DJ EFN: What up, I'm DJ EFN and we're in
DJ EFN: What up, I'm DJ EFN and we're in

The Green Room with Monster Energy Music
The Green Room with Monster Energy Music

and right now I have the pleasure of being with Royce Da 5'9".
and right now I have the pleasure of being with Royce Da 5'9".

Royce: My brother
Royce: My brother

E: What's going on? R: How you doing sir?
E: What's going on? R: How you doing sir?

E: and we're gonna talk
E: and we're gonna talk

about what's going on this whole weekend
about what's going on this whole weekend

what he's been doing and a lot more so stay tuned
what he's been doing and a lot more so stay tuned

R: thank you for coming
R: thank you for coming

E: Now we celebrating something real special right now
E: Now we celebrating something real special right now

"The Allegory" I learned a lot of my
"The Allegory" I learned a lot of my

vocabulary from hip-hop R: well at least you pronounced it right
vocabulary from hip-hop R: well at least you pronounced it right

E: so we're here, we in Detroit with you.
E: so we're here, we in Detroit with you.

You're doing the album rollout
You're doing the album rollout

What's this weekend been like, this whole week?
What's this weekend been like, this whole week?

R: super busy, just doing a whole lot of just interviews
R: super busy, just doing a whole lot of just interviews

being extremely vocal I did a...well it
being extremely vocal I did a...well it

was supposed to be a listening party and
was supposed to be a listening party and

somehow it turned into a performance by me so we did that
somehow it turned into a performance by me so we did that

E: the people want what the people want!
E: the people want what the people want!

R: man I think Kino wanted this (laughter) so I ended up performing
R: man I think Kino wanted this (laughter) so I ended up performing

(background voice) make some noise for Royce Da 5'9"!
(background voice) make some noise for Royce Da 5'9"!

(crowd cheering)
(crowd cheering)

E: so talk to us like, how much of
E: so talk to us like, how much of

Detroit is always in your music?
Detroit is always in your music?

R: it birthed my desire to always be technical like our whole like generation circa '95
R: it birthed my desire to always be technical like our whole like generation circa '95

as soon as I got out of high school I
as soon as I got out of high school I

went up to the hip hop shop for the
went up to the hip hop shop for the

first time I saying Marshall, Elzhi, Proof, they were rapping on a level that
first time I saying Marshall, Elzhi, Proof, they were rapping on a level that

I hadn't even seen or heard there was
I hadn't even seen or heard there was

something about that that generation of
something about that that generation of

us where we just all shared the same desire to push the pen, I started rapping
us where we just all shared the same desire to push the pen, I started rapping

just rapping other people's raps extremely well
just rapping other people's raps extremely well

E: like who? Give me a couple examples...
E: like who? Give me a couple examples...

R: E-40 "Bring The Yellow Tape."
R: E-40 "Bring The Yellow Tape."

E-40 Bring The Yellow Tape - I can say
E-40 Bring The Yellow Tape - I can say

exactly like E-40, any Redman song, RasKass "Nature Of The Threat." The bigger
exactly like E-40, any Redman song, RasKass "Nature Of The Threat." The bigger

the vocabulary the better. Our
the vocabulary the better. Our

whole generation from Proof to D12
whole generation from Proof to D12

to Slum Village, myself, Obie Trice...everybody that used to be at The Hip Hop Shop
to Slum Village, myself, Obie Trice...everybody that used to be at The Hip Hop Shop

got a record deal every single
got a record deal every single

person every single person and prior to
person every single person and prior to

our generation there was no such thing as
our generation there was no such thing as

a Detroit artist that was on a national level
a Detroit artist that was on a national level

E: hip hop artists? R: yes, hip hop artists, yes.
E: hip hop artists? R: yes, hip hop artists, yes.

So when Marshall got his deal everybody started getting deals.
So when Marshall got his deal everybody started getting deals.

