Year of the Dog... Again

DMX has turned to exploring his soul

Earl Simmons, known to the audience as DMX (Dark Man X), is famous for the dark contents of his songs and sharp rude rhymes. His rap often has the traits of hardcore for there are screaming electro guitars in the background and as well appeals to R&B, metal and rock music fans. DMX has got a reputation of the most conflicted rapper for almost each of his releases is accompanied by arrest. His controversial character finds reflection in his music and lyrics, often filled with aggressiveness. The rapper has released five full-length albums since the beginning of his music career and this year the sixth one Year Of The Dog...Again has seen the light of the day. This album has some peculiarities that differ it from the previous works: it can be conventionally divided into two parts, one containing energetic and up-tempo songs and another being more philosophical and introspective. On Year Of The Dog...Again DMX has turned to exploring his soul and sounds very frank and openhearted. As for the rest of the album, on some tracks it may seem he has become even angrier than before.

As before the rapper experiments on Year Of The Dog… Again

Despite the presence of a number of collaborations on Year Of The Dog...Again, DMX has written most of the songs himself and his personality is not hidden behind the others. As before, the rapper experiments with genres among which one can here the shades of heavy metal and jazz. The album powerfully opens with Intro, and the first song We In Here featuring Swizz Beatz pleases with its loud beats the audience would expect from DMX. Basta Rhymes has refined the track Come Thru (Move) with his presence, and It's Personal, the collaboration with Jadakiss and Styles P is one of the album’s highlights with its catchy melody and infectious rhythm. Wrong Or Right (I'm Tired) performed with Bzr Roayale is noted for great drums and electric sounding, and the most aggressive track on the album is probably Give ’Em What They Want. Kashmir’s female vocals make the song Walk These Dogs more melodious and likeable, besides, it reminds of the old 1970s jazz musical. Goodbye, The Prayer VI and the final Lord Give Me A Sign reveal DMX’s humaneness and open his sides unknown to us before.

DMX has remained himself

Being experienced both in life and in music, DMX can now do what his intellect has lead him to – introspection. Perhaps some fans are going to be surprised by such a change, and it would not be groundless. Having so long been considered the angriest rapper, the New York artist is expected to maintain his primarily chosen direction. DMX however has managed to do it and still insert something new. He has remained the DMX we are used to, but a more mature and thinking one. He has obviously no intention to refuse his role specialization, and has presented us with a significant number of unkind lyrics and gangster songs. Year Of The Dog...Again is a real DMX album, and here he is more solid than ever and the fans are going to be by no means disappointed. Yet, the a cappella prayers can become either an obstacle for them to enjoy the album as much as it was with the fully violent previous works or – which is more probable – is going to be a pleasant surprise. Anyway, as soon as the audience has felt Year Of The Dog...Again, DMX’s fan base is very likely to increase.