Rome Mallory returns with “The Rulerz Back,” the lead single from his new album, Die a Hero or Become the Villain. Featuring Numbz and produced by Furious Stylez, the track sets the tone for what’s to come. Known for his versatility as a lyricist, the emcee moves with confidence and clarity. The horns blaring throughout the track are symbolic of royalty, true to its title. In this conversation, Rome discusses his growth as a music artist and the philosophies behind the album title.
The title of your new song, “The Rulerz Back,” is a bold statement. What does that title mean to you at this point in your Hip-Hop career?
Rome Mallory: At this stage, I am incredibly proud of my catalog. Releasing 11 albums in five years—not including my work before the streaming era—is a major milestone. Moving from handing out CDs in Poughkeepsie, NY to being streamed in over 100 countries is humbling. This song feels like a soundtrack to victory, representing a king taking his throne. My music caters to a specific demographic that appreciates a nostalgic feel compared to the current climate of Hip-Hop. It has been over six months since my last project, GHOST OF HUEY, and while I’ve stayed busy with features, I am back now with a refocused energy and an evolved sound.
You linked back up with Numbz on this track. What keeps the creative collaboration going?
Rome Mallory: I mean, Numbz is my bro in real life, you know. We chop it up outside of music. His production style is really soul sample driven and that’s always been one of my go-to sounds, especially coming up listening to The Heatmakerz, Just Blaze, and Kanye beats. We’ve done three projects together, and me collaborating with Furious was a no brainer to have him featured. When I sent him this beat, he sent his verse back the next day; the nerve of that guy haaa. It’s become a brotherhood with him and some other underground artists as well at this point.
Furious Stylez handled the production. Which elements stood out when you first heard the beat?
Rome Mallory: The energy of this beat is crazy! The way the bassline builds in the intro before the drums hit feels epic. The triumphant horns, the Jay-Z sample on the hook, and the scratches by DJ Radio Head give it a classic feel. This was one of the first tracks we chose for the album. I sat with it for a while to make sure we added the right elements to take it to the next level. Shout out to Furious; he really killed the production on this entire project.
What made you choose “The Rulerz Back” as the first single for the new album?
Rome Mallory: I shared the album early with a few day ones, and this track consistently stood out. It has a cinematic feel and high energy that represents the album’s epic production perfectly. It reminds me of that early 2000s Roc-A-Fella / Just Blaze era. I can’t wait to perform this one live.
The title for your new album, Die a Hero or Become the Villain, is powerful and layered in meaning. What are some of the ways “dying a hero” versus “becoming the villain” show up in the music on this album?
Rome Mallory: I would say as far as becoming the villain, that shows up particularly on a song called “I Hope U Find U Again.” It’s pretty much talking about losing yourself in the day-to-day grind, perspectives on legacy, getting older and realizing that you’re not who you used to be. I think sometimes we can lose the essence of who we are or who we think we are when the pressure builds. So when you become unrecognizable to yourself, you can become a villain doing more harm than good. You can’t be everything to everybody, so sometimes when you start pouring back into yourself people around you can view that negatively, hence becoming a villain in their eyes.
When I think of dying a hero, I think of someone who is honorable, stands for something outside of themselves, values character regardless of how stacked the odds are against them, and not afraid to speak the truth. With lyrics like, “The conquerors manipulate narratives, rewrite history as indigenous savages” and ” weaponize religion, imaginary deities, it’s fake news real-life conspiracies,” I like to put a light on the side of history / topics that often get overlooked and challenge people to think. I think one of the themes of the album is knowing who you are and letting the perceived version of you die. Maybe a version of you that tried to make everyone happy was a hero, but rewriting your own narrative about who you are and want to be.
You represent both Poughkeepsie, NY and Charlotte, NC. How have those two places influenced your perspective and approach to making music?
Rome Mallory: Being raised in New York, I grew up on Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie, DMX, and The LOX. I’m from the era of cyphers and battles where you had to be nice and actually have something to say. Where I’m from, if you’re not trying to be the best, then there’s no point of making music. I always took pride in having a fire verse every time I was on the mic.
Living in Charlotte has made me a more versatile artist. It taught me about artistry and regional diversity beyond the “mixtape rapper” mindset. It also taught me that your true competition is being a better version of yourself musically and personally. Every line doesn’t have to be ‘98 Canibus deep for it to be impactful; there’s some power and artistry in simplicity. There’s a lot of ways to tell stories and get points across deeper than witty punchlines you know. My production choices became more diverse as well working with different producers outside of NY. Charlotte gave me a new vision and balance as an artist, while NY built my edge and skill as a rapper’s rapper.
What can listeners look forward to from you in 2026?
Rome Mallory: I plan on dropping four albums this year. Two of them are already done. I’m working on the next two now so I’m already halfway through 2026, you know what I’m saying. Big shout out to my man Larrin at Soule Jukebox. I’m actually performing with Larrin and some other artists on February 13th at the Visual Performing Arts Center in Uptown Charlotte, the same day the album drops. I definitely plan on doing more shows, collaborations with other artists / producers and releasing merch in 2026. I have some other things I’m working on as well but will wait to announce that in due time.
I appreciate everyone supporting and streaming my music throughout the years. The best is yet to come. We just getting started! Shout out to Poughkeepsie & Charlotte and everyone tapped in. I’m always open to collaborating. Follow me on socials @ROME845. It’s never too late to rewrite your life story. Peace.
Listen to Rome Mallory’s new single “The Rulerz Back” across all streaming platforms here.
