Though artists tend to stand by their work, it's not uncommon for them to re-evaluate their takes in hindsight. For KXNG Crooked, veteran rapper and member of the legendary quartet Slaughterhouse, his discography has become quite massive throughout the years. Seeing as he's become one of the more interactive rappers on Twitter, directly engaging with his fans about hip-hop history, his own career, and the art of rap in general, he ended up fielding an interesting question about the one song he'd like to delete from his memory banks.
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After being asked about a song that still haunts him to this day, Crook took things back to the Slaughterhouse Shady Records debut album Welcome To Our House. "Slaughterhouse “Throw It Away," he admits. "I think the song’s title was trying to tell us something." Though he didn't elaborate much more than that, many fans were quick to point out how the track was ultimately a single, complete with a music video at that. Knowing what we know now, it stands to reason that Crook must have been outvoted on that particular front.
Regardless of how you feel about the dEnAun produced track, which also features a chorus from Swizz Beatz, it's still cool to see Crooked speaking openly on his musical journey. You have to admire a rapper willing to take a step back and reflect on the missteps, so much respect to Crook for answering the question in the first place. How do you feel about "Throw It Away" after all these years?
Joell Ortiz & KXNG CROOKED Share Tracklist For Joint Project "H.A.R.D."
Joell Ortiz & KXNG CROOKED are back with a joint EP that is sure to set the hip hop world ablaze.
Two beasts on the mic have cooked up something special in the booth, and it’s shaping up to be something memorable. Slaughterhouse brothers Joell Ortiz and KXNG CROOKED recently announced that they were releasing a joint project titled H.A.R.D. and later dropped the lead single of the same name. The two rappers are celebrated in hip hop for their undeniable talent, so they’ve come together to craft a record that fans are already calling brilliant without even hearing it.
“’We met each other on a magazine cover.. It’s like God told us we had to be brothers..’ – @kxngcrooked,” Joell Ortiz wrote in a caption of an Instagram photo that showed the album’s Ronald Regan-inspired cover art. “Perfect way to set off our ‘H.A.R.D’ EP dropping 5/29 !!!! Pre-order link in bio. Yaowaaaa!!!”
Production credits include looks from Erick Sermon, The HeatMakerz, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Boogeyman, Ill Mind, and Apollo Brown. The eight-track EP only lists two features from Blakk Soul and MRK SX. Check out the tracklist below and let us know if you’re keeping a keen eye out for this one.
Tracklist
1. H.A.R.D. ft. MRK SX
2. Get Ya Money
3. Candy Bump (LBC)
4. Catchin’ Bodies
5. Lose My Mind ft. Blakk Soul
6. Wolves (BKLYN)
7. Lovely
8. Memorial Day
Royce Da 5’9" Reflects On A Possible Slaughterhouse Album
Royce Da 5’9″ provides a major update on the current state of Slaughterhouse, Joe Budden and Eminem’s relationship, and more.
The eternal shelving of Slaughterhouse‘s sophomoric Shady album Glass House remains one of hip-hop’s great tragedies, especially given that it doesn’t appear likely we’ll ever get our hands on it. Especially not after the way Joe Budden and Eminemwent from collaborators to rivals, exchanging shots on records and podcasts alike. Yet, perhaps foolishly to be sure, fans have decided to remain hopeful that Slaughterhouse will rise again — even if it is by way of a years-old release.
Speaking on the My Expert Opinion podcast, Royce opened up about the status of the lost project, and what might need to occur before it stands a chance at releasing. As expected, Joe Budden plays a pivotal role in the saga, though Royce is clear to absolve him of all the blame. “There wasn’t always an issue between Joe and Shady,” he explains. “The issue with Joe and Shady now is just the way he voiced his opinion about Marshall’s album. Marshall didn’t like that. It wasn’t because he had an opinion about Marshall’s album, it was the way he publicly voiced it. I actually had a problem with that too. But me and Joe spoke about it.”
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Though Budden did apologize to Royce for putting him in an awkward position, Em has yet to receive the same treatment — a point that Royce is quick to point out. Even prior to the whole Revival-Gate incident, however, the Glass House album was facing a fair number of challenges. “There were things behind the scenes going on that brought certain vibes into the studio as well,” continues Royce. “Two people had some disagreements and some business dealings separate. I’m not gonna say who those two people were. And that caused a little something and then everybody in the group decided to go do separate albums.”
