2600:8805:A06:6500:25D2:9B82:8F1A:6C2A at 23:58, 9 June 2025

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{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Year of the Dog... Again
| type = studio
| artist = [[DMX]]
| cover = Dmx-year-of-the-dog.jpg
| alt =
| released = August 1, 2006
| recorded = January–May 2006
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|[[Hardcore hip-hop]]|[[East Coast hip-hop]]|[[gangsta rap]]|[[gospel rap]]}}
| length = 54:26
| label = {{hlist|[[Ruff Ryders Entertainment|Ruff Ryders]]|[[Sony Urban Music|Sony Urban]]|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]}}
| producer = {{hlist|[[Swizz Beatz]]|[[Chad Elliott]]|Eddie "Shy Boogs" Timmons|[[Dame Grease]]|[[Scott Storch]]|Shok|Teflon|Elite|[[Sean Garrett]]}}
| prev_title = [[Grand Champ]]
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = [[The Definition of X: The Pick of the Litter]]
| next_year = 2007
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Year of the Dog... Again
| type = studio
| single1 = [[We in Here]]
| single1date = April 11, 2006
| single2 = [[Lord Give Me a Sign]]
| single2date = September 3, 2006<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/lord-give-me-a-sign-single/157194033|title=Lord Give Me a Sign |website=Apple}}</ref>
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
|MC = 60/100<ref name=metacritic>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/year-of-the-dog-again/dmx/critic-reviews |title=Critic Reviews for Year Of The Dog... Again |website=Metacritic |access-date=December 19, 2015}}</ref>
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|author=Andy Kellman |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/year-of-the-dogagain-mw0000571659 |title=Year of the Dog...Again - DMX | Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic |date=August 1, 2006 |access-date=December 19, 2015}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
|rev2score = B−<ref>{{cite news|last=Rabin |first=Nathan |author-link=Nathan Rabin |url=https://www.avclub.com/dmx-year-of-the-dog-again-1798201880 |title=Year Of The Dog Again · DMX · Music Review DMX: Year Of The Dog Again |date=August 9, 2006 |newspaper=The A.V. Club |access-date=December 19, 2015}}</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
|rev3score = B<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2006/07/31/year-dogagain|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028085044/http://www.ew.com/article/2006/07/31/year-dogagain|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-28|title=Year of the Dog... Again Review|last=Fiore|first=Raymond|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=August 4, 2006|page=68|access-date=December 31, 2012}}</ref>
|rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
|rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Batey |first=Angus |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/aug/04/popandrock.urban1 |title=CD: DMX, Year of the Dog...Again |newspaper=The Guardian |date=August 4, 2006 |access-date=December 19, 2015}}</ref>
|rev5 = ''[[Now (newspaper)|Now]]''
|rev5score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Richards|first=Jason|date=August 3–9, 2006|volume=25|number=49|title=DMX – Year Of The Dog... Again|magazine=[[Now (newspaper)|Now]]|url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2006-08-03/music_discs8.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823121138/http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2006-08-03/music_discs8.php|archive-date=August 23, 2006|access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref>
|rev6 = ''RapReviews''
|rev6score = 6/10<ref>{{cite web|last=Juon |first=Steve 'Flash' |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2006_08F_yotdagain.html |title=DMX's "Year of the Dog... Again" |date=August 2, 2006 |website=RapReviews |access-date=December 19, 2015}}</ref>
|rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
|rev7score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Relic|first=Peter|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/dmx/albums/album/11039827/review/11048174/year_of_the_dogagain_explicit |title=DMX: Year Of The Dog...Again (Explicit) : Music Reviews|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 10, 2006 |issue=1006 |page=98 |access-date=December 19, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081214192343/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/dmx/albums/album/11039827/review/11048174/year_of_the_dogagain_explicit |archive-date=December 14, 2008 }}</ref>
|rev8 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
|rev8score = {{Rating|1|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Anderson|first=Kyle|date=September 2006|title=Dog Days|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XdMuWm38Xn0C&pg=PA100|magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|page=100|location=New York|access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref>
|rev9 = ''[[Stylus Magazine]]''
|rev9score = B+<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Inskeep |first=Thomas |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/dmx/year-of-the-dogagain.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604045820/https://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/dmx/year-of-the-dogagain.htm |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |title=DMX - Year of the Dog…Again - Review |magazine=Stylus Magazine |date=August 11, 2006 |access-date=December 19, 2015}}</ref>
|rev10 = ''[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]''
|rev10score = L (3/5)<ref name="xxl">{{cite magazine|last=Frederick|first=Brendan|date=September 2006|issue=84|title=Critical Beatdown: DMX – Year of the Dog... Again|url=http://xxlmag.com/online/?p=3504|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110121351/http://xxlmag.com/online/?p=3504|archive-date=November 10, 2006|magazine=[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]|page=173|location=New York|publisher=[[Harris Publications]]|access-date=March 31, 2024}}</ref>
}}

