Music moguls JAY-Z and Nas are coming together for late Ruff Ryders icon DMX. New details have surfaced on X’s posthumous Exodus album including some standout guest features including the former Def Jam trio. JAY-Z + Nas will reunite on X’s last album With anticipation building for the project’s May 28 release, both song titles […]
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During a recent livestream listening party via Zoom, Swizz Beatz gave a select group of DJs and music industry peers a sneak peek at DMX’s upcoming posthumous album Exodus, which Swizz also produced. Complex reports that attendees of the listening party have revealed some its possible guest appearances via social media posts. Some we knew already, such as Griselda Records’ crew of gritty rappers, or could have guessed, like The LOX, DMX’s longtime Ruff Ryders labelmates, and most frequent collaborators. Unfortunately, a planned Pop Smoke collab was nixed.
However, there were also some surprises, including yet another reunion between former foes Jay-Z and Nas, who are beginning to make a habit of appearing together on some of their most vaunted peers’ projects. Most recently, the two King Of New York competitors teamed up to issue a non-apology on DJ Khaled’s “Sorry Not Sorry,” and listeners from Swizz’s Zoom preview expressed enthusiastic reactions toward the track — the first to feature all three artists. It’s also the first collaboration between Jay and X since Jay fell out with both DMX and Nas in the late-’90s/early-2000s. The track reunites Nas and X for the first time since “Grand Finale”; they also worked together on “Life Is What You Make It” and the Hype Williams feature debut Belly.
DMX x JAY Z x NAS
TRACK IS CRAZY
SWIZZ PLAYING THE NEW DMX ALBUM pic.twitter.com/dIiH3sBjxQ— Uncle G (@DjG2uk) May 14, 2021
It’s track #2 on the album. https://t.co/doS5WVqizs
— TonyHanesDaDome (@EnterDaDome) May 14, 2021
Jay-Z previously collaborated with DMX on Blackout,” “It’s Murda,” and “Money, Cash, Hoes,” in the late-’90s, which sent both rappers ascending to the top of the hip-hop charts. With all three reportedly combining on a track for the first time, anticipation for Exodus will likely be higher than ever.
Exodus is due 5/28 on Def Jam.
A week after DMX’s tragic death, the world received a posthumous verse from him thanks to the Swizz Beatz and French Montana-accompanied track, “Been To War,” an effort that appeared in Epix’s Godfather Of Harlem TV series. The song makes for DMX’s second contribution to the show as the series’ current theme song is his and Rick Ross’ “Just In Case.” During an interview with Rap-Up, Swizz Beatz spoke about the song and revealed that it was the last song he and DMX recorded together before his death.
“I actually made that record for X, and wanted that record for X, but then we was coming with the show. And so it was like, you know what, it’s perfect,” Swizz said. While reflecting on the last few records they did together, he added, “Yeah, that might’ve been the last one.” Swizz then shared how DMX felt to be once again involved in the TV series from a music standpoint.
“He sent it to me and he was just so excited to be included in Godfather Of Harlem again, beyond the theme song,” he said. “And he just was like, I’m going to get it. ‘Cause he was taking a little long to finish the verse because he was traveling. And then he called me and he was just like, ‘I’m on it. I’m going to the studio and I’ll have it to you by tomorrow.’”
DMX kept his word and sent the song back to Swizz the following day. “I thought it was super fresh and he just was super appreciative, ’cause he was a big fan of Forest [Whitaker],” Swizz added. “Big fan of Godfather and it’s something he actually had fun doing.”
Listen to “Been To War” below.
New York rapper Nas is ready for DMX’s posthumous album. The hip-hop veteran has stepped up to promote and share his anticipation for the late Def Jam icon’s upcoming Exodus album. Nas Can’t Wait For DMX’s Album Nasir Jones went to his Instagram page to hype up the new album. The late rapper’s former Belly […]
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Almost one month to the day after the death of DMX, Def Jam Recordings has announced the release date for DMX’s posthumous album, Exodus: May 28. The album will be produced by X’s longtime collaborator Swizz Beatz and will be his first original release since 2012’s Undisputed. It’s named for DMX’s son Exodus Simmons, while another longtime X collaborator, Jonathan Mannion, will contribute the cover photo. Further details have yet to be announced.
In a statement, Swizz Beatz praised his partner-in-rhyme, saying, “My brother X was one of the most pure and rare souls I’ve ever met. He lived his life dedicated to his family and music. Most of all, he was generous with his giving and loved his fans beyond measure. This album, X couldn’t wait for his fans all around the world to hear and show just how much he valued each and every single person that has supported him unconditionally.”
