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DMX’s Posthumous Album “Let Us Pray: Chapter X” Gets A Release Date

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The hip-hop world still misses DMX dearly, and while posthumous projects are always understandable causes for concern with fans, this time feels a little different. His estate recently announced his posthumous album Let Us Pray: Chapter X, which will consist of four tracks and its four respective instrumental versions. Instead of rapping, this will feature the New York native’s famous prayers and represent his spiritual side, accompanied by instrumentation from songwriter and producer Warryn Campbell. Let Us Pray drops on December 13. The album’s first single, “Favor” with Killer Mike as well as Mary Mary and RoyzNoyz Orchestra, is already available on streaming services.

Other guests on the album include Lecrae, MC Lyte, Snoop Dogg, Terrace Martin, and Lena Byrd-Miles. “Working on Let Us Pray: Chapter X has been one of the most fulfilling experiences for me as a creative,” Campbell expressed concerning the posthumous spoken-word album. “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.”

Read More: LL Cool J Clarifies Why He Excluded Jay-Z & DMX From His Def Jam Mount Rushmore

DMX’s Posthumous Let Us Pray: Chapter X Drops In December

Elsewhere, other media projects looking to preserve the legacy of DMX (real name Earl Simmons) brought up some apparent conflicts when it comes to his loved ones. His ex wife Tashera Simmons recently denied that she’s working with Irv Gotti on a biopic of X that he teased. “In light of recent speculation, we want to clarify that we are not currently working with Irv Gotti, nor have we agreed to partner with him on any content related to Earl Simmons, including a biopic,” she stated via Instagram.

This follows other moves from DMX’s estate to partner with Artist Legacy Group to “ensure that his message and music live on” through “innovative projects.” At press time, it’s unclear if Let Us Pray: Chapter X is a part of this partnership or if there are other honors on the way. Nevertheless, this new album might just be a very cathartic moment.

Read More: DMX & Mary J Blige Celebrated With Mural In Yonkers Inspired By 2Pac

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Irv Gotti Updates Fans On His Health Following Stroke, Says He’s Working On DMX Biopic

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Irv Gotti concerned fans this week when Wack 100 alleged that he suffered a stroke, news that he then confirmed shortly after. However, it looks like he’s not wasting much time with this recovery, and is getting right back to his work in quite rapid fashion. Moreover, a representative for the Murder Inc. executive recently spoke to The Shade Room and provided the public with an update on his status. Apparently, he’s doing just fine and is now working on a DMX biopic, which is exciting news for fans of this era. Hopefully these two narratives of recovery and development don’t impact each other in a negative way.

“I’m getting older. That’s all. Only thing worse than getting old is not getting old,” Irv Gotti shared through his representative on Wednesday (August 28). In addition to the DMX film announcement, the rep also expressed Gotti’s disappointment with how Wack 100 revealed this private information publicly. “Irv has been struggling with diabetes for years, which caused him to have a minor stroke over six months ago,” the rep had told TMZ on Wednesday. “He has since changed his diet to eating more healthy. He’s been successful in making a full recovery. Irv is not in a rehab facility. He is at home with his family, enjoying life.”

Read More: 50 Cent Says Legal Fees From Irv Gotti’s Sexual Assault Allegation Will “Break His Ass In Half”

Irv Gotti’s Representative Speaks On Recent Stroke

Despite 50 Cent’s clowning (over romances unrelated to this stroke), Irv Gotti has previously spoken on his struggles with diabetes. “It’s rampant with Black people,” he said on Drink Champs last year. “What it does is, it starts deteriorating your body. No, [it’s not under contol]. I’ve been diagnosed with diabetes forever; it’s hereditary. When my [blood sugar] gets too high, shot [of insulin]. It’s reversible but you gotta change the way you eat, all that. But you know what’s f***ed up with diabetes? So anything that you’re gonna like or tastes good, horrible for you. Now what’s some nasty s**t? Broccoli… you supposed to eat some leaves or s**t like that.”

Meanwhile, Irv Gotti has also denied sexual assault claims against him. “Mr. Gotti rejected the attempt by this individual to coerce a payment of money from him. The lawsuit contains a single page of ‘facts’ which are unsworn to, sparse by any measure, and which Mr. Gotti categorically denies,” his representative stated.

