Death Is Certain
Royce da 5'9" · 2004
50 min · 15 tracks · hip-hop
A raw exploration of life and mortality, driven by hard-hitting beats and introspective lyricism that challenges the listener.
Top tracks — play these first
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Regardless Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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What I Know — This track showcases Royce's intricate wordplay and reflective storytelling, touching on the struggles faced in his environment while revealing personal insights.
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Gangsta — With its intense energy and sharp lyrics, 'Gangsta' exemplifies the album's hardcore hip-hop roots while addressing the harsh realities of street life.
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I Promise — 'I Promise' features a poignant narrative about loyalty and trust, underlining the emotional weight that runs throughout the album.
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Death Is Certain, Pt. 2 (It Hurts) — This closing track encapsulates the album's themes of mortality and introspection, offering a haunting yet powerful conclusion to Royce's reflections.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's raw exploration of life and mortality is supported by strong lyricism and production choices.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of hard-hitting beats that underpin Royce's introspective and often dark lyricism throughout.
- Tracks frequently employ a narrative style, with Royce switching perspectives to explore themes of mortality and survival.
- Several tracks, such as 'Beef' and 'Death Is Certain, Pt. 2 (It Hurts)', utilize a minimalist production approach, allowing the lyrics to take center stage.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent energy levels
- long, immersive listening sessions
- introspective lyrical exploration
- gradual builds and payoffs
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Helped establish Royce's reputation in hip-hop with critical acclaim.
- Themes
- Midwest street life· mortality reflections· loyalty and trust
- Career context
- In 2004, Royce da 5'9" released 'Death Is Certain' as his second studio album, following his debut 'Rock City.' At this point, he was solidifying his presence in the Midwest hip-hop scene after gaining attention with collaborations alongside artists like Eminem and D12.
- Stylistic neighbors
- J. Cole· Big Sean· Kendrick Lamar
Tracklist
- 1 Intro 0:12
- 2 Regardless Start here 3:01
- 3 Throw Back 4:16
- 4 What I Know 2:49
- 5 I Promise 3:54
- 6 Call Me Never! 1:59
- 7 Hip Hop 3:47
- 8 Gangsta 4:42
- 9 T.O.D.A.Y. 3:55
- 10 I & Me 3:28
- 11 Beef 4:19
- 12 Bomb 1st 2:59
- 13 Everybody Goes 3:05
- 14 Death Is Certain, Pt. 2 (It Hurts) 4:12
- 15 Something’s Wrong With Him 3:57
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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