#Dmx and then there was x full#
#Dmx and then there was x plus#

вЂњNever Gonna LieвЂќ alternates between a boast of вЂњIвЂ™m never gonвЂ™ dieвЂќ and a promise to stay in the life вЂњeven if it kill me.вЂќ And the hired killer of вЂњThe StreetzвЂќ admits вЂњI know IвЂ™m goinвЂ™ to hell.вЂќ After those opening cuts, the album eases into less surprising criminal territory, but вЂњMoneyвЂќ (a small-timerвЂ™s lament couched in a driving track) and вЂњWhatвЂ™s My NameвЂќ donвЂ™t make their milieus sound very enjoyable either. вЂњOne More RoadвЂќ details a spectacularly failed liquor-store robbery that ends in murder. And Then There Was XвЂ™s often doomy sounding beats are accompanied by warnings, threats and admissions that thugginвЂ™ is little fun. With a demanding audience who expects him to turn out product every nine months and convincing album sales that reflect this pent up thirst for D, he may never actually get the time and introspection he needs to pen a perfect release.Gangsta rap is often criticized for glamorizing the street, but DMXвЂ™s third album seems anything but a celebration. And Then There Was X doesnt show much sign of burnout.

#Dmx and then there was x full#

The conclusion one must draw after listening to this album is that DMX is definitely a talented rapper (whose raps about God in his life are surprisingly convincing and personal) who has yet to reach the full of his potential. Though its DMXs third album in two years. вЂњDonвЂ™t You EverвЂќ may in fact be the most horrifically bad beat DMX has ever rhymed on, and we could have down without stupid skits like вЂњThe ShakedownвЂќ. вЂњFameвЂќ is decent musically but is so lackluster in itвЂ™s вЂњthe streets are a motherfuckerвЂќ moralizing that itвЂ™s album filler.

#Dmx and then there was x plus#

It comes as slightly ironic that DMX would diss wealth in вЂњMore 2 a SongвЂќ after having given Jay-Z props less than a minute earlier вЂ“ plus a weak beat really saps the strength of an otherwise powerful message. This is the kind of rowdy New York anthem that even the most hardcore Southern rap fans have to love: itвЂ™s DEFINITELY designed to Tear Da Club Up. The Timbaland-esque style of вЂњWhatвЂ™s My Name?вЂќ showcases DвЂ™s potential to set it off on any kind of beat, and the slamming grand piano chords provide the perfect accent to DвЂ™s STOP-STOP-STOP and flow rhyme pattern. The best track though for better or worse also happens to be the albumвЂ™s lead single.

The latter song is one of the best ever blends of hardcore rap with smooth R&B has ever heard possibly better than K-Ci and JoJo on E-40вЂ™s вЂњRappers BallвЂќ. When paired with the kind of excellent beats Swizz Beatz provides on вЂњOne More Road to CrossвЂќ and вЂњParty UpвЂќ, Irv Gotti does on вЂњWhatвЂ™s My Name?вЂќ and вЂњAngelвЂќ, and most surprisingly by Nokio on вЂњWhat These Bitches WantвЂќ which also features Dru Hill member Sisqo on the hook, DMXвЂ™s mostly nihilistic style works. This isnвЂ™t necessarily a bad thing вЂ“ DMX has a formula that works and thereвЂ™s no reason he shouldnвЂ™t stick with it. You could almost call this album вЂњDie HarderвЂќ or maybe вЂњItвЂ™s Gotten More Dark and Hell is Even Hotter Yet.вЂќ This, his third album in under two years, gives the fans more of exactly what they want from the living reincarnation of Tupac Shakur. You certainly canвЂ™t fault Earl Simmons for his work ethic.