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"DMX" CD Cover Download

Amazon.com Review: Watching DMX--baldheaded and shirtless, tattooed and musclebound--as he simultaneously goes platinum and gets arrested on rape charges (both of which occurred within weeks of this album's release), one can easily see the Yonkers, New York, rapper as a Tupac in training. And he's certainly no stranger to dumb thuggery on his much-anticipated debut. But unlike Tupac, who tempered hard-core beatdowns with party pick-me-ups, DMX is strictly business, part of a street reaction against the Puff Daddy-fueled, late-1990s slew of lightweight pop-rap crossovers. With a name too true for its own good, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot could occasionally use a cool breeze of levity. That said, the record is not without merit; despite the album's largely standard-issue beats and rhymes, both DMX's forceful voice and solid production have moments of greatness. At times DMX even manages to squeeze memorable hooks out of this otherwise claustrophobic release. --Roni Sarig

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DMX CD Cover Download

Amazon.com Review: All the barking and growling in the world could not detract from the fact that DMX is a troubled, tormented soul. On And Then There Was X, the multiplatinum-selling Dark Man X uses his signature fragmented flow with its singsongy vocal inflections to preach, teach, and reveal. Melodramatic storytelling has always been his shtick, whether it's tales of robbing liquor stores, plotting violent murders, or teaching shorties the code of the streets. X's inner conflicts are laid out on "Angel," a dialogue between himself and his Lord, and his ability to acknowledge different perspectives of a situation (i.e., repercussions) on several songs add depth to his character. The anthemlike "What's My Name," with its affirmations "I have no friends" and "I'm not a nice person," proves that money, fame, and popularity do not translate into happiness for DMX. --Celine Wong

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DMX CD Cover Download

Amazon.com Review: One of the breakout stars of 1998, DMX wasted little time in following up his No. 1 album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot with Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood. If the quick turnaround seems surprising, maybe it's because DMX's second LP doesn't fall far from the original tree. Key to his formula, DMX has mastered the art of thug-life anthems, following in the dubious footsteps of 2Pac and Noreaga. While his gruff voice and simple delivery help make his songs infectious, they're rarely creative, especially with anemic beats, redundant subject matter, and his trademark barks. Basically, Flesh of My Flesh is a perfect buy for those who couldn't wait a whole year for another DMX LP, but it won't convert many new listeners. --Oliver Wang