Fan: right now we are at the Garden Theater, Detroit
Fan: right now we are at the Garden Theater, Detroit

literally the heart of the city right here on Woodward
literally the heart of the city right here on Woodward

out here support Royce Da 5'9"
out here support Royce Da 5'9"

you see the lines? I'm from Conant Gardens, actually I grew up with Dilla. I still
you see the lines? I'm from Conant Gardens, actually I grew up with Dilla. I still

talk to 'Ma dukes.' But it's crazy just to
talk to 'Ma dukes.' But it's crazy just to

see like Royce' progression man, I
see like Royce' progression man, I

remember like 'Rock City Royce' you know 'Rhinestone Royce' you know what I'm sayin'
remember like 'Rock City Royce' you know 'Rhinestone Royce' you know what I'm sayin'

but to see where he at now it's insane
but to see where he at now it's insane

and I'm proud of him, so we had to come out
and I'm proud of him, so we had to come out

support for the city.
support for the city.

Fan: it's always special to see somebody that went off and made
Fan: it's always special to see somebody that went off and made

it you know represented 'D' the whole time
it you know represented 'D' the whole time

they went off and did they thing and
they went off and did they thing and

coming back and you always got to come out and support that.
coming back and you always got to come out and support that.

Fan: you know it makes it special tonight
Fan: you know it makes it special tonight

because you know this his hometown
because you know this his hometown

this his city you know be putting out something', a new project I'm quite sure is real
this his city you know be putting out something', a new project I'm quite sure is real

special to him 'cause this the first one that
special to him 'cause this the first one that

he produced himself.
he produced himself.

R: I'm excited about it because it's produced 100% by myself
R: I'm excited about it because it's produced 100% by myself

(crowd cheers)
(crowd cheers)

R: it's my first time diving into production
R: it's my first time diving into production

E: How did you get to the place where you felt "I could produce my entire project"?
E: How did you get to the place where you felt "I could produce my entire project"?

R: I never actually got to that place you know I started uh...just kind of
R: I never actually got to that place you know I started uh...just kind of

messing around it started out with the MPC
messing around it started out with the MPC

I sat on FaceTime with DJ Premier
I sat on FaceTime with DJ Premier

for like two hours and he walked me through it
for like two hours and he walked me through it

E: that must be nice (laughs)
E: that must be nice (laughs)

R: well I'm not bragging or anything you asked (laughs) nah I'm just kidding
R: well I'm not bragging or anything you asked (laughs) nah I'm just kidding

How many of y'all out there familiar with DJ Premier?
How many of y'all out there familiar with DJ Premier?

(crowd cheers)
(crowd cheers)

Come here with your camera
Come here with your camera

on the count of three I want y'all to say
on the count of three I want y'all to say

"we love you Preem"
"we love you Preem"

1...2...3...
1...2...3...

Crowd: "We love you Preem"
Crowd: "We love you Preem"

R: yeah so I talked to him for like two hours he walked me through how to use it
R: yeah so I talked to him for like two hours he walked me through how to use it

So I gained a basic understanding on how to
So I gained a basic understanding on how to

you know at least like program drums
you know at least like program drums

E: is this right here? right here, this is where you're producing? in this spot right here?
E: is this right here? right here, this is where you're producing? in this spot right here?

R: yeah I use this now yeah, I produce here and then I cut vocals over there on that
R: yeah I use this now yeah, I produce here and then I cut vocals over there on that

side so this that's the Pro Tools side and
side so this that's the Pro Tools side and

this is the Logic side
this is the Logic side

yeah Logic is good for me the reason why it was good for me is because I learned
yeah Logic is good for me the reason why it was good for me is because I learned

Pro Tools first because I'm a rapper
Pro Tools first because I'm a rapper

E: right, and where are you
E: right, and where are you

on samples? Like your sample game is crazy on this album
on samples? Like your sample game is crazy on this album

R: Thank you man, thank you I'm a
R: Thank you man, thank you I'm a

rabbit hole connoisseur you know I'm
rabbit hole connoisseur you know I'm

saying like I'm a rabbit hole kind of guy or go on YouTube and I'm five hours
saying like I'm a rabbit hole kind of guy or go on YouTube and I'm five hours

straight just finding samples looking
straight just finding samples looking

for samples calling people my DJ is like
for samples calling people my DJ is like

always got new shit you know I mean I can always get him to send me stuff it's
always got new shit you know I mean I can always get him to send me stuff it's

just it's just another reason for me to
just it's just another reason for me to

practice you know and I love to practice
practice you know and I love to practice

E: I also noticed the way you sequence the beats is not like, the normal you know
E: I also noticed the way you sequence the beats is not like, the normal you know

you got verse, hook, verse, hook, like yours
you got verse, hook, verse, hook, like yours

was a little bit more creative did you
was a little bit more creative did you

did that come from someone, someone inspire that? Was that just you, was that
did that come from someone, someone inspire that? Was that just you, was that

the rapper in you saying "I would like
the rapper in you saying "I would like

to hear a beat like this I want to come
to hear a beat like this I want to come

in without a drum pattern here and this and that"?
in without a drum pattern here and this and that"?

