Battersea Power Station
Member
My computer is down for the forseeable future, but I didn't want to keep waiting, so I'm trying to make an appreciation thread on a tablet. It's proving difficult. Here goes.
This album came out in 1998, and for a time, it was good.
This album blew me away at the time, and it was my favorite of 1998. It's also DMX's best work, and came from a magical time before he and Swizz Beatz flew off the handle.
There were some seriously good flows on IDaHIH that probably get underappreciated in the midst of D's antics.
Allow me to post a very rough and very quick run-through of my impressions and memories:
1. Intro
The church bells, omg the church bells. This was so hard-hitting at the time, especially after the listener is leaning in close having been trying to translate DMX speak into something comprehensible. I love the rhymes, as well. "Oh, you don't know, what the gun do?"
The way he punctuates his lines is addictive. "Yet and still, they don't know, I'ma rob 'em. That ----- DMX is a mutha------' problem." (Sorry, I don't like typing profanity; just listen to the track.)
2. Ruff Ryders Anthem
I'm not going to say much about one of the most recognizeable beats ever, but this track was on constant play everywhere (in NY at least) at the time. I remember calling up The Box to request the video late at night. I know the lyrics inside and out, and they're such a great introduction to the album.
3. Fuckin' wit' D (ok, fine, I typed it out)
Short and sweet, this little romp is one of my "lowlights" but it's serviceable in that it gets the listener slightly sick of the same aggressive tone right before the album gets sentimental.
4. The Storm (Skit)
I'd like to think that DMX wrote the script to this (not on a computer) and got two classically trained, Shakespearean actors to perform it in his native Yonkers dialect. Remember, though, "You ain't never rich in this world." and "I knew your pops."
5. Look Thru My Eyes
Oh, DMX has a softer, more meaningful side. OK, OK, I'm down with this. Serenade me, D.
6. Get at Me Dog
I'm sorry I said you were soft! I'm not a bitch, I swear! Yes, this track hits hard. Sheek does the hook and it's dope. This was another single and one of the hits that made DMX's career.
7. Let Me Fly
This is a cool track, and one of the airier beats on the album, so I like it as a nice break. What does he say, "let me flow on my bed?" What?
8. X-Is Coming
Extraneous hyphenation aside, this is some horror movie stuff in song form. I started to believe that DMX has actually killed people after this song. I love it, though.
9. Damien
Not sacrificing perfect flow on one of Dame Grease's cooler beats, DMX weaves a (cliched) story about selling your soul for riches. "Either do it or give me your right hand; that's what you said
"
"I see now ain't nothing but trouble ahead."
10. How's It Goin' Down
DMX gets with a hood rat. Faith Evans sings about it.
11. Mickey (Skit)
Don't mess with Mickey, even if you don't know who that is. I love these skits!
12. Crime Story
This is yet another song-story, delivered in what is maybe DMX's most low key manner ever recorded. It's cigarette-smoking cool.
13. Stop Being Greedy
Perhaps my favorite track on the album. It hits all the high points: message/substance, great delivery, addictive beat ("uh huh, uh huh"), catchy hook.
14. ATF
I didn't appreciate this at the time, but hot damn is it a non-stop rush from beginning to end or what? I can picture this action sequence and X narrates it perfectly.
15. For My Dogs
Hey, Drag-On is on this. Remember Drag-On? He Spits These Bars. If Crime Story is cigarette-smoking cool, this is obviously the weed-smoking ganster track. No one gets riled up and each performer preaches more loyalty than the last. If this was written in 2010, I'm sure it'd be riddled with "no homo" disclaimers.
16. I Can Feel It
I'm drawing a blank on this at the moment and that sucks because I know it's a hot track. It's certainly a great beat.
17. Prayer (skit)
18. The Convo
These two are some truly heartfelt expressions, and DMX gets about as philosophical, or theological as we ever see him. Mind you, he does this while staying just as sharply on beat.
19. Ni99az Done Started Something
This is a hidden gem. I don't remember anyone talking about this, but it has some of the finest delivery and catchy rhymes on the whole album. All three of The L.O.X. come hard, as does your friendly neighborhood pastor, Ma$e. "wanted for embezzlement, n' a lot of other things but that's irrelevent."
DMX' verse is such a great closer: rhyme after rhyme, punch after punch, BOOM, knockout.
What did I just listen to? One of the best albums of 1998 and the finest work DMX and Dame Grease have put out.
