Rock City (song)

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
"Rock City"
Rockcityeminem.jpg
Single by Royce da 5'9" featuring Eminem
from the album Rock City (Version 2.0)
ReleasedJanuary 5, 2002
Genre Hardcore hip hop
Length4:14
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Red Spyda
Royce da 5'9" singles chronology
"I Wanna Be Bad"
(2001)
"Rock City"
(2002)
"Hip Hop"
(2003)
Eminem singles chronology
"Stan"
(2000)
"Rock City"
(2002)
"Hellbound"
(2002)

"Rock City" is a song by American rapper Royce da 5'9", released as the third single from his debut album, Rock City (Version 2.0) , which was released in 2002 through MNRK Music Group (formerly Koch Records) 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.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Critical response

Bradley Torreano highlighted the song and wrote: "The rollicking hometown anthem "Rock City" includes Eminem on the snappy chorus, but the verses are pure Royce as he waxes philosophical his role in the Motor City scene." [1] Afrikka of DX magazine was also positive: "Rock City" the first single off this album is just a straight banger. Featuring Eminem on the chorus, this beat will have you nodding. However, I must say that the remix that is present on this album is not as good. Because this is an Enhanced CD, you are privy to the original "Rock City" video and song; that's where it's at." [2] Rap Reviews was lukewarm: "As the ticking and menacing Primo beat banged out Royce's street-smart punchlines coast to coast, the first version of "Rock City" was heavily anticipated by hungry rap head (...) Despite a brief push for the title track (wisely featuring Eminem) as the second single, "Rock City" was put on the shelf and both rapper and album went back for fine tuning." [3] Vibe magazine called this song "hometown anthem." [4]

Music video

Rock City music video was premiered on January 28, 2002. The music video for "Rock City" starts off with a view of a woman's house, she decides to put on a Royce da 5'9" record and have a peaceful cup of tea. She then almost spills her tea after the television turns on along with the noisy record starting, there is a news report called "Eyewitnessing News" and the reporter reports about so many people rushing to a hip hop performance where both Royce and Eminem are playing the song. The rest of the music video just shows Royce da 5'9" either driving around in his convertible car or at the performance place when he is rapping his verses. Eminem sings the chorus and only appears in the live performance scenes of the video. American rapper Proof from the rap group D12, which is Eminem's group, can be seen near the end of the video. [5]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Rock City" (album version) (explicit) (featuring Eminem) Red Spyda 4:06
2."Boom" (album version) (explicit)
DJ Premier 3:53
3."She's the One" (album version) (explicit) (featuring Tre Little)
The Neptunes 3:32
4."Rock City" (instrumental) (featuring Eminem)
  • Montgomery
  • Mathers
  • Thelusma
Red Spyda4:06
Total length:15:37

Chart positions

"'Rock City'" charted at #99 on the "US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Charts", #45 on the "Belgium Charts", #30 on the "Germany Charts", #44 on the "Sweden Charts" and #37 on the "Switzerland Charts" respectively. [6]

Chart (2002)Peak
position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)99
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)45
Germany (Media Control AG)30
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)44
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)37

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bizarre (rapper)</span> American rapper

Rufus Johnson, better known by his stage name Bizarre, is an American rapper, best known for his work with the Detroit-based hip hop group D12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royce da 5′9″</span> American rapper

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.

<i>Rock City</i> (Royce da 5′9″ album) 2002 studio album by Royce da 59"

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.

<i>Death Is Certain</i> 2004 studio album by Royce da 59"

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Meets Evil</span> American hip hop duo

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 1998, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royce da 5′9″ discography</span> Hip hop recording artist discography

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slaughterhouse (group)</span> American hip hop group

Slaughterhouse was an American hip hop supergroup consisting of rappers Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Crooked I 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Can't Touch Me</span> 2000 single by Royce da 59"

"You Can't Touch Me" is a song and the second single from rapper Royce da 5'9"'s debut studio album Rock City , which was released in 2002 by E1 Music and Game Recordings after another record label had turned down his first version of the album. The single was released on April 26, 2000, in CD and vinyl form. Though not credited, "You Can't Touch Me" features various vocals on the song by Cha Cha. The B-side for this single is "D-Elite".

<i>Hell: The Sequel</i> 2011 EP by Bad Meets Evil

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fast Lane (Bad Meets Evil song)</span> 2011 single by Bad Meets Evil

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Writer's Block (Royce da 5′9″ song)</span> 2011 single by Royce da 59" featuring Eminem

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lighters (song)</span> 2011 single by Bad Meets Evil featuring Bruno Mars

"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.

<i>Success Is Certain</i> 2011 studio album by Royce da 59"

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.

<i>Welcome to: Our House</i> 2012 studio album by Slaughterhouse

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.

<i>PRhyme</i> (album) 2014 studio album by PRhyme

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit vs. Everybody</span> 2014 single by Eminem, Royce da 59", Big Sean, Danny Brown, DeJ Loaf and Trick Trick

"Detroit vs. Everybody" is a song by American rappers Eminem, Royce da 5'9", Big Sean, Danny Brown, Dej Loaf, and Trick Trick, featured on the 2014 Shady Records compilation album Shady XV. Produced by Statik Selektah and Eminem, it was recorded in Ferndale, Michigan, Oak Park, Michigan and Brooklyn, New York. The song was released as the fourth and final single from the album on November 11, 2014.

<i>Book of Ryan</i> 2018 studio album by Royce da 59"

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.

<i>PRhyme 2</i> 2018 studio album by PRhyme

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caterpillar (song)</span> Song by Royce da 59" featuring Eminem and King Green

"Caterpillar" is a song by American rapper Royce da 5'9" featuring fellow American rappers Eminem and King Green, released as the fourth single from the former's seventh studio album Book of Ryan (2018). Produced by Symbolyc (S1) One and Epikh Pro, it was released for digital download through iTunes on May 3, 2018.

<i>The Allegory</i> 2020 studio album by Royce da 59"

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.

References

  1. Bradley Torreano. "Rock City [Version 2.0] - Royce da 5'9" - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  2. HipHopDX (12 December 2002). "Royce da 5' 9" - Rock City [Version 2.0]". HipHopDX. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  3. "RapReviews.com Feature for November 19, 2002 - Royce Da 5'9"s "Rock City v.2.0"" . Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  4. "Vibe". April 2002. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  5. Royce Da 5'9" feat Eminem - Rock City (HQ) [music video]. YouTube. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2015.[ dead YouTube link ]
  6. https://www.billboard.com/artist/royce-da-5'9 "/chart-history/