R: I always arrange any project I got anything to do with
R: I always arrange any project I got anything to do with

it always ends up being my job unless I'm
it always ends up being my job unless I'm

working with Marshall or DJ Premier.
working with Marshall or DJ Premier.

When I work with them two, they arrange, or we meet halfway
When I work with them two, they arrange, or we meet halfway

well me and Preem me halfway. Me and
well me and Preem me halfway. Me and

Marshall don't meet anywhere since
Marshall don't meet anywhere since

he's just like "This is the arrangement, I'm telling you I'm OCD!"
he's just like "This is the arrangement, I'm telling you I'm OCD!"

you know I'm saying so, I didn't want it to
you know I'm saying so, I didn't want it to

be like anything
be like anything

I didn't want it to be like anything that exists know it right now.
I didn't want it to be like anything that exists know it right now.

E: it's its own thing like for sure it's very
E: it's its own thing like for sure it's very

creative, even down to the skits.
creative, even down to the skits.

R: yeah I just wanted it to be like um because my last album I had like a lot of conceptual
R: yeah I just wanted it to be like um because my last album I had like a lot of conceptual

songs I had like a lot of stories and I
songs I had like a lot of stories and I

knew prior to making that album exactly
knew prior to making that album exactly

what I wanted to do. With this album, I didn't even know I was making an album I
what I wanted to do. With this album, I didn't even know I was making an album I

just started messing with beats and one
just started messing with beats and one

thing led to another and I looked up and
thing led to another and I looked up and

I had a couple songs and I agreed to do an EP which is four songs and I couldn't
I had a couple songs and I agreed to do an EP which is four songs and I couldn't

figure out how to get four songs to
figure out how to get four songs to

exist with each other and it feels like
exist with each other and it feels like

a complete thought so I kept adding to it and next thing you know like I
a complete thought so I kept adding to it and next thing you know like I

started having a direction in my mind
started having a direction in my mind

and one thing led to another I looked up
and one thing led to another I looked up

and I was too far into the process to not produce it myself.
and I was too far into the process to not produce it myself.

E: but by the way that sounds, it would seem
E: but by the way that sounds, it would seem

that you're just doing it in the moment
that you're just doing it in the moment

and just getting it out of your system but it's the projects, and this one
and just getting it out of your system but it's the projects, and this one

specifically, sounds very well thought-out
specifically, sounds very well thought-out

yeah like conceptually like tell me if I'm wrong this is what I got off a first
yeah like conceptually like tell me if I'm wrong this is what I got off a first

listen. I felt like the same vibe off
listen. I felt like the same vibe off

of listening to Public Enemy, dead prez,
of listening to Public Enemy, dead prez,

and 4:44 all in one project
and 4:44 all in one project

R: yeah I mean that's good company, thank you man
R: yeah I mean that's good company, thank you man

I mean up I don't want to sound
I mean up I don't want to sound

dismissive when I say "getting it out," but
dismissive when I say "getting it out," but

I do want to come off a little bit dismissive when I say "that's it, I don't
I do want to come off a little bit dismissive when I say "that's it, I don't

care after that," like no
care after that," like no

validation seeking that's a very
validation seeking that's a very

dangerous thing, it's a dangerous place to be mentally, as a creative
dangerous thing, it's a dangerous place to be mentally, as a creative

I mean so that's the only time
I mean so that's the only time

I get a little bit dismissive with the
I get a little bit dismissive with the

way that I talk about it. I talk about the art like it's you know
way that I talk about it. I talk about the art like it's you know

like it's like it's kind of disposable
like it's like it's kind of disposable

at that point because I mean in a way it
at that point because I mean in a way it

kind of is
kind of is

I feel like every artist...how many artists we got out there?
I feel like every artist...how many artists we got out there?

