Royce Da 5'9 Compares His Version Of "Renegade" To Jay-Z's "

[gvdz]

A lot of you probably already know the song "Renegade" from Jay-Z's album 'The Blueprint' was originally recorded by Royce Da 5'9 and Eminem.

Eminem eventually offered the song to Jay-Z, and it ended up becoming a classic Hov and Slim collaboration.

On the 10th anniversary of 'The Blueprint's' release Royce looks back with Vibe at a song he says changed his career for the better.

“Renegade” started out as a song me and Eminem were doing for my Rock City album. We thought the track was crazy. Em asked if I was cool with giving [Jay] that one, and I said, "Hell yeah!" I'm glad, because a classic record came of it.

When I heard Em and Jay's version, I was like, “Yo, this s*** is going to be one of those ones.” It was incredible. Whenever I listen to something, I try to soak up as much game as I can and use it for inspiration. [Jay-Z’s version] actually taught me about my writing style and how to bring records home better. We weren’t in the same lane, but Jay took it where I should’ve taken it. It helped me grow.

But I don't know if it was a competition [between Eminem and Jay-Z], per se. I'm sure when Jay got Em's vocals, it pushed him to do what he did—we’re talking about two of the greats on one song. Eminem was making classic music, but to finally collaborate with the other guy putting up numbers, Detroit saw that Em was respected by his peers. It was a great look for Detroit. And a smart move by Jay to fuse what's great in hip-hop. I'm glad that song was on that album, because I knew people were going to be talking about it years later. I feel I helped with something so great, even though I played the smallest part.

http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/ ... jay-z-s-it

[SG.]

Can someone give me a link to the BME version? I've never heard it in its original form.

[Devil'sAdvocate]

Inb4stanssayingRoyceisbetterthanJayZonthattrack

[SG.]

Jay's verse > Royce's verse

[EminemBase]

Anybody who thinks Jay-Z is better or even close to Em should note that despite Em's two verses already being recorded and Jay having the opportunity to sit there and not stop until he outwrote Em, he STILL couldn't.

So how can Jay be the best when he had an open opportunity to outwrite / outrap Em, an advantage, and still couldn't do it. And anybody who says Jay's verses are close is delusional.

That said, I do think the version with Jay is better than the version with Royce. As Jay's verses are more socio-political like Em's, so they make the song bigger. Where as Royce is just talking about generic violence and 'rap talk' again. Which makes the song less special.

[gvdz]

Anybody who thinks Jay-Z is better or even close to Em should note what Royce said too. That, Em's verses may of pushed Jay to do what he did BUT...

Despite Em's two verses already being recorded and Jay having the opportunity to sit there and not stop until he outwrote Em, he STILL couldn't.

So how can Jay be the best when he had an open opportunity to outwrite / outrap Em, an advantage, and still couldn't do it. And anybody who says Jay's verses are close is delusional.

That said, I do think the version with Jay is better than the version with Royce. As Jay's verses are more socio-political like Em's, so they make the song bigger. Where as Royce is just talking about generic violence and 'rap talk' again. Which makes the song less special.

word, i dont like royce his flow neither

[Slim Fiasco]

I prefer the version with Jay as well. It was more polished and less rushed in a way.

[EG.]

Royce's verse sounds just like Em in Dead Wrong.

[Sam.]

I liked Eminem's verse fuck the rest .

[Devil'sAdvocate]

I dont really think these 2 verses are considered some of Em's best,not even close,yet they are magnificent verses.

but,this whole who outshined who shit is stupid,Em was way better than Jay-Z,even doubting that is stupid,Em sent his verses to Jay-Z,jay should have outshined Em,thats it,just adds up to Em's tally of the win.

With all that said,jay was magnificent too,but its just that Em was too good for anybody.

Jay should have done better solely for the fact that he could.

[Devil'sAdvocate]

Jay should have done better solely for the fact that he could.

Tbh Jay-Z gets outshined (Not by a huge difference) by most of his features, is it a habit? I have no idea. He always doesn't go all out like what he does on his solo work than his tracks with other people featuring, the complete opposite of Eminem tbh.