Play Store
Spotify
I hope those links are right.
This album came out in 1998, and for a time, it was good.
This album blew me away at the time, and it was my favorite of 1998. It's also DMX's best work, and came from a magical time before he and Swizz Beatz flew off the handle.
There were some seriously good flows on IDaHIH that probably get underappreciated in the midst of D's antics.
Allow me to post a very rough and very quick run-through of my impressions and memories:
1. Intro
The church bells, omg the church bells. This was so hard-hitting at the time, especially after the listener is leaning in close having been trying to translate DMX speak into something comprehensible. I love the rhymes, as well. "Oh, you don't know, what the gun do?"
The way he punctuates his lines is addictive. "Yet and still, they don't know, I'ma rob 'em. That ----- DMX is a mutha------' problem." (Sorry, I don't like typing profanity; just listen to the track.)
2. Ruff Ryders Anthem
I'm not going to say much about one of the most recognizeable beats ever, but this track was on constant play everywhere (in NY at least) at the time. I remember calling up The Box to request the video late at night. I know the lyrics inside and out, and they're such a great introduction to the album.
3. Fuckin' wit' D (ok, fine, I typed it out)
Short and sweet, this little romp is one of my "lowlights" but it's serviceable in that it gets the listener slightly sick of the same aggressive tone right before the album gets sentimental.
4. The Storm (Skit)
I'd like to think that DMX wrote the script to this (not on a computer) and got two classically trained, Shakespearean actors to perform it in his native Yonkers dialect. Remember, though, "You ain't never rich in this world." and "I knew your pops."
5. Look Thru My Eyes
Oh, DMX has a softer, more meaningful side. OK, OK, I'm down with this. Serenade me, D.
6. Get at Me Dog
I'm sorry I said you were soft! I'm not a bitch, I swear! Yes, this track hits hard. Sheek does the hook and it's dope. This was another single and one of the hits that made DMX's career.
7. Let Me Fly
This is a cool track, and one of the airier beats on the album, so I like it as a nice break. What does he say, "let me flow on my bed?" What?
8. X-Is Coming
Extraneous hyphenation aside, this is some horror movie stuff in song form. I started to believe that DMX has actually killed people after this song. I love it, though.
9. Damien
Not sacrificing perfect flow on one of Dame Grease's cooler beats, DMX weaves a (cliched) story about selling your soul for riches. "Either do it or give me your right hand; that's what you said
""I see now ain't nothing but trouble ahead."
10. How's It Goin' Down
DMX gets with a hood rat. Faith Evans sings about it.
11. Mickey (Skit)
Don't mess with Mickey, even if you don't know who that is. I love these skits!
12. Crime Story
This is yet another song-story, delivered in what is maybe DMX's most low key manner ever recorded. It's cigarette-smoking cool.
13. Stop Being Greedy
Perhaps my favorite track on the album. It hits all the high points: message/substance, great delivery, addictive beat ("uh huh, uh huh"), catchy hook.
14. ATF
I didn't appreciate this at the time, but hot damn is it a non-stop rush from beginning to end or what? I can picture this action sequence and X narrates it perfectly.
15. For My Dogs
Hey, Drag-On is on this. Remember Drag-On? He Spits These Bars. If Crime Story is cigarette-smoking cool, this is obviously the weed-smoking ganster track. No one gets riled up and each performer preaches more loyalty than the last. If this was written in 2010, I'm sure it'd be riddled with "no homo" disclaimers.
16. I Can Feel It
I'm drawing a blank on this at the moment and that sucks because I know it's a hot track. It's certainly a great beat.
17. Prayer (skit)
18. The Convo
These two are some truly heartfelt expressions, and DMX gets about as philosophical, or theological as we ever see him. Mind you, he does this while staying just as sharply on beat.
19. Ni99az Done Started Something
This is a hidden gem. I don't remember anyone talking about this, but it has some of the finest delivery and catchy rhymes on the whole album. All three of The L.O.X. come hard, as does your friendly neighborhood pastor, Ma$e. "wanted for embezzlement, n' a lot of other things but that's irrelevent."
DMX' verse is such a great closer: rhyme after rhyme, punch after punch, BOOM, knockout.
What did I just listen to? One of the best albums of 1998 and the finest work DMX and Dame Grease have put out.
Play Store
Spotify
I hope those links are right.