Album Reviews

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DMX - "Flesh of my Flesh Blood of my Blood" Def Jam
East Coast Hip Hop	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
It hasn't even been a year, and the Dark Man X aka DMX, has been busy honing his skills on tour and in the lab, resulting in this, his second long player. DMX's face has been everywhere, and comparisons with the fallen soldier Tupac Shakur has definitely increased his sales, with many people looking for someone to replace their lost idol. Similar situations, like accusations of rape (denied, and the case since thrown out after DNA tests) has led to the X man to top the charts and here is another money making venture that will succeed and most likely secure the albums top spot. Why? Because people love DMX. He hasn't overtly created a style that is catchy of anything like that, just sticking to his rugged bark that has served him so well, and somehow everyone is feeling this cat (dog?). Looking at the album, you can see why. The single, "Coming From", with Mary J. Blige is likely to capture a big audience, but the incessant piano adds a sense of urgency and Mary's voice is suitable for this dark piece. The opening sequence is taken care of with "Bring Your Whole Crew", a song that displays his barking shouts and somehow catchy style that'll have peeps hollering in the club. It has a commercial, yet not-commercial feel, that is found all over this album. "Ain't No Way" is in a similar vein, production wise, now more laid back. More of what his fans want. The title track has DMX performing his stretched out yells with an urgent film-soundtrack sounding track that works well. Of course he has improved his flow, but the subject matter is what you expect of him. The Ruff Ryders production team supply most of the beats, sounding like they just continued on from the last album, which to the fans is what they want, and of course fits his style. Swizz Beatz is the biggest culprit for contributing beats, and sometimes it can sound repetitive hearing similar sounds throughout, but hey so can DMX's style in this rarefied atmosphere where no-one can make a truly solo album. DMX has only recruited a few guest stars to blow up the spot, which allows him to showcase himself successfully. Jay Z and the Lox lend a hand on "Blackout", one of the tight moments, and Marilyn Manson (!) successfully helps to set the dark atmosphere on "The Omen", a continuation of the Damien tale from the previous album. The low point, in my opinion, was the "Heartbeat"-sampling "It's All Good" with the dubious opening lines of "Love my ni*s/But where's my bes?". The sample has been slowed down, but it has been re-used and re-used many times over, that this just feels obsolete many years ago. The subject matter about "fing" and getting the "b**es" is also a tired subject and I wonder if his female fans will appreciate this ? This album is more the second installment of the first, "It's Dark and Hell is Hot" and of course he continues to win the title for strange album title, and a DMX covered in fake blood is just too funny to see, almost like the Pen & Pixel ideas on the No Limit covers! The subject matter re-hashes a lot of the first album, sometimes displaying a lack of originality especially as he has been around for a while now. The album is aiight though, but is more likely to please the die hard X Man fans than grab new ones. And there are a lot of die hard DMX fans. Equals mucho success. - Roni*