'''''Year of the Dog... Again''''' is the sixth studio album by American rapper [[DMX]]. It was released on August 1, 2006, by [[Ruff Ryders Entertainment]], [[Sony Urban Music]], and [[Columbia Records]]. The album was mostly produced by [[Swizz Beatz]], [[Scott Storch]], with additional production by others. It features guest appearances from [[Busta Rhymes]], [[Styles P]], [[Amerie]], and [[Jadakiss]].

''Year of the Dog... Again'' was supported by two singles: "[[We in Here]]" and "[[Lord Give Me a Sign]]". The album received generally positive to mixed reviews from music critics but was a moderate commercial success. It debuted at number two on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and number one on the US [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] charts, selling 125,000 copies in its first week.<ref name="billboard">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57583/now-22-edges-out-dmxs-dog-at-no-1 |title='NOW 22' Edges Out DMX's 'Dog' At No. 1 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 19, 2015}}</ref> It became DMX's first album to not debut at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200.

==Critical reception==
At [[Metacritic]], the album got a score of 60 out of 100 based on "mixed or average reviews".<ref name=metacritic/> ''[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]'' gave it an "L" score equivalent to three stars out of five and stated, "Clearly, X's poetic touch remains intact. But ''Year of the Dog'' relies too heavily on nostalgia, ignoring how hip-hop and DMX himself have changed over the years. Lyrically, the project sounds as if the Dog has been living in isolation for years, rarely shifting from his trademark style. Sadly, if X doesn't learn a few new tricks, things might never be the same…again."<ref name="xxl" /> [[HipHopDX]] gave it a score of 2.5 out of 5 and said, "The album fairly consistent of what DMX has become - lost. Much like his outlandish antics and brushes with the law, X is all over the place on wax, battling incoherence and sane thinking."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/reviews/id.674/title.dmx-the-year-of-the-dog-again |title=DMX - The Year of the Dog Again |magazine=HipHopDX |date=August 4, 2006 |access-date=December 19, 2015}}</ref> [[AllHipHop]] gave it a score of three-and-a-half out of five stars and said, "DMX is flawless as DMX. He has carved his own niche, perfecting his brand of unfiltered aggression. Legions of DMX loyalist will not be disappointed."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allhiphop.com/2006/08/07/year-of-the-dog-again/ |title=Year Of The Dog, Again |website=AllHipHop |date=August 7, 2006 |access-date=December 19, 2015}}</ref> [[About.com]] also gave it a score of three-and-a-half out of five stars and said, "Despite all the crises occurring in X's personal life, he still finds a way to preserve the breadth and depth of his powerful voice; his voice alone is capable of propelling the album. While the canine theme is hard to mistake, forgiveness, redemption and, ultimately, the presence of a supreme being present themselves as a subtext in X's canine mind. It seems like the dog has found his way home, finally."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rap.about.com/od/albumreviews/fr/DMXYearOfTheDog.htm |title=DMX - Year of the Dog...Again - Review of DMX's Year of the Dog...Again |publisher=Rap.about.com |access-date=December 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525060427/http://rap.about.com/od/albumreviews/fr/DMXYearOfTheDog.htm |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Commercial performance==
''Year of the Dog... Again'' debuted at number two on the US ''[[Billboard 200]]'' chart, selling 126,000 copies in first week, debuting behind [[Now That's What I Call Music! 22 (U.S. series)|''NOW 22'']].<ref name="BB200">{{cite magazine|url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57583/now-22-edges-out-dmxs-dog-at-no-1|title='NOW 22' Edges Out DMX's 'Dog' At No. 1|magazine=Billboard|date=August 9, 2006|access-date=March 1, 2020}}</ref> This became DMX's sixth US top-ten album and his first album to not debut at number one.<ref name="BB200"/> In its second week, the album dropped to number nine on the chart, selling an additional 47,000 copies.<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/57517/rick-ross-hustle-pays-off-with-no-1-debut|title=Rick Ross' 'Hustle' Pays Off With No. 1 Debut|magazine=Billboard|date=August 16, 2006|access-date=March 1, 2020}}</ref> As of September 2012, the album has sold 346,000 copies in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/sales_ur.cgi?112210|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906154007/http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/sales_ur.cgi?112210|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-06|title=Upcoming Releases 2013|publisher=Hits Daily Double|date=September 6, 2012|access-date=October 14, 2020}}</ref>