At the time of his death, DMX had been working on the new album for around two years since being released from prison on tax evasion charges. In various interviews, he teased potential collaborators such as Pop Smoke and the Buffalo-based Griselda Records. It remains to be seen if these songs will be cleared for the final tracklist.
Exodus is due 5/28 via Def Jam.
It’s been a month since DMX tragically died following a heart attack that resulted from a reported drug overdose. His passing left many close family members, friends, and fans to grieve at the unexpected loss. One of those was Swizz Beatz, who shared a passionate speech at the late rapper’s memorial service last month. Swizz had some harsh words for those who failed to check on DMX before his death, despite claiming to be close to him. During a recent interview with Angie Martinez, he explained what inspired the speech and why he felt it was necessary to deliver it at the service.
“From the fans’ standpoint, X got a lot of love. It’s just the other love he was looking for I don’t think he got a lot of,” Swizz said. “And that’s what made me want to say what I said at his homegoing because I was dealing with a lot of that.” He added, “I was with X a lot. Especially, recently. So I was very current in his life and understanding where he was at and what he was going through. So when I started seeing things, naturally as his brother, it just bothered me.” He also said he had no regrets for the speech and would do it all over again if he had to.
Swizz also spoke about DMX’s upcoming album, which he called a “well-deserved masterpiece.” “X was really in a good mood after doing Verzuz,” he said. “He really got excited because he was able to see the love that the youth had for him and the energy that Snoop gave him…We didn’t leave L.A. We stayed there and finished the album at Snoop’s studio like from Verzuz. That energy bottled, bottled up and we just stayed on it. X was just saying that ‘I just wanna get some new music out so I can contribute to this new energy that I’m feeling.’” He continued, “He was going to get back in the best shape that we’ve ever seen him in a long time physically as well.”
You can watch clips from the interview above.
Before his passing, DMX seemed happy to make time for interviews with various outlets, as it usually gave him an outlet to speak on the issues that weighed on his mind or reminisce about the good old days coming up in New York City (or Yonkers, as the case may be). It also provided plenty of meme-able moments and hilarious quotes, such as the time he shared his opinion on Drake, or that time he was flummoxed to learn a Black man named “Barack” was running for president, or that time he wound up singing “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” delighting fans on the internet for the next half-decade to come.
And although he’s gone now, we’ve still got at least one last interview to look forward to, as TV One managed to get ahold of him in the midst of his comeback campaign for DMX Uncensored, a docu-series filmed just three weeks before his untimely demise that looks at his rise, fall, and bid for redemption in his own words. While the interview itself is scheduled to air May 16 at 8 pm ET on TVOne, a quick teaser was shared on the network’s Twitter account to promote the event.
With more than 74 million records sold worldwide, DMX holds a legacy as one of hip hop’s best-selling artists. #DMXUncensored airs on Sunday, May 16 at 8P/7C. Watch a preview here: https://t.co/MTCGGeIQOB pic.twitter.com/DcghV9qXcf
— TV One (@tvonetv) May 5, 2021
Meanwhile, you can check out DMX’s People’s Party interview with Talib Kweli right here on Uproxx.
The passing of DMX is something that’s still a painful thought for many. It was just last weekend that the late rapper’s family and friends came together for a pair of memorial services to honor his life, one of which took place at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Despite being a week removed from these services, people are still finding ways to honor the hip-hop legend like Lil Wayne did during his performance at Miami’s Trillerfest on Saturday.
During his set, Wayne recalled a time during his career where he toured as much as “six months out the year.” He specifically used the moment to reflect on meeting DMX during the Cash Money Ruff Ryders tour which took place back in 2000.
“When we saw DMX, we all fell in love,” he said. “But when I got on tour with him, now you in the hotel lobby, you in the backstage, you run across the n**** and he actually say something to you. And when you see this n**** talk like how he rap and you see this n**** is what he is and you see this n**** got a zillion dogs with him, then a zillion dogs with him, it’s impossible not to be obsessed, infatuated, motherfucking impressed, whatever.”
His comments come after DMX previously confirmed that Wayne would appear on his upcoming album. The late rapper shared the news during an interview on the Drink Champs podcast where he revealed the project also includes features from Griselda Records, Usher, Pop Smoke and U2’s Bono.
You can watch Lil Wayne speak about DMX above.
