Death Is Certain
Death Is Certain | ||||
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Royce da 5'9" chronology | ||||
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Singles from Death Is Certain | ||||
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Death Is Certain is the second studio album by American rapper
Background
Released two years after his official debut
Later, Royce said he can't listen to the album because it takes him "to a dark place and a dark time". About the process during the production of it: "I like the fact that album happened. It taught me a lot about the creative process. I had no choice but to be honest. I didn't go into that album the way I go into albums now, where I know exactly what I need to be doing as an artist. I know not to reach for anything, to just be myself. To be honest and be transparent, that's what I like to do. That's what I feel will resonate the best. That's what I did with Death Is Certain, but I didn't plan to. It was like I was stuck in that mode. I was going through so much. We actually did that album, me and Six July, we did that album in like two weeks. Six of those songs I did within the first couple of days. That was the first batch of beats he played me. I remember they went to the titty bar, and I was just writing all of them. Knocking them down real quick. It was like, so much on my mind, I don't even think I was focused on being super lyrical. [laughs] I was just spilling. Just spilling shit. And I was super drunk".[1]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
HipHopDX | 4/5[3] |
Prefix | 8/10[4] |
RapReviews | 8.5/10[5] |
Stylus Magazine | C[6] |
Vibe | 3.5/5[7] |
Death Is Certain was met with generally positive reviews. At Album of the Year, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional critics, the album received an average score of 70, based on four reviews.[8] About the critical acclaim, Royce said: "For the album to have that type of reaction, to resonate with people like that...It just gave me an idea-- when we come in the game, everything is trial and error. It's going to be from making mistakes. Death Is Certain was a situation where I learned from something that was successful. Most of the shit I know now, I learned from making mistakes. Most of my valuable lessons came from making mistakes".[1]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Intro" | 0:12 | |||
2. | "Regardless" |
|
| DJ Premier | 3:47 |
8. | "Gangsta" (featuring Cutty Mack) |
| 6 July | 4:42 | |
9. | "T.O.D.A.Y" (featuring Ingrid Smalls) |
| 6 July | 3:55 | |
10. | "I & Me" |
| Asar | 3:28 | |
11. | "Beef" |
|
| 4:19 | |
12. | "Bomb 1st" |
| Asar | 2:59 | |
13. | "Everybody Goes" (featuring Ingrid Smalls) |
| 6 July | 3:05 | |
14. | "Death Is Certain Pt. 2 (It Hurts)" (featuring Ingrid Smalls and Cha Cha) |
| 6 July | 4:12 | |
15. | "Something's Wrong With Him" (featuring 6 July) |
| 6 July | 3:57 | |
Total length: | 50:36 |
- Sample credits
- "Regardless" samples "Love and Happiness" by Al Green and contains re-sung elements of Lose Yourself by Eminem
- "Hip Hop" samples "Overture" by Jerry Goldsmith
- "I & Me" contains re-sung elements of "Against All Odds" by 2Pac
- "T.O.D.A.Y." samples "Ike's Mood 1" by Isaac Hayes and contains re-sung elements of "B.I.G. Interlude" by The Notorious B.I.G.
- "Beef" contains re-sung elements of "What's Beef" by The Notorious B.I.G.
Charts
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200[9] | 161 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10] | 39 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[11] | 5 |
US | 4 |
References
- ^ a b Findlay, Mitch (January 6, 2020). "Royce Da 5'9" Talks Bad Meets Evil Chemistry & The Dark Legacy Of "Death Is Certain"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "Death Is Certain - Royce da 5'9" | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Ryce, Jeff (February 20, 2004). "Royce Da 5'9 - Death Is Certain". HipHopDX. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Martinez, Rafael (February 24, 2004). "Death is Certain | Prefixmag.com". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (February 17, 2004). "Royce Da 5'9" :: Death Is Certain – RapReviews". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Love, Josh (March 16, 2004). "Royce Da 5ft 9 - Death Is Certain - Review - Stylus Magazine". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ]
- ^ "Royce da 5'9 - Death Is Certain". Album of the Year. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ "Royce Da 59 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ "Royce Da 59 Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ "Royce Da 59 Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ "Royce Da 59 Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
External links
- Royce Da 5'9" – Death Is Certain at Discogs (list of releases)