It's Dark And Hell Is Hot [PA] - DMX

.../> THE RUFF RYDERS ALBUMS: IT'S DARK AND HELL IS HOT

_The DMX Album Collection - Part I_


Author: DJ_primo

'''Published by DJ_primo for DIJEH inc. / Works of Art'''

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'''INTRODUCTION'''

Emerging in the late 1990s, was DMX ( '''real name: Earl Simmons''' ), a ...
...cheap_
_A yo it's cold on this level cause it's twice as deep_
_But you don't hear me, ignorance is blisning and so on...._'

Unlike most tracks, DMX does NOT sound at all violent here, making LET ME FLY the one of the calmer tracks that pop music fans can listen to. Yes, trust me on this one. Lyrically, LET ME FLY is similar to LOOK THRU MY EYES because DMX is rhyming with real emotional topics at a slow pace. DMX's ... more

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THE RUFF RYDERS ALBUMS: IT'S DARK AND HELL IS HOT

The DMX Album Collection - Part I

Author: DJ_primo

Published by DJ_primo for DIJEH inc. / Works of Art

*********************************************************************** *****

INTRODUCTION

Emerging in the late 1990s, was DMX ( real name: Earl Simmons ), a hardcore rapper who presented a style, quite unique to the modern era of hardcore Hip Hop. His style combines anger, emotions, DOG sounds (e.g. GRRR, BARKS etc.), creativity, innovative lyrics and grittiness to bring out an artist with a DARK, fearsome image. For this reason, some Hip Hop fans have sometimes dubbed DMX as the Dark Man X.

My interests in DMX date back to 2000, when I first watched him collaborate with Aaliyah on 'Come back in one piece' delivering his BARKING lyrics in the process. I found his lyrics to be superb as his hardcore delivery in the video. However what really stimulated my HUNGER to buy one of DMX's albums was the classic single - STOP BEING GREEDY, that I first watched on MTV Base. Thus in June 2002, I ran to the HMV store like a mad dog in Oxford Street, to sniff out that particular DMX album that included this HOT single (i.e. as a music track). I eventually, found this track on DMX's album, 'IT'S DARK AND HELL IS HOT' and this is how I ended up buying this Hip Hop CD.

I now focus my attention on what the HOT DOG (i.e. DMX) has to offer me on this album I bought. Exactly how HOT did I find the whole of DMX's album, in terms of the beats, lyrics, subject matter, skill and guest appearances. Well, to answer your question, I must descend into HELL and reveal the DARK contents of this CD. Allow me to take you readers on a tour, through my review as we travel through DMX's dark moments (Grrrr!).

WHAT I EXPERIENCED

Upon my experience, I listened to 'IT'S DARK AND HELL IS HOT' in June 2002 and studied every DARK music track. Before I did so, I kept telling myself I will be a brave dog, I will be BRAVE DOG:

1. INTRO (4:09 min)

This is one of the GREATEST and darkest INTROs I have heard so far on a Ruff Ryders album. The INTRO begins with DMX having a brief conversation with an interviewer. The idea of the informal interview focuses on how DMX and his Ruff Ryders crew are up and coming and are about to become successful in the music industry (i.e. blowing up on the scene).

Immediately after the conversation, Swizz Beatz ( real name: Kasseem Dean ) starts off his production for Ruff Ryders Entertainment. The production begins chillingly with the sounds of oriental bells and drums followed by dark bass lines and then shaking samples of keyboard beats. All these beats together create a HAUNTING atmosphere for something mysterious and exciting about to rise out of the DARKNESS. Then as soon as DMX starts to rap, BANG! The atmosphere lights up with a simultaneous mixture of oriental bells and other sounds to create a fast-paced, synthesized beat. Swizz Beatz makes his beats sound hotter with sizzling and crackling noises in the background, more like the burning sound of FIRE and LAVA.

