[1] It features guest appearances from Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, KXNG Crooked, Cyhi the Prynce, DJ Premier, Eminem, Grafh, Sy Ari da Kid, T.I., Vince Staples, Westside Gunn, and Cedric the Entertainer among others.

[3] On December 11, 2019, Royce da 5'9" revealed the album's title and cover art on Instagram.

"[5] The lead single, "Black Savage" featuring Sy Ari da Kid, White Gold, Cyhi the Prynce, and T.I., was released on November 15, 2019.

The song was released as part of Jay-Z's "Inspire Change" campaign,[6] and its music video premiered on November 14, 2019.

The album's final single, "Upside Down" featuring Ashley Sorrell and Benny the Butcher, was released on February 7, 2020.

[8] A music video for "Hero", featuring White Gold and directed by Lanfia, was released on March 4, 2021.

[9] On March 6, 2020, Royce da 5'9" announced The Allegory US Tour to promote the album, which included dates from April 21 to May 20, 2020.

[13] HipHopDX critic Kevin Cortez stated, "The Allegory plays out as Royce's most consolidated offering yet.

Young said, "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".

[12] Will Lavin of NME said, "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".

[17] RapReviews.com writer Sy Shackleford said, "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.

[18] In a mixed review, Jay Balfour of Pitchfork wrote: "His beats are generally chunky sample flips and simple loops, but he also has an ear for a good sound.

To his credit, Royce has the rare effect of a rapper's extreme technical ability making him seem limber instead of rigid".