DMX - "It's Dark and Hell is Hot" Def Jam

East Coast Hip-Hop
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

DMX strikes with his debut album after appearing on everybody's records. He's been on '24 Hours to Live', 'Money, Power & Respect', 'Shut 'Em Down', 'Usual Suspects' and a whole host of other records... too many to name here. The single 'Get at Me Dog' with Sheek from the Lox has turned into a street anthem, leaving everyone checkin' for this cat. We all know who he is now, and after winning the Source's Unsigned Hype all the way back in '91, maybe he has honed his lyrical skills, and after a listen to his album... Well what can I say. I find that there are problems and mistakes that probably should not have been made. One problem for me is his flow, the hesitant stop-start style that can be annoying especially when listening to a whole album. His lyrics are nice in places, but that flow just annoys me sometimes as he always seems to be barking. That is another thing. Some people like his trademark barking, but to me is more gimmicky and is not needed everywhere in-your-face, but I guess that is just his style.
The beats are dark and fit him well when it works. Examples of these are energy-inducing 'Fuckin' Wit D',the murderous 'X-Is Coming' with a haunting kiddy rhyme type hook that works well for me. 'Crime Story' is a good narrative and 'Stop Being Greedy' with it's haunting organ is one of the best tracks here, on a par with 'Niggaz Done Started Something' with Mase actually getting hardcore! I think these two tracks are the best on there and superior to 'Get At Me Dog' but that never did too much for me anyway. Another good idea is on 'Damien' where DMX meets his guardian angel that seems to be his friend but isn't. Listen to it and see. 'ATF' is a hype song 'bout him on the run, and 'The Convo' is a song about God's meaning to DMX, a touching piece.
One problem I find is the re-hashing of songs ... we have the 'Get At Me Dog' and then we got the church-bell tinged 'For My Dogs', probably used as a vehicle just to get the featured artists noticed, but it doesn't really hit. Listening to the album, it's obvious that he has a great love of dogs, just about everything laced with growls or references to man's best friend. 'Ruff Ryders' Anthem' is average, sounding like some Southern flava bigging up his click, but it just don't quite hit where he needs it. 'Look Thru My Eyes' is about people's attitude to someone they never met and is ok. ' Get At Me Dog' ... well everyone knows this one and you either love it or you don't. It re-uses the same beat that Puff used on a Mase song, which didn't quite hit there, but here it is done in a way which fits his voice and style, sure to get everyone hyped, though it can get annoying. 'I Can Feel It' uses the same Phil Collins sample that Queen Pen did and is average.
The problem seems to be the lack of subject matter, although the lyrics are good, but marred by his flow in places. Otherwise, I found that it grew on me as I listened to it, but it I found it unpalatable to listen to the whole thing in one go... it is just too similar, otherwise it is a good debut album to come out from a guy who's been paying dues for some time. Basically, if you like his style and his flow, this album is for you, if not, you better take a listen first. - Roni

Email: phosphor@usa.net

DMX - "It's Dark and Hell is Hot" Def Jam
East Coast Hip-Hop	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
DMX strikes with his debut album after appearing on everybody's records. He's been on '24 Hours to Live', 'Money, Power & Respect', 'Shut 'Em Down', 'Usual Suspects' and a whole host of other records... too many to name here. The single 'Get at Me Dog' with Sheek from the Lox has turned into a street anthem, leaving everyone checkin' for this cat. We all know who he is now, and after winning the Source's Unsigned Hype all the way back in '91, maybe he has honed his lyrical skills, and after a listen to his album... Well what can I say. I find that there are problems and mistakes that probably should not have been made. One problem for me is his flow, the hesitant stop-start style that can be annoying especially when listening to a whole album. His lyrics are nice in places, but that flow just annoys me sometimes as he always seems to be barking. That is another thing. Some people like his trademark barking, but to me is more gimmicky and is not needed everywhere in-your-face, but I guess that is just his style. The beats are dark and fit him well when it works. Examples of these are energy-inducing 'Fuckin' Wit D',the murderous 'X-Is Coming' with a haunting kiddy rhyme type hook that works well for me. 'Crime Story' is a good narrative and 'Stop Being Greedy' with it's haunting organ is one of the best tracks here, on a par with 'Niggaz Done Started Something' with Mase actually getting hardcore! I think these two tracks are the best on there and superior to 'Get At Me Dog' but that never did too much for me anyway. Another good idea is on 'Damien' where DMX meets his guardian angel that seems to be his friend but isn't. Listen to it and see. 'ATF' is a hype song 'bout him on the run, and 'The Convo' is a song about God's meaning to DMX, a touching piece. One problem I find is the re-hashing of songs ... we have the 'Get At Me Dog' and then we got the church-bell tinged 'For My Dogs', probably used as a vehicle just to get the featured artists noticed, but it doesn't really hit. Listening to the album, it's obvious that he has a great love of dogs, just about everything laced with growls or references to man's best friend. 'Ruff Ryders' Anthem' is average, sounding like some Southern flava bigging up his click, but it just don't quite hit where he needs it. 'Look Thru My Eyes' is about people's attitude to someone they never met and is ok. ' Get At Me Dog' ... well everyone knows this one and you either love it or you don't. It re-uses the same beat that Puff used on a Mase song, which didn't quite hit there, but here it is done in a way which fits his voice and style, sure to get everyone hyped, though it can get annoying. 'I Can Feel It' uses the same Phil Collins sample that Queen Pen did and is average. The problem seems to be the lack of subject matter, although the lyrics are good, but marred by his flow in places. Otherwise, I found that it grew on me as I listened to it, but it I found it unpalatable to listen to the whole thing in one go... it is just too similar, otherwise it is a good debut album to come out from a guy who's been paying dues for some time. Basically, if you like his style and his flow, this album is for you, if not, you better take a listen first. - Roni