Method embodiments of wafer dicing for backside metallization are provided. One method includes: applying dicing tape to a front side of a semiconductor wafer, wherein the front side of the semiconductor wafer includes active circuitry; cutting a back side of the semiconductor wafer, the back side opposite the front side, wherein the cutting forms a retrograde cavity in a street of the semiconductor wafer, the retrograde cavity has a gap width at the back side of the semiconductor wafer, and the retrograde cavity has sidewalls with negative slope; depositing a metal layer on the back side of the semiconductor wafer, wherein the gap width is large enough to prevent formation of the metal layer over the retrograde cavity; and cutting through the street of the semiconductor wafer subsequent to the depositing the metal layer.