LAME OR FLAMES…
Book Of Ryan is the seventh studio album by Royce da 5’9″. It was released on May 4, 2018. Announcements for this album originate back to 2016. The album’s title is derived from his real name, Ryan Montgomery. On March 2, 2018, Royce announced on Twitter that he “shed several tears” after listening to the final master of his album.
I shed several tears after listening the final master of my album… took everything I had to make it
— ROYCE (@Royceda59) March 3, 2018
Here’s my list from least flames to most flames. Song info provided by Genius.
(Not including skits and intro)
NO. 17 – “Summer On Lock” (feat. Pusha T, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Agent Sasco)
NO. 16 – “Life is Fair”
Haven’t stopped playing this Book Of Ryan album yet. “Life Is Fair” is my newest favorite. I know I texted you and told you it was Anything/Everything…I changed my mind @Royceda59 😂#Classic
— KUNIVA of D12 (@KunivaD12) May 8, 2018
NO. 15 – “Outside” (feat. Marsha Ambrosius, Robert Glasper)
NO. 14 – “Anything/Everything”
NO. 13 – “Stay Woke” (feat. Ashley Sorrell)
GET @Royceda59 BOOK OF RYAN. PLAY FROM START TO FINISH. YOUR WELCOME
— Alchemist (@Alchemist) May 4, 2018
NO. 12 – “Strong Friend”
“Strong Friend” delves on the subjects of suicide and depression. Royce is clear with his expression that you should check up on the friend who is the most headstrong as much as the one who is emotionally unstable because they can also be going through problems that they don’t wish to talk about publicly.
NO. 11 – “Woke”
“Woke” is a fine follow up to the album intro, which finds Royce being gracious to be able to wake up in the morning. In this song, Royce plays on the term “stay woke,” which means for an individual to understand the realistic ways of the world.
NO. 10 – “Legendary”
NO. 9 – “Amazing” (feat. Melanie Rutherford)
@Royceda59 Book Of Ryan is so dense, so deep , so human, so funky and so relatable to me. I come from a house full of dysfunction, addiction+alcoholism. To hear you speak on it, too be vulnerable and honest is beautiful. Book of Ryan is a courageous statment my G Thank You
— Dante Ross (@DanteRoss) May 11, 2018
NO. 8 – “God Speed” (feat. Ashley Sorrell)
God Speed is a motivational song about overcoming one’s circumstances. Regardless of the circumstances he grew up in, Ryan made the most of what he was given, leading him to where he is today.
NO. 7 – “Power”
“Power” sees Royce exploring his troubled childhood by recounting an argument-filled Christmas and the Thanksgiving his abusive father got arrested. The stories are bleak, graphic, and incredibly unsettling, but Royce flips the concept at the end by explaining to his own son that his challenging upbringing actually gave him “power” and that he’s ultimately grateful to his dad.
NO. 6 – “First of The Month” (feat. T-Pain, Chavis Chandler)
NO. 5 – “Cocaine”
In replying to his son from the previous skit “Who Are You,” Royce gives his son a piece of his life never told before.
NO. 4 – “Dumb” (feat. Boogie)
NO. 3 – “Boblo Boat” (feat. J, Cole)
The Boblo boats ferried people from Detroit, Michigan to the Boblo Island Amusement Park in Ontario which closed in 1993. The song finds Royce reminiscing about happy family trips to the amusement park while Cole raps about growing up in North Carolina from his first smoke when he was 6 to feeling cool while driving his mama’s Civic.
NO. 2 – “Caterpillar (Remix)” (feat. Logic, King Green)
Logic as he goes off with biracial and religious topics and exemplifies how different it would be if he were to try to hide his background.
Royce da 5’9″ on Logic’s feature from his album and Logic and Eminem being on the same song pic.twitter.com/nBFzYNX3Oa
— RattPack™ (@RattPack) May 2, 2018
NO. 1 – “Caterpillar” (feat. Eminem, King Green)
Well, keeping in mind that the song’s overall theme is “Don’t disrespect the caterpillar when praising the butterfly”, the caterpillar is probably a symbol for a rapper who influenced the rap genre to a great degree, such as Eminem.
B. M. E.. pic.twitter.com/LAUr6SQW09
— ROYCE (@Royceda59) May 1, 2018
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