The Allegory
by Royce da 5'9"
  • Record Label: eOne
  • Release Date: Feb 21, 2020
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
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  1. Exclaim
    Feb 21, 2020
    90
    That's right: sonically, thematically, lyrically — on every level, Royce gives The Allegory his all. And the result is the best LP yet in his 20-year-strong career.
  2. HipHopDX
    Feb 24, 2020
    84
    The Allegory plays out as Royce’s most consolidated offering yet. A definite career high-point for a rapper whose résumé spans over 20 years.
  3. AllMusic
    Mar 10, 2020
    80
    Intense and thrilling, The Allegory is a powerful work with uncomfortably realistic and poignant snapshots of American life that linger long after the last song has finished.
  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    Feb 21, 2020
    80
    Royce’s 2018 album ‘Book of Ryan’ was always going to be a tough act to follow, but ‘The Allegory’ stands up as an accomplished body of work, packed full of poetic intricacies and life lessons, soundtracked by the sound of Detroit; it will likely end up on the majority of 2020 end-of-year rap lists.
  6. Q Magazine
    Feb 21, 2020
    80
    At 22 tracks - including a spoken interlude by Eminem - there's a lot to digest here. But, Crucially, a lot worth digesting. [Mar 2020, p.120]
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  7. RapReviews.com
    Mar 10, 2020
    70
    While handling all of the production himself is a valiant effort, it’s evident that Royce had a wobbly experience with it in that it isn’t fully consistent. Even so, “The Allegory” is another solid effort from the Detroit rhyme sayer.
  8. Pitchfork
    Feb 27, 2020
    58
    His beats are generally chunky sample flips and simple loops, but he also has an ear for a good sound. But if you’re listening to a Royce album it’s because you want to hear the guy rap. To his credit, Royce has the rare effect of a rapper’s extreme technical ability making him seem limber instead of rigid.

Awards & Rankings

93
#93 Most Discussed Album of 2020

User Reviews

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User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 49 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 49
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 49
  3. Negative: 1 out of 49
  1. therealbear
    Feb 28, 2020
    6
    It's a 6. The album has good enough audio production, and lyrical has a lot to say, but still it feels like this album does not give the bestIt's a 6. The album has good enough audio production, and lyrical has a lot to say, but still it feels like this album does not give the best of what it can be. Sometimes lack of diversity pulls down a project, sometimes acting all underground drives the concept right there and it does not fulfill it's purpose as music to the masses ,since the message is said to be for everybody to learn something.… Full Review »
  2. Neal_
    Feb 26, 2020
    10
    Royce Da 5'9" just keeps improving and improving. The entire album can be understood through Plato's famous 'Allegory of the Cave'. A roughRoyce Da 5'9" just keeps improving and improving. The entire album can be understood through Plato's famous 'Allegory of the Cave'. A rough outline of this is as follows:

    A group of people live in a cave, they have done all their lives, as well as their parents and children etc. Just out of sight there is a fire that projects images or shadows against a wall. The group are very interested in these shadows, they have no way of knowing that these shadows are only shadows and consequently a very limited reflection of reality.

    One day, someone find s a way to escape the cave and uncovers the truth about the shadows and their true meaning, believing that this would greatly enlighten the group of people in the cave. Instead, this person is criticized for challenging the status quo.

    Plato believed that enlightened person to be a 'philosopher' who understands the truth, and believes that the truth must be fought for despite the fact a lot of people do not even want to hear the truth.

    Royce, with this masterpiece has applied this concept to his own experience, growing up in Detroit, the Rap Game, the prison system, politics. Each song is a reflection of how people are blind to the truth, Royce plays 'the philosopher'.

    I believe that this album is an absolute masterpiece and speaks to a lot of issues faced by society as whole in an intelligent and nuanced way.

    10/10    … Full Review »
  3. BCNick22
    Feb 22, 2020
    9
    Wow! What a surprise this album is... I wasn't expecting much because I was disappointed with the last prhyme album (and I'm a DJ premierWow! What a surprise this album is... I wasn't expecting much because I was disappointed with the last prhyme album (and I'm a DJ premier fanatic). I've always thought of Royce as a solid guest emcee but he has finally put out his own classic album in 2020 no less! I'm a 90's hip hop head and this sounds like it belongs back in that golden era. Beats are almost all.dope. Lyrica hot. Much respect Royce! Surprise of the year so far! Light years better than Em's latest record...… Full Review »
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