It's Dark and Hell Is Hot
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot | ||||
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Studio album by DMX | ||||
Released | May 12, 1998 | |||
Studio |
New Horizon Sounds Studio, Inc. (Capitol Heights, Maryland) Power House Studios, Soundtrack Studios, Chung King Studios, Quad Recording Studios (New York City, New York) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 65:10 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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DMX chronology | ||||
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Singles from It's Dark and Hell Is Hot | ||||
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It's Dark and Hell Is Hot is the debut studio album by American rapper DMX. It was released on May 12, 1998 by Ruff Ryders Entertainment, Def Jam Recordings, and PolyGram.[1] It was supported by four singles —"Get at Me Dog", "Stop Being Greedy", "Ruff Ryders Anthem" and "How's It Goin' Down", in order of release — and their accompanying music videos.
It primarily includes production from Dame Grease (13 tracks) and PK (8 tracks), in addition to production from Irv Gotti and Lil Rob (2 tracks), Younglord (1 track; add.), and Swizz Beatz (1 track). The album is widely considered a classic among hip hop fans and critics.[2]
Critical reception
Professional ratings | |
---|---|
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Daily Vault | A−[4] |
Entertainment Weekly | C[5] |
Pitchfork | 9.0/10[6] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
RapReviews | 8/10[8] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Source | 4/5[7] |
Spin | 6/10[7] |
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot was met with critical acclaim from music critics. AllMusic commented that "Unlike so many other hardcore rappers who are more rhetorical than physical, DMX commands an aggressive aura without even speaking a word."[3] Leading Hip Hop magazine The Source described the album as "a mind-gripping opus that fully encompasses the appeal of one of rap's newest sensations."[7]
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and sold 251,000 copies in its first week in the United States.[11] The album was certified 4x platinum by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on December 18, 2000.[12]
Track listing
Standard edition | ||||
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No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
1. | "Intro" |
| 4:10 | |
2. | "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" |
| Swizz Beatz | 3:34 |
3. | "Fuckin' wit' D" |
|
| 2:18 |
4. | "The Storm (skit)" |
|
| 1:01 |
5. | "Look Thru My Eyes" |
|
| 3:51 |
6. | "Get At Me Dog" (featuring Sheek Louch) |
|
| 4:03 |
7. | "Let Me Fly" |
|
| 4:13 |
8. | "X-Is Coming" |
| PK | 4:19 |
9. | "Damien" |
| Dame Grease | 3:42 |
10. | "How's It Goin' Down" |
| PK | 4:43 |
11. | "Mickey (skit)" |
| PK | 0:25 |
12. | "Crime Story" |
|
| 3:48 |
13. | "Stop Being Greedy" |
|
| 3:37 |
14. | "ATF" |
| Dame Grease | 1:56 |
15. | "For My Dogs" (featuring Big Stan, Loose, Kasino and Drag-On) |
| Dame Grease | 4:11 |
16. | "I Can Feel It" |
| Dame Grease | 4:13 |
17. | "Prayer (skit)" | Simmons | Dame Grease | 2:32 |
18. | "The Convo" |
| Dame Grease | 3:34 |
19. | "Niggaz Done Started Something" (featuring The Lox and Mase) |
| Dame Grease | 5:14 |
Total length: | 1:05:15 |
2000 reissue bonus track | ||||
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No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
20. | "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" (Live) |
| Swizz Beatz | 2:57 |
Total length: | 1:08:12 |
- Notes
- Track listing and credits from album booklet.
- "X-Is Coming" features additional vocals by Jamie, Warren and Randy.
- "I Can Feel It" features additional vocals by Nardo.
- Sample credits
- "Intro" contains a sample of "Beyond Forever" performed by James Mtume.
- "Fuckin' wit' D" contains a sample of "Shifting Gears" performed by Johnny "Hammond" Smith.
- "Get At Me Dog" contains a sample of "Everything Good to You" performed by BT Express.
- "Let Me Fly" contains a sample of "Lo Dudo" performed by José José.
- "Damien" contains a sample of "Slow Dance" performed by Stanley Clarke.
- "How's It Going Down" contains a sample of "God Made Me Funky" performed by The Headhunters.
- "Crime Story" contains a sample of "Easin' In" performed by Edwin Starr.
- "Stop Being Greedy" contains a sample of "My Hero Is a Gun" performed by the Temptations.
- "I Can Feel It" contains a sample of "In the Air Tonight" performed by Phil Collins.
- "The Convo" contains a sample of "Nights on Broadway" performed by The Bee Gees, and an interpolation of "Somebody's Knockin'" performed by Terri Gibbs.
- "Niggaz Done Start Something" contains a sample of "Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)" performed by Marvin Gaye.
- Courtesies
- The Lox and Mase appear courtesy of Bad Boy Records.
- Big Stan, Loose and Dragon appears courtesy of Ruff Ryders Entertainment.
- Kasino appears courtesy of Jive Records.
Chart positions
Chart (1998) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200[13] | 1 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[14] | 1 |
See also
References
- ↑ "DMX | Biography, Albums, & Streaming Radio". AllMusic. December 18, 1970. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
- ↑ "50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987 - 2007)". Rap.about.com. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
- 1 2 Jason Birchmeier (1998-05-12). "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot - DMX | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
- ↑ "The Daily Vault Music Reviews :". Dailyvault.com. 2006-12-27. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
- ↑ Mukherjee, Tiarra. "It's Dark and Hell is Hot | Music Review | Entertainment Weekly". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
- ↑ "DMX: It's Dark and Hell is Hot - Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
- 1 2 3 4 "Dmx - It's Dark and Hell Is Hot CD Album". Cduniverse.com. 1998-05-19. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
- ↑ "Feature for January 28, 2003 - DMX's "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot"". Rapreviews.com. 2003-01-28. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
- ↑ DMX (1998-06-18). "DMX: It's Dark and Hell Is Hot : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
- ↑ Ex, Kris (2004). "DMX". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 248. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ↑ "Now! 22 Ends DMX's Billboard Winning Streak". MTV. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
- ↑ "Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - December 18, 2015". RIAA. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
- ↑ "DMX Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
- ↑ "DMX Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.