==Track listing==
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.<ref name="liner notes">{{cite AV media notes|title= Year of the Dog... Again |year= 2006 |type= booklet |publisher= [[Ruff Ryders Entertainment|Ruff Ryders]], [[Sony Urban Music|Sony Urban]], [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]}}</ref>

{{track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Intro
| note1 =
| writer1 = {{hlist|[[DMX|Earl Simmons]]|[[Dame Grease|Damon Blackman]]}}
| extra1 = Dame Grease
| length1 = 1:32

| title2 = [[We in Here]]
| note2 = featuring [[Swizz Beatz]]
| writer2 = {{hlist|Simmons|[[Swizz Beatz|Kasseem Dean]]|Joaquin Dean}}
| extra2 = Swizz Beatz
| length2 = 3:54

| title3 = I Run Shit
| note3 = featuring Big Stan
| writer3 = {{hlist|Simmons|K. Dean|Dennis Joyner}}
| extra3 = Swizz Beatz
| length3 = 3:56

| title4 = Come Thru (Move)
| note4 = featuring [[Busta Rhymes]]
| writer4 = {{hlist|Simmons|K. Dean|[[Busta Rhymes|Trevor Smith]]}}
| extra4 = Swizz Beatz
| length4 = 3:42

| title5 = It's Personal
| note5 = featuring [[Jadakiss]] and [[Styles P]]
| writer5 = {{hlist|Simmons|[[Jadakiss|Jason Phillips]]|[[Styles P|David Styles]]|Eriberio Serrano|Franklin Crum}}
| extra5 = The Tuneheadz
| length5 = 3:44

| title6 = Baby Motha
| note6 = featuring Janyce
| writer6 = {{hlist|Simmons|K. Dean|[[Felton Pilate]]}}
| extra6 = Swizz Beatz
| length6 = 4:41

| title7 = Dog Love
| note7 = featuring [[Amerie]] and Janyce
| writer7 = {{hlist|Simmons|[[Chad Elliott]]|Eddie Timmons|[[Amerie|Amerie Rogers]]|[[Siedah Garrett]]|[[Clif Magness]]}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|[[Chad Elliott|Chad "Dr. Ceuss" Elliott]]|Eddie "Shy Boogs" Timmons}}
| length7 = 3:42

| title8 = Wrong or Right? (I'm Tired)
| note8 = featuring Bazaar Royale
| writer8 = {{hlist|Simmons|Christopher Sanford|Hanan Rubinstein|[[Elite (producer)|Anthony Parrino]]}}
| extra8 = [[Elite (producer)|Elite]]
| length8 = 5:24

| title9 = Give 'Em What They Want
| note9 =
| writer9 = {{hlist|Simmons|[[Scott Storch]]}}
| extra9 = Scott Storch
| length9 = 2:46

| title10 = Walk These Dogs
| note10 = featuring Kashmir
| writer10 = {{hlist|Simmons|Blackman|Ellen Lomax|[[LeRoy Bell]]|Casey James}}
| extra10 = Dame Grease
| length10 = 2:56

| title11 = Blown Away
| note11 = featuring Jinx and Janyce
| writer11 = {{hlist|Simmons|Stonewall Odom|Patrick Gallo|[[Steve McDonald (Celtic music)|Steve McDonald]]}}
| extra11 = Divine Bars
| length11 = 4:02