Read More: Irv Gotti Accused Of Sexual Assault & Abuse: What We Know

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LL Cool J Clarifies Why He Excluded Jay-Z & DMX From His Def Jam Mount Rushmore

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LL Cool J ruffled more than a few feathers when he revealed his Def Jam Mount Rushmore a couple of weeks ago. Moreover, the big reasons as to why relate to his exclusion of Jay-Z and DMX from that list, which many fans disagreed with. For the record, the New York rap legend picked himself, Public Enemy, Slick Rick, and the Beastie Boys as the four artists that define the record label in his view. After some backlash to this decision, he recently elaborated on his thought process on The Joe Budden Podcast and revealed why he gave the edge to those artists despite his love of Hov and X.

“We’re facing stuff that kept the lights on at certain periods of time,” LL Cool J’s comments began. “I know DMX is supremely talented, used to kill the stage, sold a ton of records. I know Jay did a ton of stuff up there. So many others, I can name a zillion artists up there who did unbelievable s**t. I’m very clear about that. But I also know that, when I walked into Rick Rubin’s dormitory, it was a f***ing idea, bro. Like, you’re trying to talk to me about guys that are popular. I watched this s**t when it was a f***ing idea on a Post-It. You know what I mean? It’s two different conversations. The world is talking about who was the most popular. That’s all they care about. Who was the most popular, who was the richest, who sold the most records, who was exciting?

Read More: LL Cool J Thinks Snoop Dogg Should Play Him In A Biopic

LL Cool J On The Joe Budden Podcast

“I get that, and I respect it. I love it,” LL Cool J continued. “But that’s not what built the company. That’s what expanded the company at a different point. Look at our Mount Rushmore! Of the f***ing country. They talk about Mount Rushmore, but then they want me to put Bush on there. Who’s on there? The bones of the country, not who came later. And so people ask this question and then when you answer the question accurately, they want to say, ‘Oh, no, no. Well, Obama was considerably more impressive than this one.’ And of course I love Obama, you know what I’m saying? But the country, the Def Jam, the label was built by a key group of people. Like, this is the Mount Rushmore. You didn’t ask me who were the most commercially successful artists on the label. ‘Cause that’s an obvious answer.”

“Well, I respect the popularity,” LL Cool J responded to Joe Budden’s comparison to Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s battle. “Listen, no one can respect popularity more than me, bro. I had ten platinum albums in a row, I’m in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I got Grammys, 11 nominations. Like, I understand popularity in and out. I got TV shows in 200 countries in the world. It’s a 5 billion dollar franchise! It’s not that. The question was, ‘What is the Mount Rushmore of Def Jam?’ That is about the architects and the boons of the label. By the way, I actually respect these artists that came after on Def Jam. I’m not that guy. Listen, I introduced DMX to the world. You think I don’t love DMX? I put him on my song to introduce him to the f***ing world. I put the guy on!”

Read More: LL Cool J Says Kendrick Lamar’s Beef Tactics Against Drake Were “The Funniest S**t In The World”

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DMX’s Goddaughter Paige Hurd Recalls Them Getting Kicked Out Of Six Flags

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While getting to know one another as co-stars on Cradle 2 The Grave, DMX and Paige Hurd took a trip to Six Flags. However, it didn’t go exactly as planned, with them being kicked out of the amusement park after the group got caught with weed. Moreover, the legendary rapper’s goddaughter recalled the experience during a recent interview with Preme Magazine. As it turns out, the Power actress was actually terrified of rollercoasters, so it worked out for her. Still, she looked back fondly on one of their first memories together as they developed their on-screen father-daughter chemistry ahead of filming.

“Like right before we were filming Cradle 2 the Grave, we had to do like daddy-daughter bonding,” Paige Hurd remarked about the DMX story. “He came to pick me [and my sister] up from my house… And he was taking us to Six Flags. Now, I’m claustrophobic I do not do rollercoasters, I don’t do theme parks. I was like, ‘Yeah, well, I don’t ride rollercoasters.’ He was like, ‘Well, you are today.’ I was freaking out the entire way there. He drives very fast. I’m pretty sure we could all imagine. Very, very fast in this small car and we’re driving down the 5 freeway [and he] misses the exit.

