On this day in film history, Hype Williams’ 1998 masterpiece Belly was released in theaters. Starring New York legends Nas and DMX, Belly follows the life and times of Tommy Bunds (DMX) and Sincere (Nas). The two get by as run-of-the-mill professional criminals ducking and dodging their way to their idea of a better life. While DMX’s character is fine with continuing to stick-and-move and stack as much money as possible until it catches up with him, Nas’ role is looking to better himself and move his family ‘back to Africa’.
The film’s star-studded cast included Taral Hicks, T-Boz of TLC, Method Man, AZ, the late Louis Rankin, and Oliver “Power” Grant with cameos from Ghostface Killah and Sean Paul.
Although the movie may have been poorly received by critics across the board, this movie helped shape a generation. Hype Williams’ portrayal of this side of rap culture electrified not only those who were experiencing the themes of the film; but, it reached the millennials who were soon to take the reigns of pop culture. Films like Belly created an image that was directly emulated by the next generation of rappers. Without its influence and appeal the lifestyle led by artists like Jay-Z, Dip Set, and even A$AP Mob might have not have been as glamorized.
The film also spawned one of the greatest Hip Hop movie soundtracks of all time, featuring tracks from D’Angelo, Mya, Raekwon, N.O.R.E., Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Wu-Tang Clan, and the film’s stars. The soundtrack peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 and #2 Top R&B/Hip Hop chart making it one of the highest-charting Hip-Hop film soundtracks to date. The album’s sole single “Grand Finale” featuring Nas, DMX, Method Man, and Ja Rule peaked at #63 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop singles chart.
According to reports, a biopic chronicling DMX’s life is in the works. But that isn’t the only project honoring the late rapper slated to drop.
According to Billboard, a second posthumous album from DMX is on the way. The eight track body of work, titled Let Us Pray: Chapter X, supposedly will be released on December 13.
While Exodus was produced by Swizz Beats, Warryn Campbell will take over the role for Let Us Pray: Chapter X. In a statement, Campbell talked about the album.
“Working on Let Us Pray: Chapter X has been one of the most fulfilling experiences for me as a creative,” he said. “When you hear the voice of DMX, it inspires instant creativity and what better way to showcase who X really was than through prayer.”
Tracklist
1. “Favor” featuring Killer Mike, Mary Mary, & RoyzNoyz Orchestra
2. “Bear With Me” featuring LeCrae
3. “One Life To Do It” featuring MC Lyte & RoyzNoyz Orchestra
4. “Until I’m Gone” featuring Snoop Dogg, Terrace Martin, and Lena Byrd Miles
5. “Favor” (Instrumental)
6. “Bear With Me” (Instrumental)
7. “One Life To Do It” (Instrumental)
8. “Until I’m Gone” (Instrumental)
Let Us Pray: Chapter X is due out 12/13 via Def Jam/UMe. Find more information here.
Even though DMX has been gone for three years, it feels more like an eternity. He left behind one of the most successful hip-hop legacies in recent memory. The respect for him amongst his living peers is more than enough to make anyone realize just how special he was. His trademark growly delivery led to so many major hits, and they led to a massive collection of accolades. Since 2021, his estate has been trying to carry on his impact by okaying singles, collaborations, and even an album. 2024 has seen a small handful of joint efforts already, but DMX’s team is now pulling from his solo catalog this time around with “Favor” getting a wide release today.
According to a press release, this is the lead single from the Mount Vernon, New York native’s second posthumous album. It will be titled Let Us Pray: Chapter X and it will be out everywhere on December 13. It will contain eight songs (four are instrumentals) which are actually all spoken word cuts. More specifically, it’s a small collection of prayers that DMX recorded, and they are all backed by original music from producer and multi-genre songwriter, Warryn Campbell. He’s had a huge hand in some of Kanye West’s biggest songs and projects. His list of contributions includes work on Graduation, Donda, Late Registration, and JESUS IS KING. Stream DMX’s “Favor,” featuring Killer Mike, Mary Mary, and the RoyzNoyz Orchestra below.
“Favor” – DMX, Killer Mike, Mary Mary, & RoyzNoyz Orchestra
Quotable Lyrics:
I win battles that I don’t even have to fight because God fights them for me This is the day, the set time And designated moment for me to experience the free favors of God That profusely and lavishly abound on my behalf In Jesus’ mighty name, we have prayed Amen and amen
Def Jam/UMe has announced the Dec. 13, 2024, release of Let Us Pray: Chapter X, a posthumous DMX album that reveals the spiritual side of the legendary rapper Earl Simmons. The album will be available on all digital platforms and in physical formats, including CD, standard LP, and a limited-edition color vinyl available online.
