Royce 5’9” has been busy in the last five years as one-half of the explosive duo PRhyme and a quarter of the supergroup Slaughterhouse. However, before now he hadn’t released a solo album since 2011’s Success is Certain. Well, the wait is over, and it’s time to peel back the Layers to see what it’s worth.
Having previously stated that this album is the first “layer” of many that will be revealed this year, the thematic nature itself finds Royce revealing his complexity as a man and an artist. He delves into confessionals on the soulful opener “Tabernacle,” detailing the most important day of his life: “As soon as I get to the hospital they tell me that my granny didn’t make it/She just died I’m feeling helpless, it hurt me/On the flip side my little boy is healthy in the nursery.”
His sharpest asset is his ability to style different hats so authentically. Few rappers could sound convincing spitting back-to-back, “Your daughter ain’t a heiress I hope she’s taken care of/More importantly I hope this gun in your face don’t end up in your mouth I’ll make you taste the terror” on “Pray.” He takes time to “Shine,” while reminding us of his integrity: “I’d rather let the coroner outline my body in chalk/Than let the fans order me ’round the clock and buy me in bulk.” Elsewhere, he breaks a record for the number of times the phrase “sell dope” is used in a song when rapping about a tunnel-visioned drug dealer on, you guessed it, “Dope!” The Real Ryan Montgomery also shows face to rally against systemic racism and mental enslavement on “America,” letting the public know he won’t humble himself to expectations. Each track is tied together not just by Royce’s stoicism, but also by the sense of urgency he infuses into the music.
It doesn’t hurt that the man is still a lyrical monster. He’s still cramming as many rhymes as possible into a single bar: “We attempt to flatten into action with these average, flaccid defenseless rappers,” he rhymes on “Wait.” He remains the star of the show throughout, even as Pusha T and Rick Ross flex on the title track.
DJ Premier sits this one out but Nickel turns to several longtime and Slaughterhouse go-to producers to back him (a dozen different beatsmiths to be exact). The supply is filled with rich production, thick drums, piano keys and soulful cries, providing a vibe as intricate as the lyrical content. Whether it’s SJ1 and J. Rhodes’ spiritual “Tabernacle,” Jake One’s triumphant “Wait” or Nottz’s eerie “Shine,” nearly every beat is audio tiramisu that enhances the narrative. Mr. Porter churned out five track for the project, most notably the ominous “Pray.” Elsewhere, “Hard” is a gem of a beat wasted by a victory lap that takes too long to get started and ends a few minutes too late.
For an album with so many heavy hitters, Layers goes out with a dud, saving its biggest disappointment, “Off” for the tail end. The song itself finds Royce rapping scatterbrained over an unremarkable soul sample to a fade out, and then the beat itself just…dies. Royce explicitly stated on “Shine” that he wasn’t leaving “here” without a classic. Howbeit, classic albums, i.e. Ready to Die, have defining endings. Additionally, skits will always be a part of rappers’ goodie bag, and these results are mixed. On the plus side, “Shine (Skit)” is a fitting prelude to “Shine,” and “Hello” showcases stellar vocals courtesy of Melanie Rutherford. Unfortunately, the humor of the “Stinkin’ Lincoln” wears out its welcome after a few listens on “Lincoln (Skit)” and again on “Dope!” The ho-hum, cat-daddy monologue is humorous the first go-around but ultimately should have been kept in the studio session.
Fortunately, Royce’s sixth as a whole is not defined by this ending. Layers is an album of tremendous depth and skill, and shines a light on Royce 5’9” as multifaceted artist.
Nottz produced Shine, not Jake One. And I agree with you, the album was great but a few tracks could have been left off (Dope! and Quiet).
Definitely too many songs but funny you pick those because “Dope!” is my fav.
Shine is produced by Nottz… do your research before you review dumbfuck.
This nigga sucks all he do is rap fast can not make a hit song to save his life
Listen to this album though
Rap fast? He finds pockets in the beat… Always had… This album he adds substance to that skill. You need slowed down lyrics so you can comprehend what someone is saying? lol
Best Album this year so far , and i’m sure that even drake’s album won’t be better than Layers
His best ever. Finally making music instead of just trying to have bars.
“Elsewhere, “Hard” is a gem of a beat wasted by a victory lap that takes too long to get started and ends a few minutes too late.”
Aaron, please stop doing reviews. This album deserves much better than you.
