10 of the Best DMX Songs
If you remember my ranking of the top 10 East Coast rappers, you'll know I hold DMX in quite high esteem. If you read this post, you'll notice that he won me over basically by releasing ALL OF THE MUSIC in between 1998 and 1999 and showing up in movies with Jet Li!
Earl Simmons gets laughed at a lot these days but hopefully this list reminds you of why he is one of the best to ever do it.
Song/Rank:
#10- "No Love For Me" (ft. Drag-On) [Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood 1998]
Why, Though:
FoMF, BoMB was the first CD I actually remember buying on my own instead of tricking my parents into buying. This album introduced me to Mel "Drag-On" Smalls who I really wanted to rap like for a spell. What I'm saying is this is an important album to me and this was the song that i played the most! While grabbing the track from Spotify I tried to rap along to Drag's part but it turns out I remember most but not all.
Song/Rank:
#9- "Grand Finale" (ft. Method Man/Nas/Ja Rule) [Belly OST 1998]
Why, Though:
I'm really into posse cuts! So why wouldn't I have a posse cut from a cult classic movie with 3 of the top 10 MCs on the East Coast? Ja Rule only gets hook duties, but he is a welcome addition to this song that features DMX doing what he does best: pulling focus on a posse cut.
Song/Rank:
#8- "Party Up (In Here)" (ft. Swizz Beatz) [...And Then There Was X 1999]
Why, Though:
If you're a certain age, kids from one to ninety-two, then you know this hook. It was the soundtrack to my most of my middle school days and it's got a beat that demands that you get involved! I remember asking my grandfather for this album and being so let down by the album until this song came on. I legitimately considered taking the album back to the store. I'm happy to report the album grew on me.
Song/Rank:
#7- "Slippin" [Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood 1998]
Why, Though:
DMX isn't all barking and gross descriptions of sexual habits. "Slippin'" features some introspective lyrics from Dark Man X as well as a beat that sounded closer to the East Coast vibe and helped to break up the Ruff Ryder sound made popular by Swizz Beatz on this album.
Song/Rank:
#6- "Blackout" (ft. The Lox & JAY-Z) [Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood 1998]
Why, Though:
ANOTHER POSSE CUT, this time with JAY-Z and The LOX. I remember thinking Jay sounded like he had a cold and also thinking that I only cared about X and Jay's verses. Man I was so uncultured back then. This song has dope verse after dope verse.
Song/Rank:
#5- "Ryde or Die" (ft. The Lox/Drag-On/Eve) [Ryde or Die, Vol. 1 1999]
Why, Though:
In addition to posse cuts i love compilation albums! Word to the 5th best album of 2017! I bought every Ruff Ryder compilation album even after it was clear they weren't interested in making them good. This is the first song on the first compilation and boy do I ever wish that I could play the explicit version on Spotify. It really does throw my memory off not hearing the swears and lewd lines! The whole gang is here but it's X who comes out on top!
Song/Rank:
#4- "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" [It's Dark and Hell is Hot 1998]
Why, Though:
Much like "Party Up" everyone knows this song. It doesn't matter what type of music you like. When someone plays the opening bars of this song, you know what time it is! To say nothing of what happens when people tell you to "Stop! Drop!..." I bet you finished the line just now! I loved that it wasn't weird to play this at my school dances.
Song/Rank:
#3- "It's Murda" (ft. JAY-Z & Ja Rule) [Technically on Ja's Album but this is a posse cut for the Murder Inc that never was]
Why, Though:
I know I've got some splainin to do. This is by all means a Ja Rule album. But what if it wasn't? What if I told you that Irv Gotti envisioned Murder Inc. as a super group with X, Jay, and Ja so this was more of a proof of concept song that was put on Ja's album instead of it being created as a song for Ja Rule. With that said, I love this beat, I love X's verse and this song features some of the coldest lines by JAY-Z ever! I still think X has the best verse and most of that has to do with DMX telling me he doesn't think I'm ready for his verse before he gets into it.
Song/Rank:
#2- "We Go Hard" (ft. Cam'Ron) [Grand Champ 2003]
Why, Though:
This is one of my favourite beats by my favourite producer! X does it justice. I remember explaining this song to a friend at camp and having them be so underwhelmed by the song by the time they heard it. I don't talk to them anymore... you decide why. The song kind of falls apart when DMX comes in for his second verse and spews some of the most homophobic things he's ever spit. So just turn the song off after Cam and enjoy!
Song/Rank:
#1- "What's My Name" [...And Then There Was X 1999]
Why, Though:
The way the keys hit, the drums, the video with the dope JAY-Z cameo. "What's My Name" is the coolest and therefore the best DMX song. It has a great hook, and still goes hard today.
-YG