Death Is Certain

Death Is Certain
Studio album by Royce da 5'9"
Released	February 24, 2004 (U.S.)
Recorded	December 2002-January 2004
Genre	Hip Hop
Length	50:36
Label	E1 Music
Producer	Royce da 5'9" (exec.), 6 July, DJ Premier, Ty Fyffe, Reef, Asar, Mark Bassin
Royce da 5'9" chronology
Rock City (2002) Death Is Certain (2004) Independent's Day (2005) Singles from Death is Certain "Hip Hop" Released: November 22, 2003 "Death Is Certain Pt. 2 (It Hurts)" Released: February 11, 2004

Death Is Certain is the second studio album by Detroit rapper Royce da 5'9", released through Koch Records on February 24, 2004.

Background

Recording

Released two years after his official debut Rock City, Royce spent his two-year hiatus entangled in a beef with fellow Detroit natives and former allies, D12. Due in part to a battle with depression, Death Is Certain features a sound considerably darker than that heard on his debut. Royce's new sound garnered him considerable acclaim for the album, with most critics calling Death Is Certain his strongest effort. The album is also noted by many listeners to contain both 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. influences in Royce's lyrics.

Production

The majority of the album was produced by 6 July of Bad Boy Records production team The Hitmen. Other producers featured on the album are Ty Fyffe, Rob "Reef" Teflow, Asar, Mark Bassin, and DJ Premier, who produces the album's lead single, "Hip Hop". Many fans and critics see this as Royce's best work.

Sales

The album sold about 84,000 copies but has had numbers worldwide with over 100,000 copies sold.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllHipHop	link
Allmusic	link
IGN.com	(9.0/10) link
MVRemix.com	link
Prefix Magazine	link
HipHopDX.com	link
RapReviews.com	link
Vibe	link
The Source	link

Track listing

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro"		0:12
2.	"Regardless"	6 July	3:01
3.	"Throw Back" (featuring Ingrid Smalls)	Ty Fyffe	4:17
4.	"What I Know"	Reef	2:49
5.	"I Promise" (featuring Ingrid Smalls)	6 July	3:54
6.	"Call Me Never!" (skit)	Asar	1:59
7.	"Hip Hop"	DJ Premier	3:47
8.	"Gangsta" (featuring Cutty Mack)	6 July	4:42
9.	"T.O.D.A.Y" (featuring Ingrid Smalls)	6 July	3:55
10.	"I & Me"	Asar	3:28
11.	"Beef"	Mark Bassin, 6 July	4:19
12.	"Bomb 1st"	Asar	2:59
13.	"Everybody Goes" (featuring Ingrid Smalls)	6 July	3:05
14.	"Death Is Certain Pt. 2 (It Hurts)" (featuring Ingrid Smalls and Cha Cha)	6 July	4:12
15.	"Something's Wrong With Him" (featuring 6 July)	6 July	3:57

Sample credits

• "Regardless" samples "Love and Happiness" by Al Green and contains re-sung elements of Lose Yourself by Eminem
• "Hip Hop" samples "Overture" by Jerry Goldsmith
• "I & Me" contains re-sung elements of "Against All Odds" by 2Pac
• "T.O.D.A.Y." samples "Ike's Mood 1" by Isaac Hayes and contains re-sung elements of "B.I.G. Interlude" by The Notorious B.I.G.
• "Beef" contains re-sung elements of "What's Beef" by The Notorious B.I.G.

Chart positions

Album chart positions

Chart (2004)	Peak position
scope="row"	US Billboard 200[1]	161
scope="row"	US Independent Albums (Billboard)[2]	5
scope="row"	US Top Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[3]	4
scope="row"	US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[4]	39

Singles chart positions

Year	Song	Chart positions
		Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Tracks
2003	"Hip Hop"	-	#98	-

References

1. "Royce da 5'9" – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Royce da 5'9".
2. "Royce da 5'9" – Chart history" Billboard Independent Albums for Royce da 5'9".
3. "Royce da 5'9" – Chart history" Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums for Royce da 5'9".
4. "Royce da 5'9" – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Royce da 5'9".