Let Us Pray: Chapter X pairs DMX’s iconic prayers with new music by Grammy-winning producer Warryn Campbell, renowned for his hip-hop, R&B, and gospel work. Campbell composed original scores to accompany DMX’s spoken-word prayers, providing an intense and soul-stirring backdrop to DMX’s raw, spiritual reflections. The project features collaborations with an impressive roster of artists, including Snoop Dogg, Mary Mary, Killer Mike, MC Lyte, LeCrae, and the RoyzNoyz Orchestra.
“Working on ‘Let Us Pray: Chapter X’ has been one of the most fulfilling experiences for me as a creative,” Campbell said. “When you hear the voice of DMX, it inspires instant creativity and what better way to showcase who X really was than through prayer. I believe I can speak for MC Lyte, Killer Mike, Snoop Dogg, LeCrae, Mary Mary, Lena Byrd Miles, and Terrace Martin when I say it was an honor and privilege to be part of this amazing work.”
The album’s lead single is “Favor,” featuring Killer Mike, Mary Mary, and the RoyzNoyz Orchestra. The track highlights Mary Mary’s soulful harmonies and Killer Mike’s reflective verses woven between DMX’s powerful prayer, setting a compelling tone for the album.
You can see the tracklist for Let Us Pray: Chapter X below.
TRACKLISTING
1. Favor [feat. Killer Mike, Mary Mary, & RoyzNoyz Orchestra]
2. Bear With Me [feat. LeCrae]
3. One Life To Do It [feat. MC Lyte & RoyzNoyz Orchestra]
4. Until I’m Gone [feat. Snoop Dogg, Terrace Martin, & Lena Byrd Miles]
What is even more heartbreaking for fans is he had just wrapped up a new project shortly before his death, which could mean a posthumous album is on the way. This news is all according to the late musician’s father, Corey Lamar. On September 7, Lamar sat down with WSB-TV’s Michael Seiden to discuss his son’s life up to the last moments.
“We had just completed a 20- or 25-song project, and we were in the process of scheduling two video shoots off our project,” he said. “Quan has probably over 2,000 unreleased songs. But once he gets in a mode to record those songs become old to him. And when they become old he wants to focus on the new stuff. He has a catalog in the vault. He has a ton of music that the fans need to hear.”
So, who could fans expect to hear on the project should it ever be released? In the chat, Lamar shared that Rich Homie Quan just wrapped up collaborations with 2 Chainz and Plies.
Posthumous album are an extremely delicate situation. Still, many of rap’s fallen figures including Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., Big Pun, DMX, XXXTentacion, Young Dolph, and Pop Smoke’s estates approved the release of a project after the untimely deaths. Many of which of gone on to shift the culture.
Irv Gotti’s supposed fight in the courtroom is just heating up. But, the mogul’s battle to conquer his health appears to be under control. On August 28, TMZ reported that the Murder Inc boss suffered a stroke at the top of the year.
After taking time to recovery, Irv Gotti is ready to get back to work. According to The Shade Room, his first post-stroke project includes a biopic about his late dear friend, DMX.
Not much is known (expected release date, casting information, format, etc.) about the forthcoming project. However, DMX’s meteoric rise to fame and subsequent struggles with all were well-documented. So, there are plenty of things (documentaries, autobiography, etc.) to pull from.
As for Irv Gotti’s health update, a representative for the executive shared a statement. “Irv is not in a rehab facility,” said the rep. “He is at home with his family, enjoying life. Irv has been struggling with diabetes for years, which caused him to have a minor stroke over six months ago. He has since changed his diet to eating more healthy. He’s been successful in making a full recovery.”
Meanwhile, Irv laughed it, saying, “I’m getting older. That’s all. Only thing worse than getting old is not getting old.”
Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.
Stars — Set Yourself On Fire (20th Anniversary Vinyl Reissue)
Arts & Crafts
Stars are going on a North American tour to celebrate 20 years of their album Set Yourself On Fire, but that’s not all: There’s also a vinyl reissue that comes with a bunch of goodies, including new liner notes, a pin-up poster, a temporary tattoo, and of course, the album itself, pressed on 140g opaque red vinyl.
Duran Duran — Duran Duran, Rio, Seven And The Ragged Tiger, Notorious, and Big Thing (Reissues)
Warner
Duran Duran came out the gate scorching hot, and now that era can be celebrated with a new vinyl set that includes the group’s first five studio albums. The albums have long been out of print and they appear in remastered form here, so this is a big thing. From the iconic Rio cover art to the parade of massive hits including “Notorious” and “Girls On Film,” this is an essential run of records for both new fans and those wanting their faves on wax.
