Ryan Montgomery, born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, moved to Oak Park, Michigan when he was 10 years old, later acquiring the nickname "Royce" during highschool after wearing a Turkish link chain with an R pendant resembling the Rolls Royce symbol. Royce and his best friend Jah Da 5'9" (also known as June or June Bug) began rapping at 18, and were the two shortest players on the basketball team, both standing at 5 foot and 9 inches tall.