Royce da 5’9″ Speaks on Slaughterhouse Breakup

The dissolution of the hip-hop supergroup Slaughterhouse remains one of the most polarizing “what-ifs” in modern rap history. Recently, Royce da 5’9″ took to a livestream to pull back the curtain on the internal mechanics of the split, specifically addressing his perspective on the fallout with Kxng Crooked (Crook) and Joell Ortiz. Royce clarified that the tension wasn’t rooted in traditional hip-hop animosity, but rather a profound sense of disappointment in how the business and brotherhood were managed. He noted, “Crooked and Joel, there was never a beef and It was never feelings of beef. I didn’t handle the way I was feeling well. With that situation I was just hurt and confused because why would you f–k up a brand that we felt was something so special because of whatever personal feelings, without even jumping to conclusions or assumptions.”

Central to Royce’s frustration was the perceived lack of transparency regarding the duo’s decision to move on. Royce felt that his history with Crooked I should have warranted a direct conversation rather than a public reveal. Reflecting on the perceived secrecy, Royce shared: “I thought me and Crooked were tight enough to whatever issue he had and if he was thinking about ‘yo, I’m out, I ain’t f–king with Slaughterhouse no more,’ he would just come to me and tell me. So when he didn’t do that, and I knew we had numerous conversations and he had plenty of opportunities to tell me that he purposely withheld telling me, so they can blindside us with the album, so they can get response and keep important engagement. I just felt like me and Crook’s relationship was way family oriented than that. So I ain’t know how to react. I should be mad or sad.”

The timing of the split was particularly stinging for Royce because of the groundwork he claims was being laid behind the scenes. According to the Detroit lyricist, the group was actively navigating their exit from Shady Records to regain their independence and launch a new era. “I had a whole lot of plans and ideas for Slaughterhouse. I was looking for going in and doing it. To sit on the phone with everybody and make all these plans and then go to Shady, fight to get the group taken off Shady. We do all these things and we do all these meetings and then just out of nowhere, boom, they pulled that,” he explained, highlighting the jarring shift from collective planning to sudden abandonment.

Ultimately, Royce characterizes the end of the group not as a rivalry, but as a personal letdown that has permanently altered his view of his former collaborators. While he expresses some regret over his own public reactions, he remains firm that the bridge back to a creative partnership has been burned. He admitted: “It was never a beef, it felt more like betrayal for me. But it’s not nothing for me like to peace up or I don’t feel like I’m owed apology. I just hate the way we went out. I should have kept a lot of my feelings for myself. I don’t like the way I handled it and the way Crooked and Joel handled it, it’s an inexcusable. In terms of coming back together, and try to rekindle some sort of creative spark, that’s not gonna happen.”

Perhaps the most tragic element for fans is the fate of Glass House, the unreleased album that has sat in the Shady vaults for years. Despite the fan demand, Royce insists that he will not be the one to let it see the light of day via unofficial channels, citing his loyalty to Eminem and the label. “If Glass House album ever leaks, it’s not going to be for me. If there is one thing I’m always gonna do, is be professional. I’m gonna honor my relationships and my commitments. I got relationship with Marshall, Paul, Shady Records. I’m not about to do nothing behind their backs. But I want you all to hear it though. If we could just made it over that hump, it would have elevated somewhere higher than it had ever been. Especially judging off how good Glass House is. It’s definitely our best work. So, creatively, it’s heartbreaking,” Royce lamented.

The psychological toll of the split seems to have affected Royce’s ability to trust his peers in the industry. He drew a sharp contrast between the actions of Crooked and Joell and those of Joe Budden, who is often blamed by the public for the group’s demise. In defense of Budden, Royce stated: “I don’t think I had nobody spin me like that. I started to question my own judge of character. I’ve been around with this person in such close proximity and he’s capable doing some s–t like that? People complaining about Joe but Joe ain’t did nothing like that.”

In conclusion, Royce’s livestream serves as a somber post-mortem for a group that many believed would define an era of lyricism. By centering the conversation on “betrayal” rather than “beef,” Royce underscores the reality that in the world of high-stakes music, the breakdown of personal bonds is often more damaging than any lyrical battle. While the “house” may be permanently shuttered, the legacy of their unreleased “best work” continues to haunt both the members and the fans who are left wondering what could have been.

Royce Da 5'9"Slaughterhouse