DMX - Its Dark Hell Is Hot (18 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

DMX - An Instant Classic

Jeff LeBlanc | Center Moriches, NY | 08/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first time I picked this CD up was at my friends house over 2 years' ago. I'd never even heard of DMX, but I wanted to give it a chance, like I give all music. That night I walked out a changed guy. Later that week I made a stop at the store and picked up the best CD I ever bought. Every track is a masterpiece, from the intro, to the finely tuned skits. One by one, Earl Simmons created a conditioned work of art that cannot be topped. The "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" is an urban classic, with a raw sound and beat that still bangs in parties and clubs today. Another hit, "Get At Me Dog" is another rough, and urban sound, which can get anyone's adrenaline soaring. Important messages are detailed throughout songs such as "Damien", which has some of the most well constructed lyrics I've ever come accross. Other tracks such as "Stop Being Greedy" and "ATF" relect on DMX's past street life, which can grab your attention and never let go. Softer cuts such as "How's It Goin' Down", "The Convo", and the infamous "Prayer" show DMX's softer side, and take away some of the anger and angst that is heard throughout all of the other tracks. This will forever remain a classic in the hip hop industry. It re-opened numerous doors for the east coast rap business, and hip-hop in general. This is one disc you cannot be without - satisfaction guaranteed."

DMX- It's Dark and Hell is Hot

Constant | Vancouver, BC Canada | 02/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In may 1998 the then mostly unknown DMX (Earl Simmons)dropped his first album "It's Dark and Hell is Hot" one of the illest album in years in my opinion. DMX's gruff growling vocal flow is distinct, unlike anything I had ever heard before. A then unknown Swizz Beats produced the melodic "Ruff Ryders Anthem" which would blow, and become a common anthem in the hiphop world. Years later still bumping "Let Me Fly" one of my all time favourite hiphop tracks. "How's It Going Down" would also blow, another crossover hit, where X talks to the ladies. Hardcore tracks like "Stop Being Greedy" and "Get at Me Dog" where X talked about street life make this album a great album. "Damien" is an entertaining story telling track. Guest appearances are mostly good on this album, especially those from the Lox who would later sign with Ruff Ryders. DMX's lyrics and flow is exceptionally tight on this album, beats and production is excellent, with a few exceptions not being too par, most of these coming from producers outside the Ruff Ryder family like Irv Gotti. One of the reasons X comes across as strong as he does, is he is real, he isnt just talking about stories he has heard, he is talking about himself, and where hes been, and what he has gone through, this is what makes him one of the best in my opinion and its what makes "Its Dark and Hell is Hot" a Classic."

Has one thing his other albums don't have--VARIETY

E.J. Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 03/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can definitely call this album a classic because it shows his versatility ("Stop Being Greedy" and "Damien" finds him rapping in different voices, while "How's It Going Down" is a successful joint for the ladies), his religious manner without being too preachy ("Let Me Fly"), and his energy, of course ("Ruff Ryders Anthem", "Get at Me Dog", "F'n Wit D" and "N'z Done Started Something"). On the latter song, Mase and The Lox guest starred on there to show everyone that they weren't no shiny suit rappers from Bad Boy. DMX also tells good stories on "ATF" and "Crime Story". On every album following this one, all of his songs have too many "What?"'s and "Come On!"'s, too many Swizz beats that derived from Casio, and too many songs that sound like rejects from this album."

Dmx da greatest

Jessica Mitchell | Lynchburg,Va | 11/28/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All I have to say is Dmx is the greatest and this cd is awesome. All of yall out there that hate Dmx are just stupid. X's voice is incredible. I love it. No matter what anyone says I will always love Dmx's music and if anyone wants to listen to some real rap you need to go out and buy this cd eventhough it is a little old. You won't be able to stop playing it!"

DMX's First Album Was His Best Album

Kalie A. Gipson | 04/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"DMX came on the scene in 1998 with his first album "It's Dark and Hell is Hot". This album still remains one of my favorite hardcore rap albums of all time. DMX came out straight grimey on this one, dropping extreme rhymes over some gritty production. During the same year X dropped "Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood" (which is a great album, but it doesn't quite measure up to this one), "And Then There Was X" in 1999, "The Great Depression" in 2001, and "Grand Champ" in 2003 (by far his worst album to date). Darkman X started to slip after "FOMFBOMB" but never completely fell off. "Here We Go Again" is scheduled to drop sometime in the next 10 years, but an exact release date is uncertain. However, this album remains his best to date, and hasn't been topped by X yet.

The album starts off with an intro. The next track is the widely known "Ruff Ryders Anthem". "Stop, drop, shut em down open up shop, ohhhh, noooo, that's how Ruff Ryders rooollll" When you hear this song you just gotta sing along to it. What more can I say about it? "F*ckin Wit D'" brings X's energy out to the fullest, especially on the hook. If this song doesn't get you hype I don't know what will. His rugged voice matching with his energetic flow is crazy on this one. "Look Thru My Eyes" is a track about why he does what he does. He's telling you to look at where he came from, and see if you wouldn't be exactly like him. "Get At Me Dog" is all about being a killer. "Let Me Fly" is one of the best tracks on here (honestly that doesn't really say much considering most of these tracks are great). It's more of an introspective track, and the chorus is stellar. I found this on repeat often. "X Is Coming" is just straight grimey. The beat is dark and creepy, and X provides some extremely hardcore lyrics. The chorus uses the song that's from A Nightmare on Elm Street (that "One, Two, Freddy's comin' for you" except Freddy is replaced with X). I love it! "Damien" is one of my favorite songs of all time. It's part 1 to a 3-part series, where the second part, entitled The Omen is found on FOMFBOMB, and Damien III is found on And Then There Was X. On this track, X meets Damien (really the devil) and Damien lures him into doing crime and being evil. However, DMX runs into a tight spot by the end of the track. This one is a classic. "How's It Goin Down" switches things up a bit, where X raps to the ladies. It's more mellow than the rest, but the song is tight nonetheless. "Crime Story" is just that, a crime story with a laidback beat and laidback rapping as well. "Stop Being Greedy" is another hardcore track, "ATF" is a shorter, freestyle type track, again about crime. This is fast paced with an intensified flow.

"For My Dogs" is a standout track for me because partially, in a way, I can relate to it. It's about being there for your friends, or "dawgs" as many MC's put it, and to be ready to lay anyone down for messing with them. I'm just like this; nobody better mess with my friends or they're messing with me. I'll lay it all on the line for them which is what this song is about. "I Can Feel It" is another emotional song. It samples Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight, and his lyrics are exceptional. "Prayer" is a VERY emotional skit. DMX has a talk with God on this skit, there's no music, just X spilling out his heart. I'm an atheist myself, but I was almost moved by this skit. It's just powerful. His voice is strong. "The Convo" is another good song. I like the chorus on this one. The lyrics are good too. "Niggas Done Started Somethin" wraps the album up exceptionally.

It's Dark and Hell is Hot is an almost perfect album in my honest opinion. DMX has a nice blend of introspective, hardcore, and emotional tracks, and it doesn't get redundant as some of his later albums did. This is DMX in his rawest form; he never quite reached this level again with his other albums. His lyrics are great throughout the whole album and the production is rugged and dark. Hip Hop needed a hardcore album like this to slow Puffy's Bad Boy bubblegum pop-rap movement down. Don't overlook this album if you don't already have it. It's worth a purchase. Definitely a 5 star classic."

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