Finally made an album with substance… Pitchforks review was utter bs
Best album his year… By far.
Last time I’m ever on this site. Royce and Black Thought the two best in the game. Layers is dope. Peace dickheads
The album was boring. He needs to realize it’s 2016 not 1996.
Agree.
Beast
I think Royce is technically good, but for me personally he does nothing for me as a rapper. Elzhi is my dude tho
Its a royce da 5’9 review but u had to bring up elzhi didnt u?? Anyway i do believe royce> elzhi. Royces flow is damn near flawless, he does it withease elzhi pauses alot between bars when he flows, royces punchlines are more heavy hitting and clever.. In terms of substance and lyricism maybe they on the same level
He deserved better beats.
probably paid reviews and ratings. This nigga is irrelevant trash. All he does is ride eminems coattails and even with all that dickriding he cant sell over 100k albums. Once views drops its over for all these hasbin rap niggas.
Your name is drake runs rap….. When you realise drake ain’t got shit on Royce. Listen to Death Is Certain and tell me if drake has had an album anywhere as good as that
Oh God another Drake d*** rider. You must be 12.
One the most underrated MC’s of all time. At the moment he’s the second best rapper out now after Kendrick
that’s my jam
fiyah
Bought the Album Fiire , your favourite rapper wanna release let them wait Nickel Tha God , he could be tha 1 to challange biggie if he came in that Era . . . .
Royce the Greatest of all time ,right now and all the time #Prhyme #Layers
This is one of the best albums in a long time. If you don’t think so your probably a drake fan like the guy on this thread
Lyricism is on point!!. Well crafted album.
So on point, into days lack of substance theirs Royce da 59
This album was real good… America and Gottaknow were amazing along with a few other cuts. But I know Royce is capable of more, this dude release Death is Certain, I don’t give a FK what anyone says that album is top 5 of all time next to Pacs Killuminati album.. Still one of the best of the year but I hold Royce in such high regard that I expected more… Next album maybe
album was boring to me. Couldnt even finish it…and im a royce fan. Not saying I wont go back to it at some point but the first few tracks were disappointing as hell…
You really should give it at least 2 more listens. Lyrically he’s on point but after the first listen I was dissapointed. I gave it 2 more listens and now I get it. It’s a great album.
5
This album will be in contention for Album of the year. Royce rhymes with a determination and skill that is simply not present anymore in the hiphop world. The bars are witty, lyrics are deep and the beats are amazing. This should go down as a classic.
Do NOT sleep on Royce. He is the most underrated rapper of all time. Dude is of the caliber of Jay, Biggie, Nas and Em.
I concur
5
Easy 5. This album is super creative and the beats and flows are insane. Plus he brings his signature sense of humor and honest on tracks. This album is amazing!
Truly slept on its sad. Great album
Royce is killing it right now. His bars are just on another level. I disagree with a few things in this review. “Off” is not a bad way to end it. It’s a laid back soul beat and it fades out with his never-ending bars so I think it’s almost a perfect way to close it out. You could imagine him going on forever. The whole “other classics have definitive endings” argument is pretty dumb. Why does it need to follow a formula? Also, I think “Hard” is a standout track. Catchy hook and bars for days. Not a huge fan of the Lincoln skit, but I could say that about 90% of skits on hip hop albums. All in all this is a great effort and his best solo album to date (although not quite as good as Prhyme). I agree with the commentor below, this is the best album of the year so far. Not sure how this can get a lower rating than Life of Pablo…
He could’ve or should’ve put “which is cool” on here and all spitters should get rid of skits forever PLEASE!!’ Great album none the less. Well worth the purchase! Thanx Nickel
I completely agree on ‘which is cool’. Great album though.
Great album. Royce did it again.
Royce is a fucken poet – fuck all that! #Bars
4.9/5 because i didnt think it was perfect but nonetheless this was fantastic. I enjoyed how introspective royce got, and his philosophy of letting things go that dont matter and maturing as a person seemed to be explored in more depth; and the album had typical nickel-level BARS regarding lyricism. I agree with the criticism that skits can cease to exist and I agree with putting some songs from the trust the shooter ep on here but all and all this album was wonderful art.
