Rock City (subtitled or alternative titled Rock City - Version 2.0) is the debut studio album by American rapper Royce da 5'9". After a two-year delay, resulting from a creative issue and label changes, the album was released on November 26, 2002. In 2000, after signing with Columbia Records, the album's recording process began to dwindle when the label demanded radio-friendly singles; something Royce was not keen to create.
Completed by October, it suffered numerous delays from December 2000 to November 2001, due to internal conflicts with label Columbia Records. As a result, in December 2001, Royce da 5'9" was dropped from the label and signed with Koch Records (now MNRK Music Group). In February 2002, the original version of the album was released promotionally outside of the United States without Royce's personal or legal authority. He threatened to take legal action against Columbia's parent, Sony Music, but ultimately did not do it.
Ultimately, Royce had to re-recorded a majority of the album, with tracks removed due to Sony owning rights to the content. Therefore, the album had to foresee a November 26, 2002 release date under Game Recordings and Koch Records. The subtitle, Version 2.0, was also added, due to the rearrangements.
In mid-2023, the original version of Rock City leaked online and on digital music services.
Chart performance
The album debuted and peaked at number twenty-nine on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Most notable of them is Version 2.0
- The track listing is for Version 2.0
Notes
"Get'cha Paper", "We Live (Danger)", "D-Elite Part 2", "She's the One" and "What Would You Do" from his original album do not appear on Version 2.0.
Samples
- "My Friend" samples "Let's Have Some Fun" by The Bar-Kays, "Cross My Heart" by Killah Priest
- "Nickel Nine Is..." samples "I'll Live My Love for You" by Millie Jackson
- "Boom" samples "Forever Is a Long, Long Time" by Marc Hannibal, "Anthology" by Kay-Gees, "You Know My Steez" by Gang Starr, "Afro Puffs" by The Lady of Rage
- "Who Am I" samples "Livin Inside Your Love" by Earl Klugh
- "Life" samples "Woman in Love" by Barbra Streisand
- "You Can't Touch Me" samples "Love and Happiness" by Al Green
- "King of Kings" samples "Distant Land" by Traci Lords
Chart positions
Album
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (2002)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"
|-
!scope="row"
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|}
Singles
{| class="wikitable"
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Song
!colspan="4"| Chart positions
|-
| Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
| Hot Rap Singles
|-
| 1999
| "Boom"
| -
| 48
|-
| 2000
| "You Can't Touch Me"
| 66
| -
|-
| 2002
| "Rock City"
| 99
| -
|}