DMX

Released in 1998, this album introduced the world to Yonkers bark-rap specialist DMX. It easily went multi-platinum and helped to establish the Ruff Ryders as hip-hop superstars. Produced by Swizz Beatz, Dame Grease and Irv Gotti, It's Dark features several riot-inducing smash hits, including "Get At Me Dog" and "Ruff Ryders Anthem."

New York-spawned rapper DMX has been priming listeners for his debut for months,
reciting scene-stealing stanzas on releases by L.L. Cool J, Ice Cube and Mase, among
others. And now that his moment is here, he's making the most of it: His Def Jam opus, It's
Dark and Hell Is Hot, relies heavily on pop-y, verse-chorus-verse song structures more
common with commercial rappers than with roughneck MCs. DMX sidesteps the... More >