*By Christian Smith*
On his new album, the rapper Royce 5'9" adopts a more optimistic tone while reflecting on his experiences growing up in Detroit in the 1980s.
"It's kind of an autobiographical, it talks about everything that I went through as a child," said Royce da 5'9", whose given name is Ryan Daniel Montgomery. "I reflect on it in a way where I compare it to why I'm how I am today, be that good or bad."
The new LP, "Book of Ryan," is Royce's seventh solo album and goes on sale Friday. It features some of the biggest names in hip hop, including J. Cole, Pusha T, and Royce's long-time friend and mentor Eminem.
The album is about growing up in Detroit, Royce's struggles with alcoholism, politics, and "Staying Woke," the title of a song from the album. The rapper said he got sober in September 2012, and credits Eminem with helping him make it music and contend with his addiction.
"It's almost kind of like Em was hand delivered to me from God," said Royce. "He put me in the business, and he's also the one who helped me get sober."
Royce recorded "Book of Ryan" in Detroit at his newly-constructed recording studio, Heaven Studio. He said the album and his hip-hop career are compilations of all of his good and bad decisions, and in the end he was, "happy with the way it turned out."
For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/rapper-royce-59-releasing-new-album-book-of-ryan).
From Jake Paul's next big swing to the possible return of Meredith Grey, here's what's happening in entertainment.
It was a rare sight — a senior British royal testifying in a court of law. What Prince Harry said, both during cross-examination in the witness box Tuesday and in his written witness statement, was just as unusual.
If your summer could use a pop of color, look no further than fashion brand Never Fully Dressed, which is opening its first permanent U.S. store right here in New York City. Cheddar News correspondent Chloe Aiello is on the scene with founder Lucy Aylen.
Creating the 'Barbie' set took a lot of pink paint, so much pink paint that it wiped out one company's entire global supply of it.
The bodies of three men have been removed from the site of a collapsed six-story apartment building in Davenport, Iowa, about a week after part of the century-old structure tumbled to the ground, the city's police chief announced Monday.
From Superman NFTs to a 'Hocus Pocus' trilogy, here are your top entertainment headlines.
In celebration of Pride Month, Cheddar News anchor Baker Machado visited the Stonewall Inn in New York City and sat down with owner Stacy Lentz to talk about the historic events that took place at the bar more than 50 years ago.
The Writers Guild of America has confirmed plans for a strike action at the Apple HQ in Cupertino, CA on Monday, as the tech giant kicks off its Worldwide Developers Conference.
Ticket sales surpassed already lofty expectations for the sequel to the Oscar-winning Inside the Spider-Verse.
Nurse practitioners, who provided care for many trans adults, are now barred from providing transition-related care in the state.
