DMX

Swizz Beatz Revealed DMX Believed ‘Exodus’ Would Be His Last Album, Saying, ‘X Was Tired’

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On Friday DMX’s posthumous album, Exodus was released. Fans of the late rapper can rest assure knowing that the final body of work was completed before DMX tragically passed. Swizz Beatz, who executive produced Exdous, also revealed that a bulk of the project was completed after DMX and Snoop Dogg’s Verzuz battle last summer. In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Swizz spoke about the energy DMX had while he recorded the album — or lack thereof.

“We’d been talking about this record for a long time, but after we did Verzuz [in July 2020], he was ready,” Swizz said during the interview. “He saw that the people were showing him love and the fans were ready.” He added, “X was tired. The whole time we were doing the album, he was excited, but he was like, ‘I think this is going to be my last album.’ I was just like, ‘Let’s get through this and then let’s see; let’s judge it later, let’s not judge it now.’”

Swizz concluded, “I just tried keeping him in the now spirit, instead of thinking about what he’s not gonna do. But obviously, he knew something we didn’t.”

The famed hip-hop producer also shared his own feelings about the album now that it’s out. “I can at least listen to a song now without breaking down,” Swizz said. “I’m making it look strong, but I’m crushed, I’m destroyed, I’m hurt. But I had to pull this through for him and his family and for his legacy.”

You can read the full Rolling Stone interview here.

Exodus is out now via Def Jam. Get it here.

Jay-Z Explains Exactly Why DMX Was An Impossible Act To Follow As A Live Performer

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In the wake of the late DMX’s tragic, untimely death, his fans and peers have been sharing their memories and stories that reveal just what made him such a formidable force in the hip-hop world. Who better to testify to X’s power as a live performer than one of the best and most influential New York rappers in the game, Jay-Z. As the clip below shows, in a recent episode of LeBron James’ show, The Shop on HBO, even Jay-Z found X a tough act to follow. Just as he showed his fallibility in a recent episode by admitting he sometimes forgets his own lyrics, Jay let James and crew know that following up a DMX set was no easy feat.

“X is about to go on, and I’m like, you know, I wanna see,” he begins. “X is going before me. And then he goes (growls), and the f*cking arena goes crazy. First of all, it’s deafening… and I’m like oh sh*t.” Jay goes on to explain the other elements of X’s set that get the crowd hype, including ripping his shirt off halfway through his set, and then, of course, leading the entire crowd in prayer as a closing act. Then, after all that, it’s time for Jay-Z to take the stage — a tough act to follow indeed. Check out his retelling of the set above, it showcases exactly why Jay is such a successful figure in pop culture in the first place, he’s a great storyteller. And if you’re craving more DMX, check out the posthumous Exodus album his label released this past Friday.

Seven DMX Singles Were Certifed Gold Or Platinum This Week

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Although DMX has long been one of hip-hop’s best-selling artists — see: his five consecutive No. 1 album debuts on the Billboard 200 and the near-ubiquity of singles like “Party Up” and “X Gon’ Give It To Ya” — many of his most recognizable singles were only certified gold or platinum by the RIAA this week, nearly two months after his death in early April.

The certified songs include “How It’s Goin’ Down” (gold), the aforementioned “Party Up” (platinum), “Ruff Ryders Anthem” (platinum), “What These B*tches Want” featuring Sisqo (gold), “What’s My Name” (gold), “Where The Hood At” (platinum), and “X Gon’ Give It To Ya” (platinum).

For those wondering why these seven songs were only recently certified when some — like “X Gon’ Give It To Ya,” which shipped and/or sold over a million copies in 2017 — surpassed their respective certification thresholds years ago. Fortunately, DJ Booth’s Brian Zisook explained the phenomenon, which he called the result of “a combination of laziness and cost.”

“Labels often will wait until there is a ton of eligible records and they apply for certifications in bulk and then use the number as fodder for coverage,” he explained. “These 7 records didn’t all just become eligible at once.” In a separate tweet, he elaborated that, “Artists will often ask or remind their labels to apply for them on their behalf” sometime after their eligibility — which, in X’s case, couldn’t have been the highest priority (in 2017, he was on trial for tax fraud, spending nearly a year in prison as a result and spending time in and out of rehab).