Man Hip Hop dx is supposed to be the hip hop source that sets the standard. It disappoints me that this album does not get the praise it deserves and other albums that are lower caliber art. Aside from “Shine” i thought this was perfect, and I just did not like that beat but the lyrics are dope of course.
this album was dope the pitchfork review was trash
this is not a 1996 album its fresh
I cant wait for glasshouse as well
I thought his last album with DJ Premier was one of the best hip hop albums I ever heard. I still think that Royce is top five in the game right now but I was pretty disappointing with this one. The beats were pretty weak even though Royce’s lyrics and flow is always on point. I can’t wait for that PRhyme 2 now.
He slays!!
Beats are pretty lame, way off what Royce deserves
” bar for bar there is no active rapper you that probably ranks over royce” how did you miss that typo lol . Just saying .Dope album tho, I’d still say lead poison is aoty at this point thi
Dare we say it …. Can Royce be crowned king off of this one album. I mean there is no other rapper in the public eye who could have made an album of this quality and creativity. Not drake, kendrick or cole.
The Lincoln skit is the best track on the album sans a beat. The best beat is Shine. The best overall song is Statercoat. That track is straight heat!!!! Pray is nice and so is Hard. Worst track is America. Worst beat is Tabernacle.
u high?
yeah u high? tabernacle is the best track for years imo
Ill
Great Album!
5
Great album. Criminally underrated MC.
Best rap album in these day and time, 5/5…
Killed it
Street hop was his classic enough for me, layers is good but I agree that it don’t end strong and those skits will lose its humor after just a few listens.
I mean, I feel like skits from his other albums are like that too. Like now most of the time I skip Brief Intermission on Street Hop, but shit’s still funny.
I love street hop too, but I also think that was an inconsistent album. I always end up skipping some tracks from the middle, from after Shake This to before On the Run. But yeah, solid album, both Street Hop and Layers
its no wonder why the two highest rated projects on hhdx are both royces. this is a true emcee
best album so far this year. Royce top 10 dead or alive. next horseshoe gang ANTI TRAP MUSIC . BEST group in hip hop
1)Flesh
2)Off
3)America
i dont know sometimes Dx, u choose to prefer the lamest tracks in a good project and blame the best picks instead
thats because the edititors are “lil fruits” as nickel would say
I’ll say this is easily Royce most complete work… Listening numerous times I say this album is an 4.5.. Not a 5, but Royce’s classic album. Great body of work.
Dope
Refreshing for the times! Relatable content, probably because close in age. Love Startercoat and thats probably not the best track, but the one I keep repeating.
Easily Royce’s best body of work. The first few listens some songs were skipped but now its all played and all enjoyable. His wordplay and different flows are out of this world, he literally had a song called My Own Planet a few years back and I think he was right. Best rapper out right now. I loved Trust the shooter as well.
This album is boring as fuck, the production is mediocre as hell….drake wins…album of the decade! VIEWS OVO IS HERE TO STAY.
OVO SEASON.
DRAKE IS LOVE< DRAKE IS LIFE < YUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Drake is not a rapper. I won’t attack you for being a dickrider. Please do not bring down the album’s rating because you clearly do not understand rap.
You are an idiot
Great Album, he’s the best lyricist on the planet hands down. All of the haters are just too stupid to catch 1/2 his brilliance, same idiots probably don’t recognize how ill this double entendre is “I forgot my goal at twenty-three was make a classic
Walk away like Tiger with my nine iron then take the master’s”
No doubt the best lyricist out right now. I got put on to how talented Royce is late in the game, but I’m making up for it. I listen to this album and “Trust the Shooter” all the way through, only skipping through the skits.
great
This album is fire, for real, stop hatting noobs!
Shits fire son
LIT
This will be a classic and the new kids will be going back to listen to this! Mark my words. Although I wasn’t “in love” with one or two songs I can honestly say this is one of the best if not the best album in 2016. Just go and listen to it yourself and you won’t be wasting your time. There’s Layers to it.
Totally agree this album is ridiculous. Royce’s wordplay has me hitting the back button on a daily basis. I don’t know many artists messing with him right now lyrically. Best album I’ve heard this year for sure.
If you don’t see this growth…go listen to early Jay….cclassic
Refreshing, it’s nice to hear an album with solid beats and equally impressive lyrics.
This album is a classic
Wasn’t bad but wasn’t great
I PRAY y’all stop listening to drake with your MISSES, someone has to SHINE a light on y’all pop fans y’all GOTTAKHOW this album is DOPE! it is just HARD… WAIT, it’s a classic… otherwise just be QUIET.