Announcement

Street Hop was originally announced in 2006, and early rumors had fans speculating that Premier would produce the entire album. In September 2006, it was announced that DJ Premier would executive produce and contribute roughly half of the album's material, in addition to helping to select beats.^[8] In the same month, Royce was convicted of drunk driving, resulting in a parole violation and a prison sentence. After a year in prison, he prepared the release of the first The Bar Exam mixtape amid rumors that Nas was amenable to signing him to the rapper's Def Jam imprint, The Jones Experience.^[9][10]

Recording

Two albums were initially planned, the other being The Revival which was also to be overseen by Premier. While both albums would apparently have production from Havoc, Bink!, Hi-Tek, The Alchemist, 9th Wonder and others,^[11] The Revival was supposed to be released on Babygrande Records.^[12] After announcing The Bar Exam 2, a collection of songs entitled The Revival was leaked onto the Internet. Royce explained that it consisted of outdated rough cuts for Street Hop and that he was focused more on his mixtape than the supposed album.^[13] After the release of The Bar Exam 2, a retail version entitled The Bar Exam 2: The Album was sold in stores, which did have a collaboration with 9th Wonder.

After joining the New Jersey rapper Joe Budden, New Yorker Joell Ortiz and Californian Crooked I to form the four-man group Slaughterhouse, Royce had been busy recording and touring.^[14] He later returned to the studio for his own album with a new release date. Guests on the album include Bun B, Busta Rhymes,^[15] and the rest of Slaughterhouse.^[16] Videos were shot and released for the first two singles, "Shake This" (produced by DJ Premier) and "Part of Me" (produced by Carlos Broady), both directed by Rik Cordero.^[17] Before the album's release, the rapper released The Revival EP, a four-song collection including an appearance by the rest of Slaughterhouse.