DMX freestyles, rapping about his hard personality and how his dog-like rapping skills can cause problems for his black rivals. In doing so he barks out street poetry from his mouth, using metaphors like 'werewolf' and lines like 'Howling at the moon on the roof'. DMX uses metaphors like these to reflect the type of rapper he is and INTRODUCE to us what the rest of his album is going to be about. DMX also asks ' ....Where my dogs at?....' in all of the street violence surrounding him as he raps about his violent life with creative skill.

Rating: 8/10

2. RUFF RYDERS' ANTHEM (3:34 min)

I enter one of my HOT favourites. DMX released the RUFF RYDERS' ANTHEM as the fourth single from his debut album. Again the beats are handled by Swizz Beatz for Ruff Ryders productions and they start off with the signalling sounds of trumpets and other brass-winded instruments. Drum loops then kick in, playing over the brass-winded instrumentals and bass lines in classical street fashion.

DMX lights up the atmosphere, to do a storytelling about (that he calls ni**as) committing street violence / murder offences that are frequently the topic of daily news reports. In most cases, DMX brags about what he would do against his black rivals who try to attack him in the streets. DMX may sound violent but he delivers his lyrics with creative and excellent flow, adding street poetry in parts of his verses. To date, RUFF RYDERS' ANTHEM is perhaps among the most popular and best known track to fans who like DMX. One thing that made RUFF RYDERS' ANTHEM so popular was the catchy hook and people screaming ' ....WHAT!....' repetitively after DMX spits each line of his verse. Eve, Drag-on and others provide the crowd vocals for the 'WHAT' sounds while DMX raps the HOT chorus:

[Chorus]
' Stop, drop, shut 'em down open up shop Oh, no
That's how Ruff Ryders roll
Stop, drop, shut 'em down open up shop Oh, no
That's how Ruff Ryders roll'

The RUFF RYDERS' ANTHEM was one of the HOT singles that helped to launch DMX's music career from 1998. The video of the RUFF RYDERS' ANTHEM though old, is still played on MTV Base channel of today on special occasions (e.g. certain programmes - '1998 Flashback', 'DMX vs Ja Rule', 'Base Request etc.). The video features all of the Ruff Ryders crew that include DMX himself along with Eve and Drag-on in the background wearing white T-shirts with big, red 'R' logos.

Rating: +10/10

3. F*CKIN' WIT D (2:18 min)

I now approach a short track where DMX tells his black rivals not to get in his way or mess with him. Or else, DMX will threaten to kill off his enemies in a battle as means of punishment. DMX uses 'cat' as a metaphor to describe black men who are not his real mates (or 'dogs') but are his adversaries who should be SCARED of him. In this case, DMX describes himself as the VICIOUS 'dog' staring at the cat according to the way he constructs his first verse:

' grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...........
What's on y'all ni**az minds
f**kin' wit' me, y'all know somebody has
told you about f**kin' wit' D, stuck in a tree
is what you will be, like a cat
and I'm the dog at the bottom, lookin' up
what's that.
Your worst nightmare is I take it right there....'

Given that DMX is sending out a warning to his rivals who mess with him, the title of this track is F*CKIN' WIT D (or F*CKIN' WITH DMX). In the third verse, DMX uses intelligent street poetry and energetic delivery to describe how dishonest black men better run for their lives when they hear the DOG BARK. That is the angry sounds of DMX - GRRR, ARF, ARF! - that means X is coming for them. At the same time DMX indicates that the sounds of the dogs also mean police are coming to the scene abandoned by black ni**as. In addition, DMX yells the hook in a vicious but catchy way that really adds a lot of dog's bite to the whole of this track.

PK ( real name: Anthony Fields ) steps in as the producer of the beats for Ruff Ryders Entertainment. The beats have an animated feel, sounding more like they a rock music band played it. They are composed of hard guitar strings, percussions and switching bass lines. Overall, The production fits perfectly with DMX's dog-biting flow.

