Biography

Early career

Ryan Montgomery, born and raised on the West Side of Detroit, Michigan, moved to Oak Park, Michigan when he was 10 years old, later acquiring the nickname "Royce" during highschool after wearing a Turkish link chain with an R pendant resembling the Rolls Royce symbol. Royce and his best friend Jah Da 5'9" (also known as June or June Bug) began rapping at 18, and were the two shortest players on the basketball team, both standing at 5 foot and 9 inches tall.

Royce signed his first deal in 1998 with Tommy Boy Records, who was to release his much anticipated debut album Rock City. Royce left Tommy Boy Records, citing creative differences. During that time he worked with Game Recordings, an independent label who helped him to negotiate a deal with Columbia Records. Columbia repeatedly delayed the release of Rock City, which was subsequently heavily bootlegged. Despite this, Columbia released Rock City, which quickly went out of print once Royce left the label. After leaving Columbia, Rock City was edited and re-released through Koch / Game Recordings as Rock City (Version 2.0). The album credits Eminem as executive producer, though his vocals were only featured on the title track "Rock City", both in the chorus and ad libbing. Before the release of Version 2.0, Royce built hype with his successful underground hit "Boom", produced by DJ Premier.

A helpful boost to his career came when Rockstar Games hired the Game Recordings label on for the rap music radio station "Game FM" in Grand Theft Auto III. Several artists from the Label, including Agallah, Sean Price, Pretty Ugly, JoJo Pellegrino and Black Rob as well as Royce Da 5'9" were featured on "Game FM", a radio station inside the game itself. Royce himself contributed three singles: "We're Live (Danger)", "Spit Game", and "I'm The King", the latter of which was edited specifically for the game.

Royce formed a crew in the late 1990s called D-Elite which included himself, Tre' Little, Billy Nix, Jah Da 5'9" (now known as June), Cut Throat/Cutty Mack, and Cha Cha, who is the only female of the group. The group appeared together on the original version of the album Rock City on a song titled "D-Elite Part 2". This was the groups only commercial release as a whole.

Bad Meets Evil

Royce Da 5'9" benefited from his association with fellow Detroit MC, Eminem, which existed prior to Eminem signing his deal with Interscope/Aftermath Entertainment. Royce was introduced to Eminem by his manager, Kino Childrey at an Usher concert, where Eminem was selling copies of his Slim Shady EP. The two formed a duo called Bad Meets Evil (with Royce occupying the 'Bad' half, and Eminem the 'Evil' half). Bad Meets Evil produced a number of tracks including "Scary Movies", "Nuttin' to Do", "She's the One", "Renegades" [Original Version] and "See You In Hell", which appeared on Eminem's album The Slim Shady LP, titled "Bad Meets Evil". Communication between the pair deteriorated as Eminem's career enjoyed increased success and a series of circumstances led to the emergence of conflict.

Royce and Eminem were mutual friends with Proof. Royce gives Proof a shout-out on "Nickel Nine Is...", from Rock City. Royce however had beef with D12 member, Bizarre, originating from a freestyle battle with Royce's brother. Due to a breakdown of communication, this beef developed to include all the members of D12.

According to an interview with Bishop Lamont, there may be a Bad Meets Evil 2 on Eminems new album.

Recently

After the release of his 2005 album Independent's Day, Royce has kept a low profile even though he had promised a second album in December of that year, produced by Nottz. Royce recently went on tour with Mobb Deep, and ghostwrote the song "Tell Me" ft. Christina Aguilera for Diddy's new album, Press Play. He also does touring rounds to promote his new crew the M.I.C. (Make It Count), and is scheduled to make an appearance on Canibus' next album. ' Royce made a guest appearance on Canadian rapper Classified's 2006 album Boy-Cott-In The Industry on the track "Unexplainable Hunger", along with Canadian rapper Choclair.

M.I.C. (Not to be confused with MF Grimm's group) is also the name of his independent record label. The M.I.C. members are as follows: Royce, Kid Vishis (Royce's younger brother),and June.

