| Layers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 15, 2016 | |||
| Recorded | 2015 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 63:02 | |||
| Label | Bad Half | |||
| Producer |
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| Royce da 5'9" chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Layers | ||||
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Layers is the sixth studio album by American rapper Royce da 5'9". The album was released on April 15, 2016, by Bad Half Entertainment. [1] [2]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 77/100 [3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [4] |
| Exclaim! | 7/10 [5] |
| HipHopDX | 4.2/5 [6] |
| Pitchfork Media | 6.4/10 [7] |
| PopMatters |   [8] |
| XXL | (XL) [9] |
Layers received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 77 based on 6 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". [3]
In the United States, the album debuted at number 22 on the Billboard 200, selling 16,749 copies in its first week. [10] It was the eleventh best-selling album of the week. [11] Layers was the first Royce's solo album to debut at number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. [12] The album was also streamed 1.7 million times in the first week. [13] In its second week the album fell to number 187 on the Billboard 200 chart. [14]
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tabernacle" |
| 5:19 |
| 2. | "Pray" |
| 4:05 |
| 3. | "Hard" | AntMan Wonder | 5:51 |
| 4. | "Startercoat" | Mr. Porter | 3:36 |
| 5. | "Wait" | Jake One | 3:12 |
| 6. | "Shine (Skit)" | 0:27 | |
| 7. | "Shine" | Nottz | 5:18 |
| 8. | "Lincoln (Skit)" | 1:57 | |
| 9. | "Flesh" | DJ Khalil | 3:31 |
| 10. | "Hello (Skit)" (featuring Melanie Rutherford) | Daniel Smith | 1:29 |
| 11. | "Misses" (featuring K. Young) | DJ Khalil | 4:09 |
| 12. | "Dope!" (featuring Loren W. Oden) | DJ Pain 1 | 4:03 |
| 13. | "America" |
| 4:23 |
| 14. | "Layers" (featuring Pusha T and Rick Ross) | Mr. Porter | 4:20 |
| 15. | "Quiet" (featuring Tiara and Mr. Porter) | Mr. Porter | 4:07 |
| 16. | "Gottaknow" |
| 3:55 |
| 17. | "Off" | Mr. Porter | 3:20 |
| Total length: | 63:02 | ||
| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 [15] | 22 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard) [16] | 4 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [17] | 1 |
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.
Rock City is the debut studio album by American rapper Royce da 5'9". After a two-year delay, resulting from a creative issue and label changes, the album was released on November 26, 2002.
Death Is Certain is the second studio album by American rapper Royce da 5'9". It was released on February 24, 2004, through Koch Records. Recording sessions took place from December 2002 to January 2004 at Isolation Records, at Nation Studios in Detroit, and at MPA Studios. The majority of the album's production was handled by Carlos "6 July" Broady of Bad Boy Records production team The Hitmen. Other producers contributed to the album are Jason "Asar" Qualls, Ty Fyffe, Rob "Reef" Tewlow, Mark Bassin, and DJ Premier, who produced the album's lead single "Hip Hop". It features guest appearances from Ingrid Smalls, 6 July, Cha Cha and Cutty Mack. The album peaked at number 161 on the Billboard 200 and number 39 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
Joseph Anthony Budden II is an American media personality, broadcaster, cultural critic, and retired 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.
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 is the self-titled debut studio album by hip hop supergroup, Slaughterhouse, consisting of members Crooked I, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5'9". The album was released on August 11, 2009 on E1 Music and sold 18,600 copies in its first week.
Album of the Year is the fourth studio album by hip hop producer and rapper Black Milk, which was released on September 14, 2010 by Fat Beats. Production for the album was handled by himself, with assistance by Will Sessions.
W.A.R. is the third studio album of American hip hop artist Pharoahe Monch released on March 22, 2011 under Duck Down Records. Producers include Lion's Share Music Group, Exile, Marco Polo, M-Phazes, Mike Loe, Fatin "10" Horton, Diamond D, Samiyam, and Fyre Dept.'s Adam Deitch and Eric Krasno, while vocal features are contributed by Idris Elba, Immortal Technique, Vernon Reid of Living Colour, Showtyme, Styles P of The LOX, Phonte, Mela Machinko, Mr. Porter, Jean Grae, Royce da 5'9", Citizen Cope and Jill Scott. Scratches are provided by DJ Boogie Blind of The X-Ecutioners.
This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2011.
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. 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.
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 Piece Maker 3: Return of the 50 MC's is the fifth studio album by American hip hop DJ Tony Touch. It was released on July 9, 2013 via Touch Entertainment and Red River Entertainment.
What Goes Around is the sixth studio album by East Coast hip hop producer Statik Selektah. The album was released on August 19, 2014, by Duck Down Music Inc. and Showoff Records. The album features guest appearances from Lil' Fame, Joey Badass, Freddie Gibbs, Styles P, Talib Kweli, Action Bronson, Royce da 5'9", Black Thought, Snoop Dogg, Dilated Peoples, Ab-Soul, Jon Connor, Logic, Ransom, N.O.R.E., Termanology, Reks, Sheek Louch, Pharoahe Monch, Crooked I, Heltah Skeltah, B-Real, Boldy James, Astro, and Posdnuos among others.
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.
PRhyme is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo PRhyme, consisting of Royce da 5'9" and DJ Premier. The album was released on December 9, 2014, through their own record label PRhyme Records. The album features guest appearances from rappers Killer Mike, Jay Electronica, Common, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, Slaughterhouse, Mac Miller and soul singer Dwele. PRhyme features production by DJ Premier, as well as samples from psychedelic soul composer and producer Adrian Younge. The album was supported by the single "Courtesy". A sequel, PRhyme 2, was released on March 16, 2018.
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.
PRhyme 2 is the second studio album by American hip hop duo PRhyme, consisting of Royce da 5'9" and DJ Premier. Produced entirely by DJ Premier, the album features samples composed by producer AntMan Wonder. It was released on March 16, 2018 via their own record label PRhyme Records and INgrooves Music Group, and is a sequel to the eponymous album PRhyme. The album features guest appearances from rappers 2 Chainz, Big K.R.I.T., Dave East, Rapsody, Roc Marciano, Yelawolf, Chavis Chandler, bassist Brady Watt and singers Novel, CeeLo Green and Denaun Porter.
The Allegory is the eighth studio album by American rapper Royce da 5'9". It was released through eOne Music on February 21, 2020. It features guest appearances from Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, KXNG Crooked, Cyhi the Prynce, DJ Premier, Eminem, Grafh, Sy Ari da Kid, T.I., Vince Staples, Westside Gunn, and Cedric the Entertainer among others. Production was handled by Royce da 5'9" himself on all of the album's tracks, making it his first album to be entirely self-produced.