John Lennon — Mind Games (The Ultimate Mixes) Super Deluxe Box Set
Capitol/UMe
1973’s Mind Games was John Lennon’s fourth solo album, but in a way, it was also his first, in that it was the first one he produced himself. It’s a big one in his discography and this massive new box set (a literal box, in this case) is limited to only 1,100 pieces and comes with everything from reproduction artworks to posters to books and so much more.
You may not have known this, but Synchronicity started with a bunch of Sting demos. Well, those have never been heard before… until now, as they’re included in an impressive new reissue of the album. The box set contains 55 previously unreleased tracks in all, along with new liner notes, interviews, and more.
We just passed the 30th anniversary of Beastie Boys’Ill Communication (the “Sabotage” album). To mark the occasion, the group has unveiled a 3LP deluxe edition that marks the return of a rare edition of the album that had a limited release in 2009. It comes with lenticular cover art and 12 bonus tracks.
There has been a slew of Yusuf/Cat Stevens remasters gradually making their way out over the past few years, and now we have another. This time, it’s the 1973 classic Foreigner, and this reissue marks the first time the project is available on vinyl since its original release.
Last year’s vinyl reissue of Stop Making Sense sold out (naturally), but now the Talking Heads classic back as a 2LP black vinyl edition on Rhino.com and retail, and as a 2LP crystal clear vinyl version at Barnes And Noble. Whatever edition you get, it comes with a 12-page booklet featuring liner notes from all four band members.
The Mountain Goats — The Coroner’s Gambit (Reissue)
Merge
The Coroner’s Gambit has been out of print for a while, but fret no more: There’s a new edition out now that comes pressed on candy corn-colored vinyl and with new liner notes from John Darnielle. It even comes wrapped in a reproduction of the 15” × 18” white paper bag that the original tape came in, making for a fine homage to the humble roots of the project.
Land Of Talk — Applause Cheer Boo Hiss: The Definitive Edition
Saddle Creek/One Little Independent
Before Land Of Talk’s 2008 debut album Some Are Lakes was Applause Cheer Boo Hiss. Now that original project has gotten a reissue that pushes it into full-length territory, expanding the tracklist to 10 songs, plus an additional 10 tracks of acoustic renditions.
In 2023, Blur went massive at Wembley Stadium, playing to a combined 150,000 spectators across two concerts. Now, the occasion as been memorialized in a new live album, but pay attention to which edition you get: The triple black vinyl and triple teal colored vinyl editions feature the Sunday performances, while the double black vinyl and double picture disc vinyl versions feature highlights from both shows.
The Motown Records catalog is in the midst of a reissue series, with a handful of releases dropping every month. For July, Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells’ Together, which brought together Gaye, then an up-and-comer who hadn’t yet attained his now-legendary status, and Wells, an established star of the time. In addition, Motown also offered up The Supremes’ I Hear a Symphony on green vinyl and The Temptations’ Cloud Nine this month. It’s a good time to be a Motown fan.
DMX — It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot (Vinyl Me, Please Reissue)
Vinyl Me, Please
Vinyl Me, Please routinely nails it with the aesthetics of their reissues, and their new DMX release is another example, with the red and black vinyl perfectly complementing the cover art. Like all VMP releases, this one comes with a new listening notes booklet, too.
Rhino High Fidelity (Rhino Hi-Fi) offered up two more stellar titles from its high-end reissue series this month, classic rock gems from Bad Company and Yes. Both albums are limited to 5,000 individually numbered copies in which Kevin Gray expertly cuts lacquers and Optimal handles the 180-gram vinyl pressing. These are as good as the albums have ever sounded, providing definitive issues of two classics.
Fresh off their performance at Coachella and ahead of a widely sold out tour that will play multiple nights in NYC and Paris, L’Impératrice’s Pulsar is now out in the world. Featuring appearances from the likes of Maggie Rogers and Erick the Architect, Exclaim notes that the group “sounds more like themselves than ever” on the set. It’s a great addition to your vinyl collection, and one that might age well as the years go on.
Hip-hop legend Rakim is breaking new ground with his new project, G.O.D.’S NETWORK (REB7RTH), by flexing his skills both on the mic and behind the boards. Widely lauded as the best lyricist of all time, The God MC himself is blessing the culture with the next step in his historic career; and his first project in 15 years. G.O.D.’S NETWORK (REB7RTH) is now available.