As for now, the group remains signed to Shady Records, inactive though they may be. “[Jpe] wants to get it released from Shady because he doesn’t want to release it through them,” says Royce. “But he’s basically saying he’ll still play ball. You know, ownership is a big thing to Joe right now. He’s evolving. Just in terms of understanding the importance of equity. He looks at the brand as something we built, which we did, you know.” As to whether Slaughterhouse will ever be able to come together on the same page, Royce isn’t entirely ruling it out – provided everybody is fully on board to commit.
“If we are not gonna do the album then I don’t even want to have conversations unless I know that everybody’s down to rap,” he clarifies. “I don’t want to force anybody to rap, man. Joe’s having a good time doing what he’s doing, Crook is super successful. Joell Ortiz just got married. I mean, I’m just happy where everybody is, where we are as men. I’m happy about that.”
Lupe Fiasco Tells Joe Budden He Wants His "Slaughterhouse Spot"
The rivalry continues.
Slaughterhouse reunited, kind of, on Eminem's Music To Be Murdered By. Royce Da 5'9", Joell Ortiz, and Kxng Crooked all made appearances or have production credits on Em's acclaimed surprise release, but Joe Budden was noticeably missing from the project. Gossip regarding tensions between Budden and Eminem have slithered through the rumor mill for years, and Em even took a verbal jab at the podcast host with his "Traitor Joe" line on his track "Lock It Up."
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We recently reported that Budden stated he wouldn't reunite with his Slaughterhouse "brothers" until they released themselves from Shady Records and "own our own sh*t," but it looks like someone is coming for his spot in the hip hop group. "Yo @joebudden Lemme get yo slaughterhouse spot," Lupe tweeted days ago.
The joke was treated as a serious statement from those that may not be aware of the history between Lupe, Budden, and Eminem. Back in 2018, Lupe shared a video of a comedian mocking Eminem's style, and later he explained why, mentioned that he would lyrically "destroy" Budden and Em.
"I posted up that video of the comedian mimicking Eminem rap style because I thought it was funny and actually most rappers actually rap like that when they are writing to catch a flow and get a melody," Lupe wrote. "I like Em & most other rappers & I want no smoke but if I did I would destroy them all. Especially Joe Budden & Em too."
Months prior to that statement in July 2018, Lupe challenged Budden to a "Street fighter" battle. "Stop the ducking Joe! Streets is calling you!" Lupe commented to one of Joe's photos. "STREET FIGHTER THAT IS! You can bo back to gazing into the heart of clarity once you catch these multiple L's." Could Lupe slide into Budden's Slaughterhouse space?
Joe Budden Won’t Work With Slaughterhouse Until They’re "Away From Shady"
He wants the group to “own our own sh*t.”
It was back in Spring 2018 when the official announcement came that Slaughterhouse was officially over, but fans are still hoping that the quartet rap group will link up just one more time. Joe Budden, Royce Da 5’9″, Joell Ortiz, and Kxng Crooked don’t have any ill-will toward one another, but there are some clear-cut reasons as to why they refuse to reunite. Over the years there have been rumors of feuds with Shady Records or tensions with Eminem, and many of those whispers centered around Budden.
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While visiting the My Expert Opinion show, Budden was in the hot seat and asked about Slaughterhouse. “Those are my brothers and I love them,” Budden said of his relationship with his former collaborators. He did admit, however, that he doesn’t speak to them regularly. “Royce just did the podcast, I spoke to him,” Budden added. “I haven’t spoke to Joell, but he just like a picture a few days ago and I liked one back, so I know me and him are fly. The same with Crook, man. Those are my guys forever.”
“I’m not a worker, anymore,” he said of how his mentality has shifted over the years. “I’m not going to work for something that didn’t exist before I got here. And that’s how I feel about wordsmiths. We can put this together, y’all can’t monetize it until we do, and that’s how I act. So, nah, I’m not putting nothing out with Slaughterhouse unless Slaughterhouse is away from Shady and we own our own sh*t.”
When questioned about Eminem, Budden shut down that line of conversation. The podcast host was the only member of Slaughterhouse to not be featured on Eminem’s recently released Music To Be Murdered By. “That has nothing to do with me. Don’t ask me about Em. Has zero to do with what I just said. He is not a factor in what I am saying. What I am saying is solely related to my brothers. Now, how it gets wherever it gotta go is not on me. It’s lawyers and things for that to happen but that’s a me thing.” Watch the conversation below.
