During a recent episode of the Rappers Ballers Podcast, Fredro Starr made some comments about Royce Da 5’9. While talking to co-host Jonny Vulgar and guest Van Lathan, the Onyx member called the Detroit native a “nerd” rapper while referring to books and the title of his last album, The Allegory.
“That’s my man, look I was on tour with Royce Da 5’9,” he said. “That’s my nigga. We was on the Nelly tour together — real nigga. But I was tryna say he would be in the nerd part of rap. That don’t mean you not a street nigga though, nobody never said that … niggas that read books, niggas that you know, the nerdy niggas.”
He continued, “I wouldn’t consider myself a nerd rapper, but I can still have a conversation with somebody intellectually and not be a nerd. What’s the name of this nigga last album, Royce Da 5’9? The Algor- some crazy name, what was it? It was some ill word, I was like what is that? I’ve never heard of that word until I heard him say it.”
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Royce posted a clip of the interview himself then addressed the comments in the next Instagram video. To begin with, Royce gave Fredro his utmost respect and revealed he isn’t bothered by the “nerd” tag at all.
“Ay Fredro my brother, come here for a sec,” he said. “Let me start by saying I have nothing but the sincerest admiration for your legacy and what you’ve contributed to the culture. Any time that I ever speak about you in that regard, I’m always gon’ make sure that it comes across clear and concise that it’s respect, to where it’s nothing that you even would have to think about. ”
He added, “Another thing I wanted to clear up wit’cha. I never had a problem being called a nerd, a backpacker. That never was a trigger for me. I never thought that a Hip Hop nigga, a lyricist, was the juxtaposed version of a street nigga. I never thought that street niggas were the opposite. I never looked that it like that, maybe it’s just because I come from Detroit.”
As the video progresses, Royce gets to the main point by saying he doesn’t play games and isn’t interested in any sort of relationship with Fredro.
“But it’s also one thing that I’ve never done,” he said. “And if you follow me then you know, you never seen me play with niggas and you never seen niggas play with me. I don’t let niggas play with me, I never let niggas play with me, you know what I’m saying? What I dont like to do is I don’t like to play games, there’s too much going on in the world right now. Like it’s a very serious time.
“And I’m happy for y’all if y’all in a happy place. You and that other nigga. If y’all in a happy place, I’m cool, I’m glad for y’all. Van Lathan is my man, that’s who I indentify with as my man on that show. It was an honor and a privilege to go on tour with y’all back in the day, and I appreciate you calling me your man, but I would be remised to not be completely transparent with you right now legend, and let you know I am not your man.
“And I have no desire whatsoever to build any sort of relationship with you moving forward, just so we clear. So there’s no reason for you to ever fucking play with me again. I don’t play, I don’t like to play. Save that playing shit for a nigga that you playing with that’s playing with you back. And I won’t come fuck over you. And I’m not gon’ say it again, Fredro Starr. You keep being a legend, and I’ma keep doing what the fuck I do. Next time you mention me, you mention me and you give me the compliments or whatever you wanna give me, and you leave all that extra shit out of it, because it’s something that come with that. Bless that.”
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Royce Da 5’9 released his latest album The Allegory in February, with features from DJ Premier, T.I., Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine, KXNG Crooked, Vince Staples, Westside Gunn and more. The project served as the follow-up to 2018’s Book of Ryan and debuted at No. 58 on the Billboard 200 chart.