Royce Da 5′ 9″ Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs

Royce & Complex work together to bring you Royce's most essential gems.

Royce Da 5’9” is living proof that sometimes, there are second acts in life. After a promising start in the late ‘90s where he was heralded as the next big thing coming out of Detroit, Royce’s career took a wrong turn. Through most of the aughts—as his buddy Eminem shot to super stardom—Nickel Nine flirted with obscurity, alcohol abuse, and complete self-destruction.

Yet here is he today in a better position then ever before. His group Slaughterhouse is signed to Shady. Although their album is awhile away, he just dropped Hell: The Sequel alongside his partner-in-rhyme Eminem this week. And in many ways (and he’s the first to admit this) he’s a better rapper than he was before. What happened to Royce Da 5’9”? To find out, we got on the horn with Royce to ask about why he loves rapping about his dick, how he didn’t like Joe Budden initially, and whether or not that was a real bazooka he threatened Benzino with…

Read: Royce Da 5′ 9″ Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs