Hell: The Sequel | ||||
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EP by | ||||
Released | June 14, 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2010–2011 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 37:18 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Eminem chronology | ||||
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Royce da 5'9" chronology | ||||
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Singles from Hell:The Sequel | ||||
Hell:The Sequel is the debut extended play by Bad Meets Evil. It was released on June 13,2011,in some countries,by Shady Records and Interscope Records and it was released on June 14,2011,in the United States. [1] [2] The EP incorporates various styles such as hardcore hip hop and horrorcore. In May 2011,the album's title and artwork was revealed. The EP features the executive producers Eminem and Mr. Porter,with production handled by Bangladesh,Sid Roams,Havoc,DJ Khalil,The Smeezingtons and Supa Dups,among others.
Hell:The Sequel contains songs such as "Welcome 2 Hell","Above the Law" and "Loud Noises" featuring Slaughterhouse;these tracks include violent lyrical content,while trying to maintain a humorous tone. "Fast Lane","A Kiss" and "The Reunion" feature sexual themes. "I'm on Everything" featuring Mike Epps,is a humorous song about drugs,while "Lighters" featuring Bruno Mars,and "Take from Me" focus on more serious themes such as success and music piracy and its impact on musicians.
Following the reunion of Bad Meets Evil,recording began in late 2010,when two tracks,"Living Proof" and "Echo" having leaked onto the Internet. The lead single,"Fast Lane" (which was released on May 3,2011) was considered a highlight from the EP,while the second single,"Lighters" (featuring Bruno Mars),was met with mixed reviews. The EP debuted at number one on the Billboard 200,with first week sales of 171,000 copies. Hell:The Sequel was met with positive reviews,with critics praising the chemistry between Eminem and Royce da 5'9",as well as their technical rapping abilities.
I'm excited to see this project come to fruition considering the long lapse in time between when we worked before and now. We had a blast doing it and we just hope everyone enjoys it while we're working on the 'Monster' that will be the Slaughterhouse album.
The duo also collaborated on their 1998 12-inch single "Nuttin' to Do" along with several other collaborations released the same year. [4] However, as D12 rose to fame in the early 2000s, Eminem and Royce had a falling out resulting in both sides going their separate ways. The feud turned into a public rivalry between Royce and D12 and lead to Royce releasing three diss tracks aimed at the group. After disses were exchanged from both sides, Royce and fallen D12 member Proof reconciled their differences before Proof's death in 2006. Two years later, Royce was featured on D12's mixtape Return of the Dozen Vol. 1 in 2008 and also joined the group on tour in Europe and Canada. Rumors of Royce and Slaughterhouse signing to Shady Records began in late 2009 when Royce, Joell Ortiz, Crooked I, and Joe Budden appeared alongside Eminem in Drake's "Forever" video. [5] After months of speculation and anticipation, Eminem announced in January 2011 that he had officially signed Slaughterhouse to Shady Records as the full report was made in the March cover-story for XXL Magazine. [6]
The EP was recorded over the course of 6 months, according to an interview with Eminem on his radio channel, Shade 45. [7] Two songs titled "Echo" and "Living Proof" were leaked onto the Internet in November 2010, causing speculation among fans about an upcoming Bad Meets Evil project: on April 25, 2011, the EP was confirmed, and on May 2, Eminem announced the EP's title Hell: The Sequel. [8] The two songs will, however, be included as bonus tracks on the deluxe version of the album. [9] [10] The title is a direct reference to a previous Eminem and Royce collaboration, "Bad Meets Evil" on The Slim Shady LP as they end the song by saying "He’s Evil, and I’m Bad like Steve Seagal, against peaceful, see you in hell for the sequel."
Royce da 5'9" originally reached out to Eminem for the song "Writer's Block", for which Eminem provided the hook, and the two started working on a project together. [11] The album features production from Mr. Porter, Havoc, Bangladesh, The Smeezingtons, Supa Dups and Sid Roams. [12] Bruno Mars, Slaughterhouse and Mike Epps appear as guest artists.
"Fast Lane" was released on May 3, 2011, as the lead single from the EP through digital distribution. It was also featured on the soundtrack to 2K Sports NBA 2K12 video game. [13] On May 5, Vevo released an audio-only version of the track on YouTube a month and 3 days before the video's premiere. The music video, directed by James Larese, premiered June 8, 2011, on Bad Meets Evil's website and Vevo. [14] Along with "Lighters", the song made its live performance debut at the 2011 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. It was considered by many as the highlight of the festival. [15]
"Lighters" impacted Top 40/Mainstream radio on July 5, 2011. [16] The song features American recording artist Bruno Mars. Lighters has peaked at number four on Billboard Hot 100 list. Along with "Fast Lane", the song was performed at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. The music video was directed by Rich Lee, who previously shot Eminem's video "Not Afraid". The video premiered on Vevo on August 22, 2011.
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 72/100 [17] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [18] |
Consequence of Sound | [19] |
Entertainment Weekly | B+ [20] |
AllHipHop | 9/10 [21] |
HipHopDX | [22] |
IGN | 8/10 [23] |
PopMatters | 6/10 [24] |
RapReviews | 7.5/10 [25] |
Rolling Stone | [26] |
XXL | [27] |
Hell: The Sequel received generally positive reviews from most music critics. [28] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 72, based on 14 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". [28] HipHopDX gave the album a 4 out of 5, Alex Thornton quoted that "Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" are perfectly capable of standing on their own, but it's clear that even after all these years, they inspire something special in each other. They may have gone through Hell separately but it's Hip-Hop Heaven when they're together." [22] RapReviews gave the album a 7.5 out of 10, and the author Jesal Padania praised the album for its clever lyrics stating that "this is a few tracks of two old friends having fun, egging each other on lyrically and, for the most part, it works well." [25] Wannop also favors the chemistry between Royce and Eminem.
The EP got a B+ from Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly , who focused primarily on Eminem's performance in the tracks, calling it a reminder to the world "that Eminem remains one of the best rappers alive." [20] Even though, to Anderson, the EP is not much of an improvement from Recovery , he favors the intensity of the rapping by the pair. Anderson also noted that Royce da 5'9" is a "lyrical beast" in the album. XXL Magazine editor Carl Chery gave a positive review for Hell: The Sequel. The lyrics were praised, getting a 4 out of 5. Chery favors the change of styles throughout the EP; "I'm on Everything" is referred to as "a comical track that name checks every drug and liquor brand imaginable" [27] while "Lighters", featuring Bruno Mars, is "another break from the typical vicious lyrical assault." Allmusic gave 3.5 stars out of 5, favoring Royce's growth and improvement as a rapper. [27] Billboard also gave a positive review, saying that "Fast Lane" and "Lighters" were the highlights of the EP. [29] nem for his next single Chad Grischow from IGN Entertainment gave the EP an 8 out of 10, saying, "The high-powered pair sporadically delivers on the promise of their collaboration over the nine-track EP, but for most of the effort the two take turns owning songs while the other comes off clunky." [23] The track and lead single "Fast Lane" was favored, stating that the duo "deliver explosive, live-wire flows that make it hard to ignore how great they sound together". Grischow also favored Slaughterhouse's appearance in the album. Bruno Mars' guest appearance was criticized, however, calling it "the strangest of the set".
Music website Consequence of Sound gave a mixed review. Writer Winston Robbins claims to be disappointed to see the return of Eminem's use of crude humor, as it was negatively received in the past. He states that the EP is a "step back for both rappers." [30] He especially dislikes the production in the EP, calling it "predictable" and occasionally "silly".
Hell: The Sequel debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with sales of 171,000. [31] [32] [33] In its second week, the EP sold 63,000 copies, bringing its total to 234,000 copies. [34] [35] On August 18, 2011, the EP was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipping over 500,000 copies. [36] As of June 2021, the EP has sold 1 million album-equivalent units in the US, making it eligible for Platinum certification by the RIAA.
