It's Dark and Hell Is Hot

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Revision as of 04:45, 16 May 2025 by 99.158.134.117 (talk)
(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Unsubst-infobox".

It's Dark and Hell Is Hot is the debut studio album by American rapper DMX. It was released on May 19, 1998,[1] by Def Jam Recordings and Ruff Ryders Entertainment.[2] 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.[3]

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings It's Dark and Hell Is Hot was met with positive reviews 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."[4] 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."[5]

Commercial performance

It's Dark and Hell Is Hot debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 251,000 copies in its first week, the first DMX number one debut on the chart.[6] On December 18, 2000, the album was certified four times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of four million copies in the US.[7]

Legacy

Andrew R. Chow from Time published an article about the album on the day of DMX's passing (April 9, 2021) saying, "Then 27-year-old Earl Simmons, better known as DMX, released his debut album It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, and everything changed. The album was full of violent nihilism, hair-raising tales of betrayal and revenge, and his emulations of dogs barking and whining; the beats were rugged and skeletal. Rather than being rejected or pigeonholed, the album immediately skyrocketed to the top of the charts, selling 251,000 copies in its first week in the U.S as songs like “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” rang out of every car stereo in New York City and beyond." He also wrote the album was catalyst for American producer Swizz Beatz's career and influenced artists later on like American rapper Denzel Curry, who listed it as one of his favorite albums.[8] Nas reminisced in 2013, “that was the year DMX took over the world."[9]

In 2015, Pitchfork wrote, "The debut album from DMX is the Dante’s Inferno of rap. His infamous stage presence and aggression gave a voice to the voiceless in the streets of New York and overnight changed the course of hip-hop."[10] In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked the album twenty-second on their list of "The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time".[11]

Canadian recording artist Drake interpolated “How’s It Going Down” on his 2016 song “U With Me". He personally asked DMX for his permission.[8]

Track listing

Template:Track listing

Template:Track listing

Notes
  • Track listing and credits from album booklet.
  • "X-Is Coming" features additional vocals by Jamie, Warren and Randy.
  • "How's It Goin' Down" features additional vocals by Lovey Ford and Schamika Grant.
  • "I Can Feel It" features additional vocals by Nardo.
Sample credits
Courtesies

Charts

<templatestyles src="Col-begin/styles.css"/>

Certifications

Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Bottom

See also

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Navbox musical artist

Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named allmusic
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named source
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b Template:Cite magazine
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  14. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  15. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  16. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=It%27s_Dark_and_Hell_Is_Hot&oldid=1662419"