Rating: 9/10

4. THE STORM (SKIT) (1:00 min)

(Not a music track)

Dame Grease (real name: Damon Blackman) presents a TV commercial - THE STORM for Vacant Lot Productions / Ruff Ryders Entertainment.............

So far I have travelled through three HOT tracks of this album and now I approach THE STORM. In this track, two men stand in a cold, rainy weather (i.e. THE STORM) having a debate about how sincere DMX is. The first man describes DMX as being a WACK, bad man who robs black people (i.e. ni**as) and how every other citizens have a negative perception of DMX. The second guy criticises the first man for being a hypocrite, declaring that he shouldn't judge DMX as he (i.e. the first man) robs black victims himself.

Rating: Not applicable

5. LOOK THRU MY EYES (3:50 min)

As I now enter a DARK track, DMX abandons his hot, hardcore style to rap slowly about people making wrong comments about him. Thus, on LOOK THRU MY EYES, DMX uses his lyrics to answer back at the first man (and others) on THE STORM for misjudging him. He asks this man and everyone else - YES US included, to LOOK THROUGH HIS EYES and understand all the struggle he has been through in his life. DMX starts off this track by saying '....Judge not and shall be judged first....'. Then he follows up this statement by imagining other people living his POOR life and lurking the streets to beg for food and drink. DMX turns on his poetry to do storytelling about how he has a good HEART OF GOLD inside him and doesn't deserve to burn in HELL (i.e. as some people say). DMX really shows his emotions on LOOK THRU MY EYES and his introspective lyrics are well executed, even when he slowly SINGS the hook:

[Chorus]
' Look in my eyes, see what I see
Do what I do, be what I be
Walk with my shoes that hurt your feet
And know why I lurk the streets'

PK's production provides a cold, dark and somewhat gloomy atmosphere (i.e. like THE STORM) for DMX to rap in. The production is a slow beat composed of depressing drum loops accompanied with piano keys and echoing bass lines. PK also adds a few, solemn dog sounds to the beats to make DMX sound like a dog left out in the cold streets.

Rating: 9/10

6. GET AT ME DOG (4:03 min) featuring Sheek from The Lox

GET AT ME DOG appears to be the first single that DMX released from his 'IT'S DARK AND HELL IS HOT' album. The video for this track was made in 1998 and it features DMX performing on stage in front of audiences. The video is also in black and white and quite DARK with occasional flashes of light. Not many BRITISH fans of Hip Hop will be familiar with GET AT ME DOG because DMX only released this track in USA. Furthermore GET AT ME DOG was an underground, radio single filled with explicit lyrics and not mainstream enough to sell in the UK. You GET what I'm saying dogs?

Dame Grease delivers the RED-HOT, classic beats for GET AT ME DOG. The beats consist of heavy guitar samples, basic drum loops, switching bass lines and inaudible background vocals. They are highly animated like the beats for FUCKIN' WIT D and therefore, nicely created. At the end of the track, Dame Grease adds the sounds of a money building blowing up. After this, DMX has a conversion with a black man, branding him a suspect for blowing up the building. It all ends with this black man getting battered by other guys for his suspicious acts.

DMX turns up the heat again to deliver punchlines and warnings against his black rivals who commit crime. He mainly does storytelling of how he PUNISHES black criminals (i.e. that he calls NI*GAZ) by robbing them of money that was stolen from other sources (e.g. a bank). The lyrics from DMX are very SCARY and explicit, but at the same time they are also creative, meaningful and VERY good. DMX's lyrical flow is also breathtaking and commanding. Sheek, who was a former member of Puff Daddy's label (Bad Boy Records) joins DMX to rap the catchy, powerful chorus. Sheek's real name is Shawn Jacobs and he is also one of the three rappers - The LOX (i.e. a group) who are now part of Ruff Ryders.