The EP also debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 21,000 copies in its first week. [37] This makes Eminem the first artist in five years to have two number one albums in a 12-month period: Hell: The Sequel and Recovery . [38]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Welcome 2 Hell" | 2:57 | ||
2. | "Fast Lane" |
| 4:09 | |
3. | "The Reunion" |
|
| 4:50 |
4. | "Above the Law" |
| Mr. Porter | 3:29 |
5. | "I'm on Everything" (featuring Mike Epps) |
| Mr. Porter | 4:31 |
6. | "A Kiss" |
|
| 4:34 |
7. | "Lighters" (featuring Bruno Mars) |
|
| 5:03 |
8. | "Take from Me" |
|
| 3:25 |
9. | "Loud Noises" (featuring Slaughterhouse) |
|
| 4:20 |
Total length: | 37:18 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
10. | "Living Proof" |
| Mr. Porter | 3:55 |
11. | "Echo" |
| DJ Khalil | 4:55 |
Total length: | 46:08 |
Notes
Sample credits
Credits adapted from the liner notes of the deluxe edition. [39]
Bad Meets Evil
Musicians
| Production
|
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [69] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [70] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [71] | Gold | 100,000* |
United States (RIAA) [72] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Germany [73] | June 13, 2011 | Universal Music | |
United Kingdom [74] | |||
United States [75] | June 14, 2011 | ||
Australia [76] | June 17, 2011 | Universal Music | |
Netherlands [77] | |||
Japan [78] | June 22, 2011 | ||
Brazil [79] | July 12, 2011 | ||
Poland [80] | July 24, 2011 |
Shady Records is an American record label founded by rapper Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg in 1999, following the commercially successful release of The Slim Shady LP that same year. The label's name comes from the last name of Eminem's alter ego, Slim Shady.
Ryan Daniel Montgomery, known professionally as Royce da 5'9", is an American rapper. Best known for his association with fellow Detroit rapper Eminem, they became acquainted in 1997 and formed the hip hop duo, Bad Meets Evil the following year. Their 2011 single, "Lighters" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded the release of their debut extended play (EP), Hell: The Sequel (2011). The song and its parent EP, which debuted atop the Billboard 200, have yielded Montgomery's furthest commercial success.
Joseph Anthony Budden II is an American broadcaster and rapper. He first gained recognition in the latter occupation with his 2003 single "Pump It Up", which peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded the release of his eponymous debut studio album (2003). Met with critical and commercial success, the album peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200, although it served as his only major label release for Def Jam Recordings; he thereafter released seven albums independently to continued critical praise. While doing so, he performed as a member of the hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, which were signed to Eminem's Shady Records in 2012; the group released two studio albums.
Bad Meets Evil is an American hip hop super duo composed of Detroit-based rappers Royce da 5′9″ ("bad") and Eminem ("evil"). Formed in 1997, the duo's name comes from the namesake song from Eminem's The Slim Shady LP (1999), which featured Royce da 5'9". They debuted the same year with the release of the double single, "Nuttin' to Do" and "Scary Movies", the latter of which for the soundtrack to the 2000 horror comedy parody film Scary Movie. A decade later, the duo reunited to release an extended play (EP) to critical and commercial success.
Denaun Montez Porter, also known by the stage names Mr. Porter, Kon Artis, or Denaun, is an American rapper and record producer. He was a member of Detroit hip hop group D12.
Street Hop is the fourth studio album by American rapper Royce da 5'9", released in the United States on October 20, 2009, on One Records. It is the follow-up to his previous album Independent's Day (2005). At the release of Success Is Certain, Street Hop sold approximately 24,000 units in the United States via HitsDailyDouble. Despite being formally released in 2009, the singles "Shake This" and "Part of Me" were leaked online in late 2008.
The discography of American rapper Royce da 5'9" consists of 8 studio albums, 6 collaboration albums, 11 mixtapes and 30 solo singles, including 14 as a featured artist, and 18 music videos.
Slaughterhouse were an American hip hop supergroup consisting of rappers Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Kxng Crooked, and Royce da 5'9". They released their eponymous debut studio album independently in 2009, and signed to Shady Records, an imprint of Interscope Records to release it's follow up, Welcome to: Our House in 2012. The group disbanded in 2018.
"Rock City" is a song by American rapper Royce da 5'9", released as the third single from his debut album, Rock City , which was released in 2002 through MNRK Music Group and Game Recordings, after Columbia Records turned down the first version of the album. The song also features vocals from rapper Eminem, becoming Eminem's debut appearance on one of Royce's solo albums. The single was released on January 5, 2002, the same date as its same titled album was released. "Rock City" charted at #99 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart in 2002. Not counting Bad Meets Evil or Slaughterhouse songs, "Rock City" is Royce's most successful single chart-wise.
This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2011.
"Nuttin' to Do" / "Scary Movies" is the first single by hip hop duo Bad Meets Evil, composed of Detroit rappers Eminem and Royce da 5'9", released on October 1, 1998 by Game Recordings. Four years later, Bad Meets Evil would break up and Eminem would go on to work with D12 and Royce Da 5'9" would work on solo projects. Royce took "Nuttin' to Do" for his album Build and Destroy, and he also featured the sequel to "Scary Movies" as a solo song on it called "Scary Movies ". "Scary Movies" was also featured on the soundtrack to the 2000 film Scary Movie. Porn actresses Crystal Knight and Midori are featured on the cover.
