Rap supergroup Slaughterhouse is no more and it’s a shame, especially for fans of real lyricism
Coming to light a few weeks back when Crooked I took to social media to announce his departure from the rap supergroup, he started off by saying: “Public service announcement. I’m no longer a part of Slaughterhouse.”
Continuing he added: “I’ve been sober for two years. Let me tell you a secret: sober Crook likes to rap, group ain’t rapping no more.”
Following Crook’s statement, Joe Budden has since taken to his popular podcast The Joe Budden Podcast to discuss the topic and said he’d do another Slaughterhouse album provided it wasn’t on the Shady Records imprint.
Slaughterhouse is the Shady Records signed collective consisting of Royce Da 5’9″, Joe Budden, Crooked I and Joell Ortiz. Having released just two albums in nine years, of which only one was released through Eminem’s Shady imprint, it seems like there’s been a disconnect within the group for quite some time, especially as the recording process for their highly anticipated third album Glass House started years ago and is still yet to see the light of day.
Talking exclusively to JOE, Royce Da 5’9″ opened up about his feelings on the breakup and why in his opinion it even happened.
Starting off at the beginning, Royce addressed the Glass House album and it’s lack of release. “We went in and recorded a body of work and we didn’t finish it,” he explained. “At first we went through a phase where we couldn’t find the right time for all of us to go in and finish it, and it wouldn’t take much. Maybe a week together, or a week or two together recording songs and stuff, freshen up a couple verses and we’d pretty much be there.
“After a bunch of time had gone by and we still hadn’t finished it Crooked announced that he was leaving the group. And when he made that announcement that’s what sparked all of the stuff that you’ve been hearing lately. So after that, that’s when Joe went on his podcast and said he’d be down to rap and come out of retirement just not on Shady, he’d want to take the group somewhere else. And that’s the problematic situation right there.”
Turning his attention to Joe Budden and his involvement in the breakup, Royce continued:
“Joe’s a businessman, everyone in the group are businessmen. Everyone in the group has different ways they like to do business. Joe, he’s a radical dude, he likes to go against the machine. He’ll sign a contract and then the next day he’s like, ‘Fuck that contract, let’s go do this over here.’ Me, I don’t have no problem with no machine. I am the machine.
“I’ve had some bad experiences with the machine in the past but I’m also able to look at shit like, I know what my involvement was, I’m able to take some accountability for the role I played and why things didn’t work out in the past because of certain situations.
“So with me I’m more into the integrity side of things, not even just as a businessman but as a man. I like to be able to look myself in the mirror and like what I see, like when I make agreements I stick to those agreements. If I shake their hand and tell them the beef is squashed then the beef is squashed. If I say it’s on then it’s gonna be on more than you can ever imagine.
“If I tell you I’m loyal you can twist the narrative and say, ‘Oh, he’s only so loyal to him because of relationships,’ but all you have to do is look at me. Seriously, look at me! I’ve been with the same manager for 20 years. Same girl, 23 years. What else do you need to see? I’m just who I am. It’s just a loyalty thing. If I’m around somebody I’m comfortable with I try and stick it out and that’s pretty much what it is.”
Going on to address Joe’s comments about Shady Records and record label politics, Royce said: “The fact that it’s Shady and I kinda brought the guys over there, or introduced them to Shady, that plays a part because it’s like, if you introduce somebody to somebody else you would hope that the person you introduced to your other friend wouldn’t disrespect that friend out of respect for you. That’s one thing.
“And then another thing. As far as another label goes, what reason would I have to want to get off the label if it’s a major machine ready to put major label dollars into us and they telling us that all we have to do is finish the album? Why not finish the album and let’s roll? Why go through the trouble of going to a whole other label just to get an advance? I don’t need money like that, I’m fine. You know what I’m saying? And I don’t think Joe [needs money] either.”
Expressing that he still has love for Joe, and the other members of Slaughterhouse, he ended the conversation by saying: “I don’t understand his way of doing business but I don’t knock it if it’s working for him. I’ll support him, God bless him, that’s my ni**a, I got a lot of love for him but I’m not doing that, I’m not moving like that. So that’s pretty much what it is.”
Book of Ryan by Royce Da 5’9″ is out now on Heaven Studios & Entertainment One.