GET AT ME DOG is overall, a great track, but WHAT THE DEAL, I must get on with my review - Rrrrrrrr!

Rating: 10/10

7. LET ME FLY (4:12 min)

After hearing a hot track, the temperature cools down as DMX raps more slowly and softly on LET ME FLY. DMX's lyrics are highly introspective and the subject matter focuses on street violence that saddens DMX. DMX raps about how he wants to die in all the violence so that he can ask evil black men to ' ....LET ME FLY....' to heaven and allow his soul to rest in peace. Check out the amazing hook and verse:

[Chorus]
' Either let me fly, or give me death
Let my soul rest, take my breath
If I don't fly I'ma die anyway, I'ma live on
but I'll be gone any day'

[Verse]
' I sold my soul to the devil, and the price was cheap
A yo it's cold on this level cause it's twice as deep
But you don't hear me, ignorance is blisning and so on....'

Unlike most tracks, DMX does NOT sound at all violent here, making LET ME FLY the one of the calmer tracks that pop music fans can listen to. Yes, trust me on this one. Lyrically, LET ME FLY is similar to LOOK THRU MY EYES because DMX is rhyming with real emotional topics at a slow pace. DMX's combination of poetry, metaphors and conscious lyri, makes this track one of my personal favourites.

Dame Grease laces the beats on LET ME FLY for Vacant Lot Productions. The classic beats are amazing and provide a gloomy, dark grey atmosphere for DMX to rap in. They are made up of decent ring-tones, slow drum loops, gentle bass lines and background guitar samples. These sounds make LET ME FLY, very relaxing and sinister to my eardrums and this track is perfect to listen to whilst reading a book or studying.

I have no idea why DMX never made a single out of this awesome, LET ME FLY but I consider this track to be a classic. LET ME FLY would also be perfect as a soundtrack for the movie - 'Romeo Must Die' (film starring Jet Li and Aaliyah).

Rating: ++10/10

8. X-IS COMING (4:18 min)

DMX reverts to his usual, dark rapping style on X-IS COMING and his delivery is very good. His lyrics and subject matter on X-IS COMING can be incredibly disturbing for some listeners, especially young children and the elderly. In the verses, DMX plays the role of a vicious thug who causes trouble for citizens in the neighbourhood such as burglary, murder and rape. DMX writes his lyrics in such a way that he is an active criminal at NIGHT TIME out to seek revenge on all the people he hates. One of DMX's vengeance against his rivals, includes the lines:

' ....And if you got a daughter older then 15, I'ma rape her,
Take her on the living room floor, right there in front of you ....'

DMX is NOT a real dishonest person though he seems like it on this track. But he tries to tell a story similar to what people watch in real-life, HORROR documentaries. One example of a HORROR is that of Ramirez in 1984, a devilish, Texas criminal, who enjoyed burgling peoples homes and killing several people in USA. DMX has done a good job of making this track sound interesting. At the beginning and end of the track, children sing like POLTERGEISTS about DMX coming for people's houses like a monster. According to my experience, I don't find the hook very catchy:

[Kid - Chorus]
' 1, 2, X is comin' for you
3, 4, you better lock your door
5, 6, get your crucifix
7, 8, don't stay up late'

The beats are produced by PK for Ruff Ryders, so it's not surprising that the production will sound very dark and frightening yet again. The production has movie sound effects, dangerous bass lines and dark percussions that signal the coming of a 'Halloween' serial killer.

I feel that the contents of DMX's album are getting too DARK and HOT as HELL for CIAO readers! But, I must continue the journey through my review as I walk in the underground darkness. Now where's my torch?

Rating: 8/10

9. DAMIEN (3:42 min)

On DAMIEN, the production continues with dark instrumentals and this time it is Dame Grease who is behind the board. Dame Grease combines the sounds of sharp violins, soft cellos and dark percussions to create the sort of beat you would hear on an award-winning movie.