"Fast Lane" is the lead single by hip hop duo Bad Meets Evil, a group composed of Royce da 5'9" and Eminem, from their first EP Hell: The Sequel. The single was produced by Eminem, Supa Dups, and Jason "JG" Gilbert, and released on May 3, 2011 by Shady Records. It features uncredited vocals by Sly Jordan on the chorus. A music video was created by director James Larese of music video direction group Syndrome. The music video features animated visuals and kinetic typography, with cameo appearances by Mr. Porter and Slaughterhouse. Fans and critics considered it a return to Eminem's Slim Shady alter ego. Texas rapper Chamillionaire released a remix.
"Writer's Block" is the first single by Royce da 5'9" that was released on March 29, 2011. The song appears on his fifth studio album, Success Is Certain that was released on the record label Gracie Productions. The song features rapper Eminem, though he only sings the hook and speaks in the intro. It is produced by StreetRunner, and co-produced by Sarom Soundz. "Writer's Block" charted at #199 in the UK and #4 in the US on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles charts. "Writer's Block" is available as a digital download from iTunes, there is no CD single for the song however.
"Lighters" is a song by American hip hop duo Bad Meets Evil, a group composed of Royce da 5'9 and Eminem, from their first EP, Hell: The Sequel (2011). The track features American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars. It was written by Bad Meets Evil, along with Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine of the Smeezingtons, and Roy Battle. The production was handled by all aforementioned names, except Royce. It was released on June 14, 2011, by Shady and Interscope Records, being later serviced to mainstream radio in the United States by the two latter labels along with Aftermath Entertainment as the second single from the EP. After writing and recording their own verses for the song, Eminem and Royce da 5'9" met Mars in Los Angeles, and the singer's vocals were added after minor adjustments were done by him and Eminem to the original cut.
Success Is Certain is the fifth studio album by rapper Royce da 5'9" released on August 9, 2011. The first single is "Writer's Block" featuring Eminem, which was released in March 2011. Production for the album came from DJ Premier, Mr. Porter, Eminem, Nottz, Streetrunner, The Futuristiks and The Alchemist among others. Guest appearances include Eminem, Joe Budden, Kid Vishis and Travis Barker.
Welcome to: Our House is the second and final studio album by hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, consisting of Crooked I, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5'9". The album was released on August 28, 2012 via Shady Records and Interscope Records. This would also be their only major label album before disbanding on April 26, 2018.
The Marshall Mathers LP 2 is the eighth studio album by American rapper Eminem. It was released on November 5, 2013, by Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records. It is his last album to carry the logo of the independent label WEB Entertainment and his first since joining Aftermath not to feature production by his mentor Dr. Dre, who instead serves as an executive producer alongside Rick Rubin. The album is a sequel to Eminem's third studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP, and follows the trend set by his previous album, Recovery, by featuring popstars such as Rihanna and Nate Ruess, and using outside producers like S1, Alex da Kid, and Rick Rubin.
Shady XV is a hip hop compilation album performed by various artists of Shady Records. The double disc album was released on November 24, 2014, by Shady Records and Interscope Records. The album was released in honor of the label's 15th anniversary and as its 15th project. The compilation consists of two discs, the first featuring new material from Shady Records artists such as Slaughterhouse, Bad Meets Evil, D12 and Yelawolf, as well as the label's founder Eminem. The second disc includes the label's greatest hits, also featuring former Shady Records members. All previous and current members of the label are represented on the album.
Book of Ryan is the seventh studio album by American rapper Royce da 5'9". It was released on May 4, 2018 by Royce's own label Heaven Studios and eOne Music. The album features guest appearances from artists Eminem, J. Cole, Pusha T, Jadakiss, Fabolous, T-Pain, Logic, pianist Robert Glasper, Chavis Chandler, Agent Sasco, King Green, Ashley Sorrell, Melanie Rutherford, and Marsha Ambrosius. Meanwhile, the production was handled by a wide array of producers, including Mr. Porter, S1, Boi-1da, Cool & Dre, DJ Khalil and Frank Dukes, among others. Upon its release, the album received critical acclaim.
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