(crowd cheering)
(crowd cheering)

Ok well let me tell you something artists
Ok well let me tell you something artists

I always say this: the success is a
I always say this: the success is a

journey but the art is a destination
journey but the art is a destination

it's a place that you need to get to...right? You need to find out your
it's a place that you need to get to...right? You need to find out your

self-definition, what defines you, find out
self-definition, what defines you, find out

what that is and express that in the
what that is and express that in the

most unapologetic way possible.
most unapologetic way possible.

If you can get to that place, then it's just easy from there. The only time
If you can get to that place, then it's just easy from there. The only time

the art gets hard and it becomes
the art gets hard and it becomes

stressful is when you allow too many
stressful is when you allow too many

people into the ecosystem you know I'm saying, and then you start making
people into the ecosystem you know I'm saying, and then you start making

decisions based off of "okay so I got to
decisions based off of "okay so I got to

be on the charts, or I got to be, I got to
be on the charts, or I got to be, I got to

have something that's gonna be playing on the radio and I got to have something..."
have something that's gonna be playing on the radio and I got to have something..."

it's just like bro, I guarantee
it's just like bro, I guarantee

'Thriller' didn't get big like that.
'Thriller' didn't get big like that.

E: Oh for sure
E: Oh for sure

Nobody's sitting in no boardroom
Nobody's sitting in no boardroom

you know, writing on little post-it, sticky
you know, writing on little post-it, sticky

post-its about how to sell 'Thriller.'
post-its about how to sell 'Thriller.'

It's just 'Thriller' you know I mean and it's that's what classic music does to you is
It's just 'Thriller' you know I mean and it's that's what classic music does to you is

there is no explanation
there is no explanation

it's just understood it don't need to be
it's just understood it don't need to be

said...it's 'Thriller.'
said...it's 'Thriller.'

E: what's past this album, like, are you even seeing that far?
E: what's past this album, like, are you even seeing that far?

Is it chillin' not doing music
Is it chillin' not doing music

for a minute waiting to see how you know
for a minute waiting to see how you know

what it feels like to do something else?
what it feels like to do something else?

R: one of my passions just it to, I want to produce full albums, for other people
R: one of my passions just it to, I want to produce full albums, for other people

I want to produce an album where I don't have
I want to produce an album where I don't have

to write the raps
to write the raps

E: who you want to produce for, like ideally?
E: who you want to produce for, like ideally?

R: I would love to produce for somebody who people
R: I would love to produce for somebody who people

wouldn't think I would be able to.
wouldn't think I would be able to.

I think I can do anything man, because...
I think I can do anything man, because...

E: even outside of hip-hop?
E: even outside of hip-hop?

R: yeah, well, why not?
R: yeah, well, why not?

Because I feel like hip-hop is just like if something that's taken over the world you
Because I feel like hip-hop is just like if something that's taken over the world you

know I mean like...I've just seen like a country
know I mean like...I've just seen like a country

and western artist
and western artist

not, not Lil Nas X...but country and western artists
not, not Lil Nas X...but country and western artists

performing like a rapper
performing like a rapper

E: no hip-hop has permeated everything
E: no hip-hop has permeated everything

R: yeah, it's like, we took over everything...we
R: yeah, it's like, we took over everything...we

took over the world, so, I mean as
took over the world, so, I mean as

long as I don't have to like know how to like know theory, or read music, or you know
long as I don't have to like know how to like know theory, or read music, or you know

I mean like do some extreme like Orchestra'd
I mean like do some extreme like Orchestra'd

out beat...I feel like I could do it!
out beat...I feel like I could do it!

E: well Royce, thank you for having us in Detroit. You got some Miami boys freezing
E: well Royce, thank you for having us in Detroit. You got some Miami boys freezing

out here, but it's been an honor to be here
out here, but it's been an honor to be here

and talk to you about the album. The album
and talk to you about the album. The album

is amazing. R: Thank you man, thank you.
is amazing. R: Thank you man, thank you.

E: Shout out to Monster Energy for having
E: Shout out to Monster Energy for having

us both here as well.
us both here as well.

R: yes yes, always, always love man, love and respect
R: yes yes, always, always love man, love and respect

E: appreciate you man
E: appreciate you man

R: legend, for sure
R: legend, for sure

E: appreciate the work you do R: thank you man
E: appreciate the work you do R: thank you man