But what really makes this track brilliant is the clever poetry and unique creativity that DMX uses in his lyrics. On this track, DMX adjusts his flow to speak in the second person. In other words he raps in two split personalities - one who is obviously himself and the other known as DAMIEN. DAMIEN is the '....guardian angel....' of DMX with the voice of an elf or sprite who forces the real DMX to do BAD things like killing Sean, one of his best friends back in 1989. DMX of course, feels regretful of having to listen to DAMIEN who acts like Satan. But in his rhymes, DMX continues to commit sinful acts like having unauthorised sex with a girl (i.e. shorty) so that DAMIEN can be happy offer him a BIG Bentlez car a s a present! DMX also tries to keep DAMIEN as his personal friend throughout the track. The hook is brilliant and I like the way DMX passes an innuendo to the 'Rugrats' (a cartoon):

[Verse]
' ....Today I met this cat
He said his name was Damien
He thinks that we're alot alike and wants to be my friend
<You mean like Chuckie?>
HaHa yeah just like Chuckie
<Dada looks like we both lucky>'

[Chorus]
(The Snake the rat, the cat, the dog,
how you gon' see them if you livin in the fog)

When I listen to this track, I have a photographic imagination of night time events happening between DMX and DAMIEN with a moon shining. This is what makes a real CLASSIC.

Rating: ++10/10

10. HOW'S IT GOIN' DOWN (4:42 min)

This is a rather average track and is certainly GOIN' DOWN in comparison with the nine awesome tracks I have already explored. HOW'S IT GOIN' DOWN was the third single that DMX released from this album. The video is sometimes shown on MTV Base and is kind of blurry and somewhat boring, with DMX pulling up in a car and meeting a woman in the streets.

The track begins with DMX having an argument with his female partner about having an affair with a guy at work. DMX then drifts into giving an account of how he met his female partner called Tennika. He then tells stories of what he and Tennika did together in their relationship in a decent manner. DMX uses poetry and his lyrics are good but the romantic flow doesn't really suit him. The flow (as well as the video) would better suit LL Cool J on HOW'S IT GOIN' DOWN.

PK provides a nice R'n'B production with slow bass lines and romantic instrumentals playing over female vocals. This is highly unusual for a producer who is better known for his dark and hard beats.

Overall, this is a decent track, but not a very addictive listen.

Rating: 7/10

11. MICKEY (SKIT) (0:25 min)

(Not a music track)

PK, Waah and Rafael presents a TV programme - MICKEY for Ruff Ryders Entertainment.............

The standards of DMX's great album drop into a DARK hole as I enter the interlude - MICKEY (SKIT). This is a rather lame track about some idiot named MICKEY who knocks at DMX's front door. There are sounds of dogs barking and growling in response to MICKEY who smells like a RAT or dirty MOUSE to them. The track ends with sound of a rifle aimed at MICKEY and someone laughing. Pointless sh*t. NEXT.

Rating: Not applicable

12. CRIME STORY (3:47 min)

When I first played this track in 2002, I didn't enjoy it that much but it has grown on me a bit in 2005. DMX tells an imaginary CRIME STORY about how his life of crime includes robbing black people, running from police and gunning down cops. The storytelling by DMX is not bad, but when I listen to quality tracks like X-IS COMING, the way DMX executes his lyrical flow on CRIME STORY registers as a negative. In other words, DMX abandons his usual dog-biting style to flow more like 'Nas Escobar' and that CAN'T be good.

Irv Gotti creates the beats for Top Dawg Productions and are copied from Edwin Starr's song, 'Eastin In'. The beats are simple, being composed of lacklustre, American city drums and guitar samples. Irv Gotti's beats can get quite boring and doesn't really do DMX and CRIME STORY any justice.