Paige Hurd Tells The Story Of Her & DMX At Six Flags

“You think he goes to the next exit?” the 30-year-old continued. “Middle of the freeway, reverses and reverses down the on-ramp to get up. We get to Six Flags and me and my sister are terrified we have to get on these rides. And by the grace of God, weed was not legal then. They found weed and we got kicked out before we even got in. And I am like, ‘I’m the Lord’s child. He loves him some Paige.’ Then we ended up going to the mall, KFC and hanging out for the day. That’s one of my first memories that we’ve had.“

Through memories and tales like these, the legacy of DMX lives on as strongly as ever. While his absence is still painfully felt in the rap world, his impact was too large to be erased by mortality. In the coming years, as younger generations discover his catalog, we should expect much more reflections on his greatness. On that note, come back to HNHH for the latest news and updates surrounding DMX.

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DMX Faced A Scorpion In Wild Story From Cassidy

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The loss of DMX shook hip-hop to its core, as one of its most definitive, perseverant, and unique voices. While his storied battles with his inner demons inform much of his discography, his close friends and collaborators also keep his legacy alive in other ways. For example, the Ruff Ryders recently announced a Ryde Out through the five boroughs of New York to commemorate the two-year anniversary of his death. Through those acts and other testimonies, they show us a more complete picture of who Earl Simmons was and still is as an individual.

Philly rapper Cassidy recently recalled visiting the Ruff Ryder and Swizz Beatz while in Arizona, as he worked on his third album B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story back in 2006. While on The Bootleg Kev Podcast, he told a fun story involving the crew. “I went back to Arizona for my third album,” the rhymer began on the show. “That was the last time I was really around X, went to his crib… X was in a positive zone. I was liking how he was carrying it at that time.

Cassidy’s Story Time: DMX Versus A Scorpion

“One of the memorable moments was when he showed me this giant scorpion we was riding past,” he continued. “He was on the four-wheeler, we was in the car and he was leading us back to the road to leave. And then he turned around and said, ‘Yo, y’all wanna see a scorpion?’ He took a rock and threw it down and it made the scorpion tail come off. He picked it up like this, and poison was dripping and he was like, ‘Look, look!”

Furthermore, Cassidy spoke on that being the last time he connected with DMX, labeling him a “wild” but gold-hearted soul. In fact, they were once label mates, and although they didn’t get to link up in the same way again, his fond memories of the Yonkers legend persist. “That’s how I remembered him,” Cassidy remarked at another point in his conversation with the show host. “[DMX] didn’t give a f**k about nothing. He was just wild, but a good dude.” If you have a favorite story from the “Party Up” star, leave in in the comments and join us in celebrating his legacy. Also, stick around on HNHH for more moments, memories, and the latest updates on DMX and his incredible impact, career, and triumphant life.

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Melle Mel Says DMX & Tupac Were Better Actors Than Rappers

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Melle Mel recently said that he believes DMX and Tupac were better actors that they were rappers. Moreover, this comes from the same The Art Of Dialogue interview that held some other hot takes from the Furious Five legend. For example, readers may remember that, while referring to Billboard‘s best rappers of all time list, he said Busta Rhymes is better than Jay-Z. However, this most recently released take might be the most controversial of them all. While a lot of people might feel a bit more strongly about his Eminem takes, this is certainly another level of skill assessment.

“I thought Tupac was a better actor than he was a rapper,” the 61-year-old began. ” I thought DMX was a better actor than he was a rapper. Because it’s that persona and when you take a guy like that and you put them in front of a camera… I mean, DMX, he was a pretty good actor. He could have just stayed within himself and been more dedicated to what he was doing.

Melle Mel Says Tupac & DMX Are Better Actors Than Rappers

“Method Man, he’s a good actor,” he continued. “Ludacris a good actor. Because it’s almost the same thing. If you got a persona it’s almost like you acting anyway. So, when you put that same guy in front of the camera, there you go! Mos Def, I thought he was a hell of an actor.” Even though he showered these figures with praise, many thought he downplayed their importance on the mic. Still, it wouldn’t be the first time people disagreed with his takes. The one that really set people off was his claim that Eminem is only considered a top five rapper because he’s white. After backlash ensued, he responded to the outrage.

“We’re responsible for the genre,” he stated. “We’re the biggest influences in the genre, and if you ask anybody that knows anything about true Hip Hop, they will tell you that. If you ask anybody that calls themselves an MC, they will be the first to tell you that there is no modern day rap or Hip Hop of that nature if it wasn’t for Grandmaster Flash, if it wasn’t for the Furious Five, if it wasn’t for Melle Mel, if it wasn’t for [Keef] Cowboy.” Regardless of your take, return to HNHH for the latest on Melle Mel, DMX, and Tupac Shakur.

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