Yesterday, rap supergroup Slaughterhouse shot the video for their single "Throw It Away" featuring Swizz Beatz—who also joined the crew on set.
Filled with goons, gangsters, and girls, the plot of the video seemed to be centered around a battle of the bosses—with Royce da 5'9, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, and Joe Budden having the advantage of course. The day turned out to be a long one (they were still shooting when we headed out), but it wasn't without some great production and tons of laughs on set.
We got a chance to sit down with the dudes of Slaughterhouse in between takes, where they took us behind the production on their new album Welcome to: Our House, how the recording process compares between this one and their debut album, and the biggest thing each member learned from Eminem (who was also on set, but wasn't up for any pictures—unless your name is Swizz Beatz, of course) as far as recording in the studio and the rap game as a whole.
VIBE: So, it reportedly took you guys six days to record your debut album. Was that process the same this time around or did you approach things differently?
Royce da 59: The process has changed because we're developing as artists. [On the last album], we didn't do it in 6 days on purpose. We did it because that's all the time we had. Quite naturally, when we did it this time around we had access to more producers, way more studio time, better studio time, and under the tutelage of Eminem. They gave us the option to take our time, so we did it. We took advantage of it. We had out own solo shit in the process, and whenever we all had time to be in the same room at once, that's when we did the album. We didn't fly a bunch of verses everywhere. The process changed in that light.
As far as picking producers, were people sending in stuff to you guys?
Joell Ortiz: Nah. Actually, when we figured out what producers we wanted to work with, if they weren't accessible and handy right there and then—like Denaun [Porter] of course—we flew them in. We did a large majority of our recording, if not all of it, damn near in Detroit. Denaun Porter's from there, so he was handy and right there with us. We were flying in producers and they were coming in [our] studio. It wasn't a beat selection type thing like, "Beat CD, Number 09, that's dope." Producers were coming in and actually producing the records. We feel really strong about the producers we selected—Alex Da Kid, Kane Beatz, Denaun Porter, and Eminem. If I'm missing anybody, it's not on purpose, but we pretty much got the top "x" amount of producers on this record. We feel good about the album.
Was that same for features as well, as far as people coming through to drop a verse?
Joell Ortiz: Busta [Rhymes] did it in his studio, if I'm not mistaken. B.o.B, I'm not too sure about. Did B.o.B. go to Detroit, Royce?
Royce da 5'9: He did his verse in Atlanta.
Joell Ortiz: Yeah, B.o.B was home as well. Alex Da Kid helped us with the Skylar Grey hookup. He had some records that he thought would fit the project, and Skylar was on them. We made them work. And Em of course was right there with us through the whole recording process. When he decided to feature on a record, he just did it.
Speaking of Em, he's been such a respected figure in this game for well over a decade. What's the biggest thing each of you have taken from him as far as recording in the booth and just the game in general?
Joe Budden: For me to answer that would imply that I treasure one thing more than the other. That wouldn't be the case. I just sat there and soaked up game from real niggas, man—Em, [DJ] Quik, Royce, Crook. It was definitely a process, and I'm certainly not gonna say it wasn't a frustrating one at times, but the knowledge you picked up that you can just apply for the rest of your life is priceless.
Joell Ortiz: Me personally, I bugged out looking from the vocal booth and seeing Em right there saying, "Yo, you nailed that!" or "Yo, I'd like that if you did it like this." I'm not gonna lie: Em surprised me with how humble he is, how hands-on he is, and how excited he was to do this Slaughterhouse project. It wasn't just like,"These guys are hot. Sign them." He actually believed in the group and was a fan. Beor if heing in the studio with him, it comes across. When you're looking from the vocal booth and he's there, or if he's like "Listen to this shit. How y'all feel about this," it's just a dope process to have somebody of that magnitude excited about our group.
Royce da 5'9: I don't even know if I need to answer this question [Laughs]. I've been sponging off of Em since I was 20 years old. It's pretty much—it's more of a life thing with me now.
Joe Budden: On some 'Bad Meets Evil' shit! [Laughs]
Royce da 5'9: Right! I look up to him just trying to make myself a better person, like being mature and being a better father. In terms of being creative, I don't think there's anything new that he can show me. I know all his tricks—I've stolen all of them and his techniques [Laughs]! I'm on to Slaughterhouse & stealing they shit!
Joe Budden: I ain't gonna lie, b! Royce gotta chill with that introspective shit! Fuck that shit [Laughs].
Crooked I: Straight up, [Eminem] saved my life. First of all, let me say some real shit real quick. Motherfuckin' Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, and Royce da 5'9—they know how to make every kind of rap that there is. You can be like, "Yo, but can y'all niggas rap like this!" These niggas know how to rap any kind of way that you ask them to rap. It's because they express their feelings. I love them for that. As far as Em, he saved my life. I'm with the murder business. It ain't about the Azealia [Banks] vs. T.I. [beef]. It's about, "Nigga, if I can't pay my moms rent, niggas is getting fucked up!" Yeah—on my life. Niggas is getting fucked up—run that! For me to be into this group, has really saved my life. I started rapping when I was 8 years old. To be 8 years old and come up around these guys, and to have an opportunity—just to have an opportunity. I can't even express to you. I could never express what it means to me to have the opportunity that Em gave me. If a motherfucker try to shoot at him, I'm gonna stand right there. I'm gonna stand in front of him.
Joell Ortiz: That's real shit though.
Joe Budden: Yup. Crook 'bout that.
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