“I feel like the battery in my back has been reenergized,” Rakim said about his new project, which arrives nearly four decades after the release of his classic debut with Eric B., Paid In Full. Since then, he’s continued to shape the landscape and culture of hip-hop as we know it, inspiring rising artists with his hype live shows and incredible studio albums. And while he’s produced some of his previous work—notably “Don’t Sweat the Technique,” “Juice (Know The Ledge),” and “Paid In Full”—this feels like new territory for the 18th Letter, whose production and scratching talents are nothing short of remarkable.
G.O.D.’S NETWORK (REB7RTH)is proof that Rakim is truly one of the most special artists we’ve known, not just in hip-hop, but all of music. You can tell he feels that level of praise when speaking about the genesis of the album. “Having the ability to showcase my talents behind the boards, coupled with the elite lyricism the world already knows and gives me infinite praise for, alongside some of the best talents to ever do it is truly a blessing and for that I am humbled,” Rakim declared.
The album’s first single, “Be Ill,” is the perfect introduction, as it pairs Rakim’s raw rhymes and head-nodding production with slick guest features from Kurupt and Masta Killa. Elsewhere, Rakim slows it down for the soulful “Love Is The Message,” which features Nipsey Hussle, Planet Asia, Louis King, Snoop Dogg, Sally Green, Kobe Honeycutt, and the LA Grand Choir. And then there’s the chest-thumping “International,” a straight-up slapper with hard-hitting rhymes from Kool G. Rap, Tristate, and Joell Ortiz.
On this day in Hip Hop history DMX released his debut album It‘s Dark and Hell Is Hot. This is DMX’s most popular project to date, with Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood serving as a close second. Within the first week of its release selling 251,000 copies debuting at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The LP went on to become certified quadruple platinum on December 18th, 2000.
This project came during a turbulent time in Hip Hop. The genre was coming off of the loss of two titans, Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G., and was facing a change in what was hot. With the rise of high energy production melded with dark and oft-violent lyricism coming from camps like No Limit, Cash Money, and Three 6 Mafia, DMX’s sound allowed him to find his place perfectly within the current trend while add his own twist.
DMX’s melancholic realism spoke to the generation. This project was able to simultaneously turn the party up and cause its listeners to think introspectively about the concept of good and evil and existence as a whole. This album touched on the struggle and pain that came being DMX. As most rappers would glamorize the finer side of the industry life, DMX reveals through this debut that even early on in his career he had been wrestling with the demons that come with wealth and fame.
The stand out hit of the album, “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem”, has been deemed as a classic squad anthem. Produced by Swizz Beatz, the single peaked at #93 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #79 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
Following this album, DMX went on to release six other studio albums and rise to be one of the most popular and influential artists of the early 2000s. Shortly following the release of this album DMX made his film debut in the hit film Belly with fellow New York rapper, Nas.
DMX was a crossover star in the purest sense of the phrase. He didn’t compromise his sound or his unique approach to songwriting, but his charisma was so overwhelming that it allowed him to bridge the gap between hip-hop and heavy metal. It’s easy to forget, but DMX was one of the artists who was at Woodstock ’99, and the only rapper. DMX’s influence on heavy metal is significant, in fact, that he’s still impacting Billboard charts three years after his death.
Five Finger Death Punch recently put out a deluxe version of their 2022 album Afterlife. The album’s lead single was “This Is the Way,” a DMX collaboration that mashed up the band’s song “Judgement Day” and X’s “The Way It’s Gonna Be.” The collab really struck a chord with listeners, topping the Billboard Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart. Billboard reports that “This Is the Way” pulled in a staggering 1,546 sales, and gave Five Finger Death Punch its 17th number one. The song’s impressive performance on the Hard Rock charts, however, was a first for DMX.
The rapper born Earl Simmons may have been a favorite among heavy metal crowds, but he never had a charting single on the Hard Rock charts during his lifetime. The achievement is bittersweet, of course, as X is not here to enjoy it. Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Zoltan Bathory, told Loudwire that he’d wanted to reach out to DMX years ago. Unfortunately, the schedules of the two artists never seemed to line up. After X died in 2021, Bathory felt compelled to make the collaboration happen as a tribute to the rapper. The band was able to get their hands on isolated DMX vocals, and the rest, as they say, is history.
“We got an opportunity with some of [DMX’s] master recordings,” Bathory told the outlet. “We got a green light on that — we can use these verses, these lyrics. So we had the masters and we basically reverse-engineered it. There was music under it, we took off the music and wrote new music and then sort of melded it with our style.” The melding of styles obviously worked. DMX appears to be in higher demand than ever, as evidenced by this chart topper and recent comments made by Hitmaka. The producer revealed he’s sitting on multiple X collabs, and is waiting for the right time to drop them.
