Rise and Fall of Slaughterhouse

3.1.22

Joell Ortiz, KXNG Crooked: Rise & Fall of Slaughterhouse 3.11.22

There is nothing more difficult for fans than your favorite music group breaking up. Slaughterhouse is one of those groups that I used to think were unstoppable. Who could write like them. Tell stories like them. The downfall of Slaughterhouse has been tough. However, there have been many tracks and interviews discussing remorse for things that have been said. It felt like a truce could be possible. That is, until now.

Slaughterhouse, the hip-hop/rap group was four artists: Royce Da 5’9, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and Kxng Crook aka Crooked I. They began around 2008, signed to Shady Records in 2011, and became a broken up group by 2018. This crew had released several projects under Shady Records, recorded legendary cyphers, and seemed like they were the new lyricists in hip-hop that could not be beat. Since then, things became sour.

Although the rap group has broken up, Joe Budden has ‘retired’ from rap music but has his own, successful podcast. Royce continues to rap. Crook has a successful podcast as well, and Joell continues his own business adventures as well. Everyone has had their words in the past, but what has got the crew currently wound up is that Crooked I and Joell Ortiz have announced a collaborative project to be released on March 11th, titled Rise & Fall of Slaughterhouse.

There has been one single with a music video released so far, titled Vacancy. The title lends to their being vacancy in their home, as two of the four members of Slaughterhouse are no longer with them. Joell goes in first and describes his point of view of all that had went down. He gives Royce his flowers for his solo work. He mentions Royce saying he did not want to do a Slaughterhouse reunion without Joe Budden, who had previously announced retirement. Then, goes on to say that after Joe Budden’s comments about Eminem on the podcast, there was no chance for them to get their major label deal back. It definitely seemed like a bit of extra blame being put on Joe here, but it was a lot of explaining the whole situation about the group’s breakup.

Crooked I, who I am a fan of, showed up next to describe his side of the story. I felt that he was more interested in showing off his skills to remind people of why they were Slaughterhouse in the first place. However, it was also content about the same thing. He did say that he tried to get everyone on board for a reunion, but did not get responses, and therefore, moved on without them.

Not only has the first track been released, but the tracklist is available for viewing. The tracklist was triggering to fans, including a track titled FukGlasshouse, in reference to the last Slaughterhouse album that we never got. Other song titles include Ain’t Nobody Mad, Still In My Feelings, Look Mama, Sorry and more.

Even though my favorite parts of Slaughterhouse will not be on this upcoming project, I would still be excited to hear it, if these guys were here to really rap. To me, it sounds like they are here to complain about the past. I really did not like the Vacancy song, and I feel like it is going to be the same thing throughout the whole album. I would rather you tell me what happened one time in an interview or even a documentary. But if there is a comeback album, I want you rhyming to make me happy, not to feel neglect towards my favorite artists who went a different route.

Another that is not too happy, is Royce Da 5’9”. He reposted the project artwork with a long caption, describing his feelings towards this upcoming project. In short, he does not like it, and would never do something like this for a check. The caption read:

You have 25% ownership/equity in a building… Let’s say an apartment building… You built this building with your 3 partners, brick by brick.. It’s worth millions.. Suddenly, the value drops because it needs renovations etc .. You and your partners have been talking about when and how this work is gonna get done.. Y’all just need to agree on plan of attack..

Meanwhile: You and just one of the other partners receive an offer 2 build another building together but with just the 2 of you… Minus your other 2 partners… Yes… There’s a check involved..

BUT…

Just One Catch:

You have to burn down the building you already have without informing your other 2 partners in order to do so…

Would you do it???

Didn’t think so…

Me either …

As for Joe Budden, he has shared some quick Tweets such as “Everyone must do what’s best for them. 😇” and “Ain’t enough cloth…….” since the announcement of the upcoming project. I would have to guess that he is saying he does not care about this upcoming project, and that he feels it will not do any numbers that he is not doing on his own.

I would have really loved to see this crew come back together. But not only are half of the group doing their own project, they are airing out the dirty laundry of what the guys went through behind the scenes. If there was even a little hope that they would come back, I do believe it is gone now.