In a September 2006 interview with Elemental Magazine, Royce stated that, contrary to rumors, DJ Premier will not be producing the entirety of his upcoming album, but will be overseeing the project as Executive Producer, handpicking all of the beats. The Premier-produced track "Ding Ding" will be included, as well as four more beats from the producer.

Diddy not only recognized Royce's pen, the mogul also expressed interest in signing the lyricist to Bad Boy. Nas has also stated that he would like to sign Royce to his new recording label, The Jones Experience, through Def Jam.

Royce recently recorded a new single for Esham's new album "Sacrifical Lambs".

Jail

Royce Da 5'9" was sentenced to jail on September 19, 2006 for violation of his probation. He went to court for a driving under the influence (DUI) offense which resulted in violation of his probation. The Oakland County judge subsequently sentenced Royce to one year imprisonment in Oakland County Jail, Pontiac, Michigan. He was in the process of making a new album with DJ Premier at the time of the arrest. However, on January 9, 2007, www.hiphopgame.com reported that Royce had been freed after his judge agreed to give him a work-release.

In May 2007 Royce Da 5'9" has recently finished and released the mixtape The Bar Exam which features DJ Premier and Statik Selektah on the wheels of steel.

Disputes

Dr. Dre

Eminem called Royce to the studio to participate in Dr Dre's 2001 project as a ghostwriter. He contributed tracks including "The Message", "The Throne Is Mine" and the original version of "Xxplosive" titled "The Way I Be Pimpin'". The latter featured verses rapped by Dr. Dre about pimping and getting money, with Royce singing the hook. The song "The Throne Is Mine was supposed to have Dr. Dre rapping as well as Royce. Just before the chorus Royce raps as if he were Dr. Dre, "I don't care what you gotta say behind us, just remember me Dr. Dre your highness". At the end of the song Royce says "We got you surrounded, the chronic 2000". The Throne Is Mine has been released on Pretox and as a bonus track on Royce's Build & Destroy: The Lost Sessions Part 1 mixtape.

While working with Dr Dre, Royce recorded tracks presumably for his own project "Stay in Your Place". This led to speculation that Royce was to be signed to Aftermath Entertainment. However, Royce's association with Dr. Dre ended when Royce's manager, Kino Childrey mis-spoke to a reporter about Eminem and Dr. Dre in the studio. When Royce refused to dismiss Kino, who was a long-time friend, his ties with Dre were severed and "Xxplosive" was retouched to its current state. Despite "The Message" being released on 2001, Royce was never paid for his efforts. He references this in "What I Know", from Death is Certain: "Who could raise me / after I been amazed by Dre / — and N.W.A. — / and you couldn't pay me / to back the staff for free. / I will believe it ain't nothin' Shady in the Aftermath."

Shady Records

In 2002, Royce would call Eminem and ask to be signed to Shady Records. Busy with his movie 8 Mile at the time, Eminem refused, but about a week later signed 50 Cent. Royce took this in stride, agreeing to do the Anger Management Tour with his crew D-Elite. While on tour, D12 took offense to a line Royce had written for the tour: "Fuck Anger Management, I need someone to manage my anger."

They took the line to Eminem, and from there a series of misunderstandings escalated the beef. A barfight between D12 and D-Elite culminated in Eminem and Royce not speaking, and a rekindled beef between Royce and all of D12, including Proof.

Detroit's radio stations were alive with the controversy, playing diss tracks back and forth which included "Smack Down" (D12 minus Eminem over 50 Cent's "Back Down" beat). The track opens with an audio clip from an interview where Royce disses D12, calling them "the worst rap group ever". It attacks Royce's street credibility and alleges that D12 made his career possible. Proof recorded "Many Men" (over 50 Cent's "Many Men" beat), which addressed false rumors that Royce had ordered a hit on Proof.

