Royce Da 5'9" Recalls Battling Eminem & Pharrell Over The Phone

DJ Premier and Royce Da 5'9" could fill a book with their stories.

BYMitch Findlay
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With a March 16th release date already secured, Royce Da 5'9"s PRhyme 2 is on the horizon. The tidings bode well for fans of the legendary artists, especially given the fact that Royce's Book Of Ryan is nowhere to be seen. Considering the lead-off chapter PRhyme was so dope, it stands to reason that this may be the rare sequel that surpasses the original. Today, the duo have stopped by A Waste Of Time With ItsTheReal for a two hour conversation, in which the storied veterans reflect on stories featuring an eclectic cast of hip-hop power players. The anecdotes are numerous and entertaining, with reflections on Slaughterhouse, Redman, Jay-Z, Eminem, and more.

In a particularly interesting moment, Royce reflects on the Rock City days, when he first started working with Pharrell and Clipse. Eventually (around the 47-minute mark), Royce revealed he once got in a four-way phone rap battle with Eminem, Pharrell Williams, and a group called The Clinic. "We all got on the phone and we all battled," says Royce. "This was before anybody got famous." When the hosts ask how long it took, Royce laughs. "It didn't take long. Detroit for the W. But you know, it was just great. It was a great moment." 

The full interview is well over two hours long, but there's plenty of great material to comb through. If you're a fan of hip-hop history, do yourself a favor and give this one a listen. In the mean time, stay tuned for PRhyme 2. 


Royce & DJ Premier

Royce Da 5'9" Recalls Battling Eminem & Pharrell Over The Phone
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About The Author
<b>Feature Editor</b> <!--BR--> Mitch Findlay is a writer and hip-hop journalist based in Montreal. Resident old head by default. Enjoys writing Original Content about music, albums, lyrics, and rap history. His favorite memories include interviewing J.I.D and EarthGang at the "Revenge Of The Dreamers 3" studio sessions in Atlanta and receiving a phone call from Dr. Dre. In his spare time he makes horror movies.