Word.

but still,the song is a timeless classic.

[EminemBase]

You're saying that he couldn't outrap Eminem even if he sat there UNTIL he did outrap him? That's ridiculous, he never tried to. Nobody will sit for days to make a verse to surpass a certain artist unless it's a planned competition or that Jay has a personal grudge against Eminem.

He never tried to? oh, so you're suggesting that Jay INTENTIONALLY wrote lesser verses lmao? now THAT is delusional.

You think a rapper with an ego the size of Jay-Z's would NOT try and outrap a guest on his own album? THAT is ridiculous.

A rapper that spent the majority of his last album 'reminding' the world of his own achievments, mentioning how many #1 albums he's had and saying the only people who are better are The Beatles? based on hit albums? lmfao.

Yes, you're right. I'm sure Jay purposely wrote worse verses. If he didn't try to outrap Em or write better verses, what did he try to do.

Eminem's flow, multi's and delivery were better than Jay-Z's, but does that mean Jay-Z's flow was bad? It was insane as well, not better than Eminem's but it was insane. Multi's? Maybe not much of that "you" sound but his end-rhymes are ridiculous:

"Truth grin and bear it" = 5 syllable rhyme
"Latter-Day saints here" = 5 syllable rhyme

"I'm awkward, I box lefty" = 7 syllable rhyme
"I had to hustle" = 5 syllable rhyme

The only differences are the internal rhymes and how Jay-Z never used the same rhyme scheme throughout the verses .. He didn't surpass Eminem's bars, but he's not close? That's not true

Well, I don't grade verses or lyricism like a robot. It's about what they're saying too, and how it's delivered, and the whole package.

The overall effect of Jay's verses ARE, NOT, CLOSE to Em's. What he's saying just isn't as good, fuck multi's, his ideas are just not as clever or as clevery written and delivered.

"Maybe it's hatred I spew? maybe it's food for the spirit, maybe it's beautiful music I made for you to just cherish"

Eminem's writing is much better.

Beside, he surpassed Eminem with his poetical metaphors, like that article said. But like I said, that's one angle, it counts for something.

No he didn't.

He didn't surpass Eminem in any department on that song.

His flow and delivery? not close. Eminem's voice sounds louder, more important, his flow is more addictive and melodic - everything is structured more smoothly. It's more thought-out.

His lyrics? not close.

"Now who's the king of these rude, ludicrous, lucrative lyrics? Who could inherit the title? put the youth in hysterics, using his music to steer it, sharing his views and his merits, but there's a huge interference... they're saying you shouldn't hear it!"

Those lines alone are better than anything Jay said.

There's more potency and urgency in everything Em is saying. It sounds better to the ear, everything is structured better and he sounds more eloquent.

[dead prez]

I thought Jay's verses could contest with Em's, and was definitely miles ahead of Royce's verse without even taking into account that Jay's verses segue with Em's verses much better. I don't even think there's anything inherently wrong with the topics of Royce's verse and don't think that Jay should get higher points because of his subject matter, I just think it sounds better than Royce's verse and were just better written.

As for the comparison between Em and Jay's verses, I do believe that multies, internals, and overall scheme is important, but there comes a point where it becomes ridiculous, like claiming "He had 5 syllables aligned", and "he had 7 syllables aligned" therefore the latter's verse is better. That's just fucking retarded and people who grade lyricism solely on that should stay the fuck away from art and should be programming machines.

Jay's delivery was perfect for his verse, it wasn't loud nor did he come off as abrasive, he captured his solemn voice that fit with the mood of his verse. It would have been dumb as shit if he was yelling instead. I will say that Em's flow was a lot more fluid than Jay's hence why I could understand people saying he murdered Jay.

I do prefer Jay's quotables in this song a lot more, especially the opening lines which have become pretty standard for people to use when they accuse someone of not completely understanding the intent of the song but still making bold accusations.

[Mr Change]

Man just read another great post from EmBase


Em killed this song sooo hardddd its crazy, two of some of his best written verses ever without a doubt.

[ColdWindCriminal]

i love the Jay-Z version. Gonna hear the BME version after I finish listening to Relapse