Rating: 5/10

13. STOP BEING GREEDY (3:37 min)

After a dull track, DMX quickly gets fired up again one of my all-time favourite hardcore tracks - STOP BEING GREEDY. STOP BEING GREEDY is the track that DMX released as his second single off 'IT'S DARK AND HELL IS HOT'. PK handles his dark production beautifully by mixing haunting church organs, sharp violin loops and barking sounds of dogs (i.e. arf arf) to create an intense beat. The beats are a modified version of 'My Hero Is A God' a song by 'The Temptations'. They are also fast and energetic and really stimulate my appetite and hunger to listen to this track over and over again. Maybe I am just BEING GREEDY with this track.

The delivery and lyrics by DMX, are even better. Again, DMX splits his personality into two individuals just as he did on DAMIEN. This time he takes on the role of the bad DMX with a growling voice and the good DMX who has a gentle voice. The good DMX raps about using his talents in music to earn him money, thanking the Lord for his gift and praying for the wealth.
But the bad DMX ignores the good DMX, claiming that he is broke and so, wants to break into houses, shoot people and steal their money. The best aspects of this track are the chorus and the way the bad DMX collaborates effectively with the good DMX. The hook is excellent as it involves both forms of DMX telling each other to STOP BEING GREEDY, or else they will BITE each other and snatch the dog plate! The lyrics are filled with dark poetry and are incredibly entertaining:

' ....When you walk pass the dog house leave it a bone
Dogs bite, dogs fight, dogs knife (Note: Such funny DMX lyrics)
Scratch, shake, and hold all night
So when you hear the arf arf, start runnin
Cause when you hear the arf arf, I'm comin....'

The video for STOP BEING GREEDY displays the life of two sides of DMX. The scenes of the video display DMX as two people - one who is sincere and the other who's evil, wearing dark shades and hooded black clothing. The evil DMX burgles a mansion, chases a rich man and kills him (using a leashed dog) to steal his money and other valuables. The honest DMX holds back, having a good time with ladies he meets at the man's mansion. Most of the scenes in video are dark, portraying the events of burglary at night time and early dawn.

Brace yourself for more dog lyrics from the DMX. The DARKNESS of my review continues....

Rating: ++10/10

14. ATF (1:56 min)

ATF is a short track that sounds like a movie, where DMX is a fugitive running from the cops. In the verses, DMX rhymes about police banging hard on his door (_....BOOM, BOOM, BOOM...._) telling him it's ATF calling and surrounding his house. The track features a girl who helps DMX to escape through a safe exit from the house. DMX rushes into a guys car, stressing to the guy that he want's to stay alive for his children and doesn't want the ATF police to gun him. Unfortunately, the ATF cops eventually shoot DMX in the shoulder, neck and ear and DMX dies steadily in blood. The short 1:56 minutes doesn't do the quality of ATF any justice however and thus, ATF is not my favourite track.

Dame Grease laces the dark instrumentals for this track using loops of night time bells, haunting bass lines and dark drums. Overall, a good beat but the rhythm is nothing special.

Rating: 6/10

15. FOR MY DOGS (4:11 min) featuring Big Stan, Loose, Kasino and Drag-on

Dame Grease continues to offer his assistance to his DOG, DMX as he produces yet some more good beats. The beats are recycled from ATF except that Dame Grease has exchanged the haunting bass lines for slow bass lines. The change in these bass lines have great impact on the atmosphere of FOR MY DOGS, making this track sound really slow and laid-back.

Big Stan ( real name: Dennis Joyner ) raps the first verse followed by verses from Loose ( real name: Kendall Carter ), Drag-on ( real name: Mel Smalls ) and fourthly, Kasino. All four rappers give good lyrics about how they will do favours and show love for DMX they call their DOG. They also pass innuendos to DMX's dog-biting style incorporating words like 'bark' and 'scratch' in their rhymes. DMX raps the chorus in between Big Stan's / Loose's and Drag-on's / Kasino's verses, repeating ' ....this is for my dogs....' seven times. DMX finishes off the track with longest verse, rapping about people showing love for him and the Lord deciding when he should die in peace with respect. He spits his socially conscious lyrics with breathtaking flow and great honesty and his voice is toned down to a moderate level.

