Royce Da 5’9’s latest studio effort The Allegory was among the five LPs nominated in the Grammy’s Best Rap Album category earlier this month. But according to the Motor City MC, the original tracklist looked slightly different from what ended up being released.
During an interview with PSA Hip-Hop’s Threeletterman3, Nickle Nine explained Cordae was initially picked to be on “Young World” with Royce and G Perico, but Atlantic Records wouldn’t allow it.
“[Vince Staples] sent his verse last day because originally YBN Cordae was there in that spot,” he said. “Atlantic would not clear YBN Cordae, so I had to take him off. They said they wanted to ‘keep him young.’ These labels, they are so caught up young, young, young, young.
“Obviously the kid wanted to do it, otherwise, he wouldn’t have done it! So why put him in that position? And now the album is nominated for Grammy. You don’t think that in retrospect was a bad move from them?”
The Allegory was nominated for a 2021 Grammy Award alongside Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist’s Alfredo, Jay Electronica’s A Written Testimony, Nas’ King’s Disease and D Smoke’s Black Habits. Naturally, it’s a huge honor for Royce who’s been pumping out solo album since 2002’s Rock City.
“It feels good to be recognized by your peers, first of all,” he explained. “And it feels good for people to notice it. It’s cool.”
Royce also revealed Entertainment One didn’t submit his 2018 album Book of Ryan for Grammy consideration, which he could be salty about — if he wanted to be.
“Thinking about it in retrospect, after getting nominated, I could be mad about it,” he said with a laugh. “It can hype myself up, but I’m not mad about it.”
Even though Staples ended up in Cordae’s place on “Young World,” it was clearly quality enough to help reel in a Grammy nod. The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony takes place on D
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