Royce released several diss tracks including "Shit on U" (over D12's "Shit on You" beat), which was mostly aimed at Bizarre. This track ridicules Bizarre's limited ability as a rapper and his suffering from a speech impediment. Royce also recorded "We Ridin'" and "Death Day" (over 50 Cent's "In da Club" beat). Royce Da 5'9' later recorded "Malcolm X" (over Capone-N-Noreaga's "Bang Bang" beat), featuring Tre Little of D-Elite which ended up being an instant Detroit classic.

While Royce and Eminem never directly dissed each other, the rap world focused on their relationship, mostly overlooking the beef between Royce and Proof, who had been even closer friends. The feud continued for two years. during which Royce suffered from a severe drinking problem, but released some of his most recognized material. For instance, his dark second LP Death Is Certain, which garnered favorable reviews from many publications and critics. (See links section for reference.)

In 2003, his conflict with Proof finally boiled over in a confrontation on the streets of Detroit. The two rappers' entourages gathered around them, but fled when they both drew guns. They spent a night in jail, working out differences, and eventually returned to the studio. In the DJ Premier produced track "Ding!", Royce name-drops his friend: "Rest in peace to Proof/probably rollin over in his grave/n*ggas poisoning his name/the misfortunes of the fortune and the fame".

Mistah F.A.B.

It Started with a freestyle battle in New York between Royce Da 5'9" and Mistah F.A.B.. During the battle Mistah Fab utilised simple punchlines to garner a crowd reaction - as happens in battle rapping. Royce had engaged in the "battle" with more of a "cypher" attitude, with the audience reaction less than impressive. Mistah F.A.B. was declared the winner. A few weeks later Royce released a track over Jay-Z's "Blue Magic" beat. In the song Royce had a rhyme regarding Mistah Fab in which he said "tell mistah Fab to get his money once he wakes up". Mistah Fab took offense to this. Fab responded to Royce with his own diss track, called "You Got Bodied", in which FAB claims that he is in good connection with Detroit rappers Trick Trick and Chedda Boyz (who would go on to contradict the statement themselves on Royce's response). Royce then responded with a track called " Who Got Bodied?" a 7 minute diss in which royce sampled multiple songs (including Biggie's "Victory"). The record includes cameos from Juan, leader of the Street Lord Chedda Boyz, and Trick-Trick, who back up Royce. The diss has gathered massive attention from the general public and is currently viewed as the top (and probably only) feud hip-hop has witnessed in 2007. Mistah F.A.B. recently released "C.I.A.", a 12 minute long diss track that didn't get nearly as much attention as Royce's "Who Got Bodied?" diss.

On November 9th, 2007 Royce declared the beef with Mistah F.A.B. officially finished. "We got on the phone and we talked like men and I don't have anything but good things to say about my man [Mistah F.A.B.] because he was a cool dude when I talked to him. So it's a wrap, no more words."

Other

Royce had a small dispute with Ruff Ryders over the line "Royce, Reef, Double R" on a song, and 1970s disco band Rose Royce, wherein they accused him of stealing their name. He had a problem with popular producer Kanye West over an unreleased song, "Heartbeat", the beat to which Kanye produced. Kanye maintains that Royce never paid for the beat but recorded to it and released it; hearing the song, the original customers decided not to buy it from West. After the disagreement, West vowed to never work with Royce again. In a recent freestyle Royce pays homage to Kanye's mom who just passed away.

Joe Budden

Joe Budden was suppose to be at the battle with Mistah FAB and Royce, but couldn't make it due to the shooting of his younger brother. Royce stated that he had heard Joe Budden was instead at a party and not with his brother. Joe Budden has stated that him and Royce talked about it and they plan to work together in the future. In a recent freestyle Royce said "Nickel on some new shit new tool detox/mood muzik 3 hot bar exam 2 shit" showing love to Joe Buddens upcoming Mixtape Mood Muzik 3

Discography

• 2002: Rock City (Version 2.0)
• 2003: Build & Destroy: The Lost Sessions Part 1
• 2004: Death is Certain
• 2005: Independent's Day
• 2008: Street Hop