know exactly what you are, and you can’t express that to them in a way where they understand, then they’ll try to tell you what they think you are,” he explains. The valuable lessons gleaned from life experience are shared with refreshing honesty. As he explains on his now Grammy-nominated Allegory, he wore the proverbial “rhinestone doo-rag” so those who followed wouldn’t have to. There’s a willingness to impart knowledge to young artists who might not be in possession of the tools they might need to find lasting success. Maintaining the sanctity of hip-hop culture is among his primary passions, alongside his recently-launched mental health initiative. It’s clear that Royce’s priorities have evolved. It’s the same place he recorded the entirety of The Allegory, an album that found him embracing the wisdom earned from a long and storied career.
It’s the same place he learned how to produce, under the watchful eye of longtime friend and collaborator Denaun Porter - not to mention a few clutch lessons from DJ Premier.
Now his eighth studio album The Allegory - the first produced in its entirety by his own hand - has secured him a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. A major milestone that might have come earlier, had acclaimed projects like Layers or Book Of Ryan been submitted for contention.Īs the ninth installment of our ongoing series HNHH Presents: 12 Days Of Christmas ,I had the pleasure of catching up with Royce Da 5’9″ from his control room in Heaven studios, the place he spends the majority of his time these days. For decades, the Detroit emcee has been evolving as an artist, whether through his own impeccable solo catalog, his work alongside Eminem as Bad Meets Evil, or raising the bar for lyricists alongside his Slaughterhouse brothers.