Rating: 7/10

16. I CAN FEEL IT (4:13 min)

DMX keeps his tone of voice at the same moderate level as he did on FOR MY DOGS. As on LOOK THRU MY EYES, DMX repeats his great storytelling about his past life but he raps about all the good events he has been through in life. In other words, DMX declares that he CAN FEEL the happiness inside him even though it means seeing life through many shades of grays and blacks.

Where the production is concerned, I can't say I am FEELING this track to much. This is because the beats are far too generic and boring like I have heard it many times before. NO WAIT - these beats are copied from Phil Collin's song 'In The Air Tonight'. Dame Grease even uses Phil Collin's vocals for the hook but his production seems rather lazy. The beats do not exactly fit with DMX's voice and flow which is probably why I often tend to push the skip button on I CAN FEEL IT.

Rating: 6/10

17. PRAYER (SKIT) (2:31 min)

(Not a music track)

Dame Grease presents the PRAYER for Vacant Lot Productions / Ruff Ryders Entertainment.............

DMX makes a long PRAYER to God about his painful experiences in life. He also pays tribute to God for showing him the way of life, strengthening his faith, forgiving his sins and providing food. The whole of DMX's prayer even sounds like an intelligent poem written by William Shakespeare. Here is a sample of it:

[DMX's prayer]
I' come to you hungry and tired
you give food and let me sleep
I come to you weak
you give strength and that's deep
you called me a sheep
and leed me to green pastures....' (Note: Sounds like the Old Testament - PSALM)

I wouldn't be surprised if DMX included his PRAYER on the album because he is religious and believes in God. YES, IT'S TRUE - British readers. In 2003, I read that DMX made plans to read his bible and go to church after retiring with the release of his final album, 'Grand Champ'.

Rating: Not applicable

18. THE CONVO (3:33 min)

As I listen to this track, the first thing that comes to my mind, is DMX sitting alone in the dark, looking up at God. DMX is calling upon God to have a conversation with him - in other words he is CONVOKING the Lord. For this reason, this track is called THE CONVO.

The subject matter of THE CONVO is practically a continuation of the PRAYER (SKIT) but this time DMX the DOG is rapping and talking at the same time. DMX again SPLITS up his personality, taking the role of two separate characters - one being himself and the other being the Lord. In this case, DMX is speaking in the second person as the Lord God. DMX raps the first verse in emotional fashion (even coming close to shedding tears), to ask why he grew up in a troubled environment with no love. He says that he tried to ask his grandmother for answers but couldn't seek the truth, so he turns to the Lord. The Lord God tells DMX that he watched him (Earl Simmons) grow up as a child and decided to grant him music skills to rap about his life and future. The Lord also persuades DMX to write new rhymes and have faith in his lyrical ability. DMX raps the final verse to praise the Lord. In doing so he brings out his full emotion, sounding like a character from the Holy Bible. THE CONVO track is a magnificent and wonderful masterpiece by DMX and is very similar to DAMIEN, being littered with street poetry. The only difference is that the Lord as the guardian angel, is advicing DMX to do the GOOD things and turn away from his sins.

Dame Grease offers yet another DARK instrumental on THE CONVO. The beats begin with the loading sound of guitar and turn into a sinister piano loops playing steadily through the darkness.

Rating: 10/10

19. NI*GAZ DONE STARTED SOMETHING (5:14 min) featuring The Lox and Mase

I can just see the light at the other end of the dark tunnel. I have one more track to examine before I finish walking through my review....

Dame Grease steps in as the final producer for NI*GAZ DONE STARTED SOMETHING, the last official music track on DMX's album. The production starts off briefly with loading drums and switches over to slow drums playing over high-pitched piano loops and human vocals. These musical instrumentals together create a gangster type, hardcore beat that to me is NOT exactly classic but fun to listen to.