However, with X’s posthumous album, Exodus, dropping this Friday, there was perhaps no more opportune time for Def Jam to file for certifications — even if it is in semi-bad taste. You can check out one of the first songs released from the album, the Griselda-featuring “Hood Blues,” now.

DMX And Griselda’s Benny, Conway, And Westside Gunn Get Busy On ‘Hood Blues’

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Fans of gritty, ultraviolent New York rap rejoice. DMX‘s long-awaited track with the members of Griselda Records, “Hood Blues,” has arrived and it doesn’t disappoint. Opening with a slinky, sinister kick-snare combo and the signature ad-libs of its primary performers — X’s growl and Gunn’s tongue-trilling automatic rifle effects — the new track hearkens back to an era when visiting the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time could result in some pretty unpleasant experiences.

With “Hood Blues” providing a guidepost to the sound of X’s upcoming posthumous album Exodus, fans now have a better idea of what to expect from the Swizz Beatz-produced project, which X’s longtime collaborator played in full for a select group of DJs and fellow industry pros during a private listening session on Zoom last week.

It’s certainly vintage-sounding DMX material, built around a sample of Lee Mason & His Orchestra’s “Shady Blues” and recalling Swizz’s more recent, stripped-down work more so than the raucous, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink synth approach he used earlier in his career. If Exodus continues in the same vein of “Hood Blues,” then it should satisfy longtime X fans and newcomers alike — and, on a personal note, I can’t wait to hear Jay-Z and Nas on a beat in this style, which could bring out the latent chemistry they’ve only rarely been able to tap into.

Listen to “Hood Blues” above. Exodus is out 5/28 on Def Jam.

DMX’s Ex-Wife Reveals His Last Words Before Passing

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Late hip-hop legend DMX is remembered until his very last moments by the loved ones he left behind. The rap icon’s ex-wife Tashera Simmons has recently revealed his last words to her before his death. DMX’s Ex-Wife Reveals His Last Words Tashera opened up during a People magazine podcast episode, describing how she and the […]

The post DMX’s Ex-Wife Reveals His Last Words Before Passing appeared first on SOHH.com.

Ruff Ryders Are Hosting A March To Honor DMX And Support The George Floyd Justice In Policing Act

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The unexpected passing of DMX has led to a whole host of projects cropping up in his memory. Not only is his label releasing a guest-packed posthumous album, Exodus, later this month, but his crew the Ruff Ryders have been active about organizing, too. Ruff Ryders to The Rescue organized a march in Houston called Ryde4Lyfe that will honor his memory, as well collaborate with the Philonise and Keeta Floyd Institution, founded by the brother of George Floyd’s brother, to commemorate the life of George Floyd.

Additionally, the event hopes to raise awareness for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that’s before Congress. If you’re in Houston and able to attend the march, it will start this Saturday, May 22 in McGregor Park at 8 AM CST and finish at the Jack Yates High School.

Check out more information on the march in an Instagram post shared to the Ruff Ryders To The Rescue account:

Here’s the full caption for the post:

Ruff Ryders 2 The Rescue is joining forces with Philonese & Keeta Floyd ‘Institute For Social Change for a game-changing ride event. Come out and support a monumental humanitarian cause! We are asking that everyone reach out to your local congressmen to ensure the vote to pass the “George Floyd Justice In Policing Act” In Congress. Our ride honors George Floyd & The Late Great DMX. For years, X has been the voice of strength, hope, and courage in the streets throughout the black community. Over the past decade, most of the Black culture has suffered behind police brutality without justice. We’ve watched countless viral videos of sisters and brothers senselessly beaten and gunned down by law enforcement. It’s time to end this cycle. We’re striving for the passing of this bill to help end police brutality in our culture and begin to hold law enforcement accountable. The ride out will take place on Saturday May 22nd at 8am CST in Houston and start at 5225 Calhoun Road and end at 3650 Alabama Street. The proceeds of the t-shirt will be donated to our campaign to end police brutality. Gear up, join us, and support a monumental humanitarian cause!

Learn more about the event here.