DMX released his third album in 1999, “...And Then There was X” saw a significant shift in the Yonkers-raised rapper, who had gone from Horrorcore the year before (when he dropped two separate albums) to club bangers for the mainstream listeners, and away from the underground.
1. “The Kennel” (Intro)
2. “One More Road To Cross”
This track has a very grungy and grimy feel to it, it's the only description I can come up with, but you would understand if you had a listen to it. This style really it’s in with DMX's voice and lyrical delivery, so his style is heavily complimented by Swizz Beatz' production. At the beginning he comes with some questionable rhymes which don't follow the track to the beat at all, I haven't got a clue why he does this, it just makes him sound weird, and is if he's trying to unsuccessfully imitate a Nigerian accent. Don't ask me about this, just listen to it, it's just strange and doesn't fit it at all.
As we get further into things, you have this which has him doing a track which fits in with the time, and the sort of thing which was popular in the more underground side of East coast Rap as he does a Mafioso one, but I have to say that I was never too fond of this type of thing, so it didn’t really appeal to my personal tastes in Gangsta Rap.
**Three Stars**
4. “Fame”
This is a surprisingly lifting track form the rapper, and it has him go for something which isn’t really like him as he does one where
he uses some lively beats from dame Grease, and he comes with something hot which the clubs would have really enjoyed at this time. It is big, and it has him carry social messages subtly.
**Four Stars**
5. “Alot To Learn” (Lude)
6. “Here We Go Again”
This is quite calm from X, although he does seem to get more intense at certain parts during the track, but he is forced to be more mellow when he refers to his children and things along this subject as he explains that he is learning things about himself and having to make mistakes so that his offspring won't be forced have to do it themselves; he will tell them what's wrong and right. It seems that he is dealing with unfortunate circumstances in his life by just voicing out his problems, it doesn't sound as if he made an effort to make the lines rhyme, it's as if by coincidence they do. I felt that this made it easy to interpret his words and understand what he meant by them.
**Three Stars**
7. “Party Up”
This is one of my favourite tracks from X, and from the title you can tell that this is a big one for parties, and is very popular at them, many will recognise it despite the fact I can't recall seeing any video for it or radio play. Although no names are said in the lyrics, it has been claimed that the words are directed at Eminem and Kurupt, both of whom dissed the rapper earlier on, so with phrases like "No more talkin’ - put him in the dirt instead", you can tell that he's aiming his lyrics at a specific target.
**Five Stars**
8. “Make A Move”
On this track you find that the rapper goes back into his Gangsta rap mode, and it comes directly before he switches things dramatically. It is a pretty decent tune one from him, and with the frantic string work giving it a feeling of urgency, it seems to bring you into the situation, and connect with him as he does things.
**Three Stars**
9. “What These B***hes Want”
Although we now know he's not gay, I find it interesting that DMX, who is claimed to be a homophobic person, collaborated with an artist, Sisqó, who at the time (1999), was rumoured to be gay. That was just a thought concerning which I thought I should bring up. What I really find annoying from this track is how one whole verse is used to simply name all of the many names of the girls he has been with, it's really not required, and because it goes on for so long, any fun which was created in the first few lines is diminished as he continues by trying to rhyme as many female names as possible (some of which I don't believe quite work). I thought he was better than this, wasting valuable bars, but it seems not to be.
**Three Stars**
10. “What’s My Name?”
I felt that this would have been the perfect track to start the album off with, because it does get you into the correct mood to listen to his hardcore lyrics. It also introduces the artist to people who perhaps aren't as familiar with him as an artist, so I believe that this is a flaw in the track listings. This is quite similar to "Get At Me Dog" in what it comes from it (mainly just rhymes about himself and how he is on his own in the world, just trying to make it on his own as he has throughout his life). The beat was made by himself and Irv Gotti and I think what they made together was great, and it is very much like the sounds which you get today in his tracks which Swizz Beatz produced for.
**Three Stars**
11. “More 2 A Song”
On this one you find that he gets deep with his rhymes as he pushes some of his most inspirational rhymes which have been heard up to this point. Due to the fact that he has experienced a lot more in his life than what he expect many to have, h lets them know that they are being shallow if they think that life revolves around material things.
**Three Stars**
12. “Don’t You Ever”
I felt that although the content of the rhymes on this one were completely different on this one in comparison to the one prior to it, I have to say that it didn’t seem to get off the ground really, and it sounded to be around the same place, despite the fact that Swizzy drops some energetic club vibes on it and gets you moving as he goes into his hardcore flows.
**Three Stars**
13. “The Shakedown” (Lude)
14. “D-X-L”
On this tune you have him joined by The L.O.X. and Drag-On to show what support he has out on the East Coast, it is a big tune and it stands out with the appearances from the big names and the well-rounded sound which comes from the track. It is really much of-the-time, and would have made a big impact then.
**Four Stars**
15. “Comin’ For Ya”
I have to say that what you find in this one is really something I wouldn’t say expected a progressive rapper such as DMX to have come with as he does a tune which has clearly got Swizz Beatz taking the lead role as we have things taken back to the eighties with Old School scratches and other sort s of production techniques to get thins one going.
**Four Stars**
16. “Prayer III” (Lude)
17. “Angel”
Ending thing here we have a track which has him doing things in a slow manner to wind things down as we come to an end with this release. It is a smooth one, and it is something which takes a few listens to really feel as initially it sounds a bit to complex, but it is another religious-charged one from him where he makes the most out of the funky grooves as he can.
**Four Stars**
This was one of the most successful albums from DMX, and I have to say that it certainly shows him at his best as he attempts to combine the more commercial u-tempo raps with the hardcore stuff which got his career underway. It is fairly inconsistent, but you can let this go when you hear how strong some of the tunes are.
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Hip-hop is a genre notorious for careers that fizzle after strong debuts, a lack of ... more
artistic development, and for years to pass between albums. On his third album in just two years, DMX breaks these- -and nearly every other--"rule" of the game: the pre...
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Kennel (Skit) One More Road to Cross Professional Fame Alot to Learn (Skit) Here We Go ... more
Again Party Up (Up in Here) Make a Move What These B*****s Want [Featuring Sisqo] What's My Name? More 2 a Song Don't You Ever Shakedown (Skit) D-X-L (Hard White) [F...
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Jun 19th, 2009
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