Former Bad Boy rappers, Styles ( real name: David Styles ), Jadakiss ( real name: Jason Phillips ) and Sheek make their guest appearances. So does Mase ( real name: Mason Bella ) who is a long time buddy of Puff Daddy and is still signed to Bad Boy Records. Sheek and Mase rap the first and second verses respectively, delivering gangsta and braggadocio lines against their black rivals about making cash. Jadakiss and Styles then follow with third and fourth verses respectively also blasting lyrics against other rappers about making lots of money. Styles delivers the most intelligent and well-constructed lyrics of all four featured artists with rhymes like:

' ....Think you smartest, and retaliate the hardest, regardless
f you a thug or a rap artist, respect me like Pesci....

....And if you a thug, then start bustin off shots
And if you a dog, you better bite before you bark' (Note: Very catchy indeed).

DMX finishes off the track in his usual hard-hitting flow with the longest verse. He makes the highest number of vicious threats to all his possible adversaries (either commercial rappers are some other rich people) who have love for their money and think they're superior to DMX and his guest rappers. DMX delivers a great flow to lift the quality of NI*GAZ DONE STARTED SOMETHING. However, DMX can't match the high quality of Styles' and Jadakiss' rapping even if he has the longest verse.

Rating: 9/10

20. RUFF RYDERS' ANTHEM (LIVE) - BONUS TRACK (2:57 min)

(Not a genuine music track)

This is an additional track, where DMX performs his RUFF RYDERS' ANTHEM on stage, LIVE in front of an audience.

Rating: Not applicable

Now I can finally come out of the DARKNESS and rise from HELL, back to the surface (gasping for air), having explored the contents of this CD.

CONCLUSION

'IT'S DARK AND HELL IS HOT' is the best album that DMX has ever released and the subject matter of most tracks really live up to the album's title. Indeed, DMX sold around 3,000,000 copies of his debut album in 1998. The main advantages this album has, is that although DMX generally sounds intimidating, he delivers excellent lyrics that paint the real life of street violence and social issues. His lyrics on most tracks can be very entertaining (e.g. STOP BEING GREEDY), creative and sometimes conscious (e.g. LET ME FLY). The amazing DARK productions, add further advantages to 'IT'S DARK AND HELL IS HOT' .

The album also has a few disadvantages however, though not too bad. There are a few average tracks like CRIME STORY where the production and DMX's flow lack sufficient bite to sound interesting to my eardrums. The pointless, MICKEY (SKIT) is the one track (at No. 11) which really blemishes the quality of 'IT'S DARK AND HELL IS HOT'.

Finally, I must say this CD is not recommended for people who listen only to POP music, e.g. Elton John, Rachel Stevens, S Club 7, Victoria Beckham etc. 'IT'S DARK AND HELL IS HOT' will appeal to hardcore RAP music fans especially those who are familiar with the Ruff Ryders Crew!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my review on DMX albums. But until then, RIDE or DIE and thanks for reading - Grrrrrr....

FOR THE RECORD

If you like hardcore Hip Hop, you can purchase 'IT'S DARK AND HELL IS HOT' for a good value at www.cd-wow.co.uk for just £6.99 or www.thehut.com for £8.49. PLEASE do not go to HMV (like I did back in 2002), otherwise you will end up paying £12.99 and that is more than an extra £4 wasted in the process of buying this great album.

APPENDIX

Best beats: LET ME FLY, STOP BEING GREEDY

Worst beats: CRIME STORY, I CAN FEEL IT

Best Video: RUFF RYDERS' ANTHEM, STOP BEING GREEDY

Worst Video: HOW'S IT GOIN' DOWN

Overall rating for album: 8/10

Total marks = 132, 16 music tracks * 10 = 160

134/160 = 8.4/10 = 8/10 = 4/5 = 4 stars 

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