| title12 = Goodbye
| note12 =
| writer12 = {{hlist|Simmons|Brian Palmer|Sergio Moore|Lesette Wilson}}
| extra12 = Da Gutta Fam
| length12 = 4:50

| title13 = Life Be My Song
| note13 =
| writer13 = {{hlist|Simmons|Blackman}}
| extra13 = Dame Grease
| length13 = 4:02

| title14 = The Prayer VI
| note14 =
| writer14 = Simmons
| extra14 = DMX
| length14 = 1:30

| title15 = [[Lord Give Me a Sign]]
| note15 =
| writer15 = {{hlist|Simmons|Storch}}
| extra15 = Scott Storch
| length15 = 3:28
}}

'''Sample credits'''<ref name="liner notes"/>
* "We in Here" contains samples of "Nobody But You Babe," written by [[Willie Clarke (songwriter)|Willie Clarke]] and [[Blowfly (musician)|Clarence Reid]], as performed by Clarence Reid.
* "Baby Motha" contains a sample of "(Let Me Put) Love On Your Mind", written by [[Felton Pilate]], as performed by [[Con Funk Shun]].
* "Walk These Dogs" contains samples of "Set Me Free", written by [[LeRoy Bell]] and Casey James, as performed by [[Teddy Pendergrass]].
* "Blown Away" contains samples from "Light From A Distant Shore" and "Fallen Flowers", written by [[Steve McDonald (Celtic music)|Steve McDonald]], as performed by [[Hollie Smith]].

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2006)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"|Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue859.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20060919140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20060920-0000/issue859.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-09-19|title=The ARIA Report: 21 August 2006|date=September 20, 2006|publisher=[[Australian Web Archive]]|issue=859|page=2|access-date=April 15, 2015}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
| 70
|-
! scope="row"|Australian Urban Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue859.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20060919140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20060920-0000/issue859.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 19, 2006|title=ARIA Urban Albums Chart – Week Commencing 21st August 2006|journal=The ARIA Report|issue=859|date= August 21, 2006|access-date=April 20, 2023|via=National Library of Australia}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|8
|-
{{album chart|Austria|23|artist=DMX|album=Year of the Dog Again|access-date=April 15, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Flanders|39|artist=DMX|album=Year of the Dog Again|access-date=April 20, 2023|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Wallonia|67|artist=DMX|album=Year of the Dog Again|access-date=April 15, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|4|artist=DMX|album=Year of the Dog Again|access-date=April 15, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|70|artist=DMX|album=Year of the Dog Again|access-date=April 20, 2023|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|France|43|artist=DMX|album=Year of the Dog Again|access-date=April 15, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|7|artist=DMX|album=Year of the Dog Again|id=38073|access-date=April 15, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Ireland2|15|artist=DMX|access-date=April 20, 2023|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|37|artist=DMX|album=Year of the Dog Again|access-date=April 15, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Scotland|31|date=20060806|access-date=April 20, 2023|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|7|artist=DMX|album=Year of the Dog Again|access-date=April 15, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|22|date=20060806|access-date=April 20, 2023|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|UKR&B|4|date=20060806|access-date=April 20, 2023|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|2|artist=DMX|album=Year of the Dog Again|access-date=April 15, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=DMX|album=Year of the Dog Again|access-date=April 15, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardRap|1|artist=DMX|album=Year of the Dog Again|access-date=April 15, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2006)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2006/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2006|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 25, 2020}}</ref>
| 70
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications and sales==
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Russia|artist=DMX|title=Year of the Dog... Again|award=Gold|certyear=2006|relyear=2006|relmonth=8|access-date=June 5, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | noshipments=true}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Metacritic album}}

{{DMX}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Year Of The Dog... Again}}
[[Category:2006 albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Dame Grease]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Scott Storch]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Sean Garrett]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Swizz Beatz]]
[[Category:DMX albums]]
[[Category:Ruff Ryders Entertainment albums]]

Year of the Dog... Again - Revision history

2600:8805:A06:6500:25D2:9B82:8F1A:6C2A at 23:58, 9 June 2025