Slaughterhouse

Slaughterhouse is a hip hop group from Jersey City, United States, active from 2008 to 2018. The group consists of Joe Budden, KXNG Crooked, Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5′9″, and it is associated with Shady Records.

Formation and members

The group forms in late 2008 after Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5′9″ appear on the track “Slaughterhouse” from Joe Budden’s album Halfway House. The song gives the group its name. Each member brings a separate history in hip hop: Crooked I is from Long Beach, California; Joe Budden is from Jersey City, New Jersey; Joell Ortiz is from New York, New York; and Royce da 5′9″ is from Detroit, Michigan.

Background and prior careers

Crooked I is signed to Suge Knight’s Death Row label from 1999 to 2003, but leaves after his projects are shelved during the label’s decline. Joe Budden has early success after signing to Def Jam in the early 2000s, later falls out of favour with Jay-Z after Jay-Z becomes head of the label, then leaves Def Jam and releases the diss track “Talk to ’em.” Joell Ortiz is signed to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath label but leaves after being told his album will not be released until both Eminem and Dr. Dre release their own projects. Royce da 5′9″ is known for his feud with Eminem and D12, though the sides later reconcile.

Debut album and releases

The group’s self-titled debut album, Slaughterhouse, is released in 2009 on E1 Music. It is reportedly recorded over a six-day period in early June. Production on the album comes from Focus, The Alchemist, DJ Khalil, StreetRunner and D12’s Mr. Porter. The first street single is “Hood Hop,” originally titled “Woodstock,” and it features M.O.P. on the hook. The first official single is “The One,” and a video for it is shot by Rik Cordero. “Woodstock” is later dropped from the final album because of sample clearance issues.

Notable track

The group also records “Move On (Slaughter House Remix),” on which all four members address their past controversies and state that those issues are behind them.