Well, i wrote this for rapreviews, and then realize that the album that needed a review was ...and then there was x(i think), so you guys can have it
DMX :: It’s Dark and Hell is Hot
After nearly 10 years, countless arrests, and a musical output that seems to get weaker with each rehash of the album before it, it’s hard to remember DMX as the force he was when he first burst onto the rap seen in 1998. With “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot,” DMX was instantly recognized as one of the most powerful personalities Hip Hop had ever witnessed. Gifted with a passion heard equally in his quiet growls and loud roars, and a lyrical deftness that would be forgotten in his later, angrier releases, DMX was a giant among the boys of the rap world.
With its three hit singles (“Get at Me Dog,” “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem,” and “How’s it Goin’ Down”), DMX instantly became the most recognizable hardcore rapper in the game. His combination of overwhelming emotion and a lyrical ability that ran laps around most rappers of any style (and still does), he was marked for the success he’d achieve. As soon as you put the album in your CD player, you’re greeted with a simple but pounding production, the perfect beat for DMX, who kicks down the door to the rap scene:
One two one two, come through run through
Gun who, oh you don’t know what the gun do
Some do, those that know are real quiet
Let me think you wanna try it, **** around and start a riot
*****s gonna buy it, regardless because I’m the hardest
rap artist and I'ma start this
**** up for real, get up and feel, my words
And anybody within earshot did. But what made DMX so special wasn’t just how vicious he could be, although his lyrics and delivery sounded as dangerous as any rapper before or since. His words and delivery contained a nuanced approach that eludes all but the greatest. Effortlessly shifting between harsh screams, and low threats that somehow were ever scarier, the DMX of “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot” is never once a predictable listen, despite production that begins to wear on the listener after about 10 tracks.
Even more so, his lyrics contained a personal trauma that is truly compelling, and holds this album to repeated listens. He was cold and ruthless, but possessed with a depth of character that recalled Scarface and the late Tupac Shakur. At first glance, this album seems to be made mostly of the threats of “Get at Me Dog,” but upon more thorough inspection, the complexity of DMX shines through the darkness that this album presents.
Unafraid to approach his own failings, DMX examines his own inner demons on “Damien” and his desires to rise above adversity on “Let Me Fly.” You’ll never feel exactly sorry for him, but it is impossible to dismiss him as unthoughtful or unintelligent. He bares his soul to God on “Prayer,” and on “I Can Feel It,” he pens lyrics that are at once positive and depressing:
The best of y'all *****s remind me of myself when I was younger
When it was hunger that stopped the ***** from goin' under
And you wonder, why I pat you on your head, smile
Look in your eyes and thank the lord for my child
Meanwhile, somethin' I gotta show you and I hope you can take it
Gonna leave you in the desert, an I hope that you make it
Gotta put you on your *** to see what it does to you
When you stand up and see that I'm just showin' love to you
At 65 minutes, this on the long side for any hip hop album, and DMX can be a little heavy after about 50. None of the tracks are weak, but with one or two exceptions, it’s universally dark. This length, however gives DMX time to fully explore his abilities. “How’s it Goin’ Down” is downright light for this album, and he gets the showcase an astonishing array of subtly different flows, deliveries, and speeds.
“It’s Dark and Hell is Hot” probably is not DMX’s best album. It’s too long, and is hampered by production that becomes monotonous after a while. He doesn’t reach the heights of his anger here, and its not as rousing as some of his later efforts. But after this, none of his other albums will shock you the same, and none of them contain the subtleties of this one. He may not be as rousing as he would become later, but this is his true artistic masterpiece. “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot” is an essential listen for any fan of hip hop, and remains just as powerful through the test of time.
Lyric Vibes: 9.5/10
Music Vibes: 7.5/10
Total Vibes: 8.5/10
DMX - It's Dark and Hell is Hot
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