@oldheads. How did yall view DMX in relation to other NY rappers/artists?

[FreshAIG]

I get what the OP is getting at

I think what did separate X a lot from the others is his production was so different. The Swizz Beatz and even Dame Grease and P Killer to an extent, had a much different sound that didn't match really with traditional NY rap. X's content was also a little bit more vulnerable than most NY rap at the time. I said it before, but there's no album that sounds like It's Dark and Hell is Hot. Before it or after. It's really a very unique project, from a sonic and lyrical perspective. It really differs from even other hardcore acts you may associate X with like Onyx.

X's sound did stray from traditional "NY Boom Bap" sound when he blew up. A lot of "real heads" used to shyt on Swizz casio sounding beats.

 

[KnickstapeCity]

Before you go calling folks names like that read the damn OP

 

[Frump]

He was huge in NYC when he came through

As far as not being your typical NY rapper I don’t buy it. Those beats were the epitome of gritty NYC sound especially the first album

And a “hardcore grimey sound” is part of the NYC sound I don’t know what you’re talking about

 

[Boonapalist]

His production didn’t sound like what was coming out of NY at the time. But his image or aesthetic was straight NY to me. He had the style, the cockiness and attitude.

 

[Frump]

I get what the OP is getting at

I think what did separate X a lot from the others is his production was so different. The Swizz Beatz and even Dame Grease and P Killer to an extent, had a much different sound that didn't match really with traditional NY rap. X's content was also a little bit more vulnerable than most NY rap at the time. I said it before, but there's no album that sounds like It's Dark and Hell is Hot. Before it or after. It's really a very unique project, from a sonic and lyrical perspective. It really differs from even other hardcore acts you may associate X with like Onyx.

X's sound did stray from traditional "NY Boom Bap" sound when he blew up. A lot of "real heads" used to shyt on Swizz casio sounding beats.

While I kinda get what you’re saying Grease said the beats he made on dark and hell is hot was straight being outside in NYC soundtrack

 

[FreshAIG]

While I kinda get what you’re saying Grease said the beats he made on dark and hell is hot was straight being outside in NYC soundtrack

Yeah I respect that but honestly can you name a producer who beats sound like Dame's? Lol I can't.

 

[Frump]

Yeah I respect that but honestly can you name a producer who beats sound like Dame's? Lol I can't.

That’s fair it wasn’t traditional boom bap but it definitely had a NY feel to me

 

[RIPODB]

OP is on to something here.

I think he transcended cities or regions. Partly because he didn’t show up on the scene like a lot of guys that got started doing features with established artists. Plus he was making music like nothing else that was out at the time.

Not only that but I would say he transcended the genre. I know plenty of people that didn’t really like rap that much (hardcore rock/death metal fans) that say DMX got them to open their minds about hip hop.

it’s hard to explain. It’s like all of a sudden he was here, and he was instantly in supernova mode. I dunno maybe I was too young to fully grasp it.

He was a big deal man

 

[jadillac]

X was definitely NY. But he just wasn't traditional like Brooklyn, Queens.

But X was loved everywhere

 

[New Jeruzalem Journalist]

I and most of my crew weren't the norm of most of the listeners around that time. DMX got a ton of love from people in my era and still does.

Me? Never saw the appeal. Yeah, he was a hardcore street dude from NY. But I don't get the same feeling listening to his shyt as I do the artists that got most of my attention on the East.

I know he has a sacred place in hip-hop for a large portion of the consuming audience but I don't even view him in the same light. Plus, his debut was as a late 90s rapper. Times and sounds were changing.

To me, Wu-Tang, Boot Camp Clik, M.O.P., Smoothe Da Hustler, Gang Starr, Mobb Deep, etc.>>>>>> DMX

 

[BigMan]

Not an old head but the idea that NY hip hop = dusty boom bap has always been inaccurate

NYC has always had multiple sounds and styles

DMX did have boom bap records and features tgo

 

[up in here]

DMX was 100% a NY dude.

DMX wasn’t flossy like the late 90s, he was more grimey like early-mid 90s but by the late 90s the sound had changed. It was more cinematic and DMXs production followed that trend but it was still dark and grimey. Part of DMXs appeal was jumping on tracks with glossy rappers but he was bringing that grimey shyt that had taken a backseat in NY at the time. He brought back the feel.

Yeah he had the Ruff Ryders Anthem joint but a lot of NY rappers was working with non boom bap joints at the time too. Jay, Nore, Lox, Busta all had Swizz joints. But even on Swizz joints DMX was still dark and grimey.

he was unmistakably a NY dude and IDAHIH is unmistakably a NY album. Flesh Of My Flesh is also unmistakably a late 90s NY album.

DMX was like a blend of so much NY shyt, he was raspy like Sticky Fingaz, Black Rob and Nine, kicked dark street shyt like early Biggie, Fat Joe, Big L and Mobb Deep, had high energy and unorthodox style like ODB and Busta, naturally charismatic like Mef and Pac, and raw like BCC and BDP.

 

[mobbinfms]

I get what the OP is getting at

I think what did separate X a lot from the others is his production was so different. The Swizz Beatz and even Dame Grease and P Killer to an extent, had a much different sound that didn't match really with traditional NY rap. X's content was also a little bit more vulnerable than most NY rap at the time. I said it before, but there's no album that sounds like It's Dark and Hell is Hot. Before it or after. It's really a very unique project, from a sonic and lyrical perspective. It really differs from even other hardcore acts you may associate X with like Onyx.

X's sound did stray from traditional "NY Boom Bap" sound when he blew up. A lot of "real heads" used to shyt on Swizz casio sounding beats.

This

 

[mobbinfms]

I and most of my crew weren't the norm of most of the listeners around that time. DMX got a ton of love from people in my era and still does.

Me? Never saw the appeal. Yeah, he was a hardcore street dude from NY. But I don't get the same feeling listening to his shyt as I do the artists that got most of my attention on the East.

I know he has a sacred place in hip-hop for a large portion of the consuming audience but I don't even view him in the same light. Plus, his debut was as a late 90s rapper. Times and sounds were changing.

To me, Wu-Tang, Boot Camp Clik, M.O.P., Smoothe Da Hustler, Gang Starr, Mobb Deep, etc.>>>>>> DMX

I feel the same way.

 

[up in here]

I get what the OP is getting at

I think what did separate X a lot from the others is his production was so different. The Swizz Beatz and even Dame Grease and P Killer to an extent, had a much different sound that didn't match really with traditional NY rap. X's content was also a little bit more vulnerable than most NY rap at the time. I said it before, but there's no album that sounds like It's Dark and Hell is Hot. Before it or after. It's really a very unique project, from a sonic and lyrical perspective. It really differs from even other hardcore acts you may associate X with like Onyx.

X's sound did stray from traditional "NY Boom Bap" sound when he blew up. A lot of "real heads" used to shyt on Swizz casio sounding beats.

Bronx rapper Nine’s album Cloud 9 had a similar sound. DMX was a far better MC than Nine and the production is slicker, but. It’s got a similar feel.

Black Rob’s Life Story had a similar vulnerability, but it wasn’t as hard and as dark as IDAHIH.

DMX was the whole package