DMX
Here I Am
The game done changed, but Dark Man X hasn’t stopped being greedy. With a new label deal and two upcoming projects, the 10-year vet talks about the next phase of his life.
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In honor of the 10-year anniversary of DMX’s classic 1998 debut It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, XXL tracked down the elusive Dark Man X in Arizona to discuss what it was like making the album (that story in the May issue, on stands now). We also got the scoop on his present state of mind. In December 2007, having been released from his Sony contract earlier in the year, X inked a deal with Bodog Music, a division of the Canadian online gaming company Bodog Entertainment. Due later this year, his next projects are two separate albums called Walk With Me Now and You’ll Fly With Me Later. The former disc will be devoted to straight rap, while the latter is X’s first gospel-rap endeavor, which comes as no surprise given his spiritual background. Both feature production by his longtime collaborators Swizz Beatz, PK and Davine Bars. In the last week of January we caught up with the Yonkers MC and chatted about the status of his current project, the shape rap is in, and some guy named Obama.
There’s talk of a new album for you. When’s that coming out, like what’s up with that? Can you tell me what stage you’re at as far as recording?
Well, I’m bout to start working on the gospel album.
Yeah, the gospel album. It’s like a double album right?
It’s two different albums. Two albums, separate albums. I got a couple more tracks to do on it and that’s done. It’s the first time anybody did anything like this—two separate albums on the same day.
What made you want to release a gospel album now?
I’ve done gospel songs on every album. I figured I’d just dedicate a whole album to it.
Right. Can you tell me signing to Bodog, how that came about?
I don’t even really remember how it came about. Some real shit, I don’t remember who did what about what. I remember when I met ‘em it was in Miami.
You met who?
I met, you know, the people from Bodog in Miami and we had dinner and it was just a good vibe, good energy.
When was that? Do you remember?
No.
But you were still signed to Sony at the time?
Nah, I had already gotten a release.
What happened with the situation at Sony? You weren’t happy there, right?
Nah, they did my whole shit—they just fucked my whole project up.
As far as marketing and stuff?
Every way. Every possible way.
So as far as this album, what should people expect from this album? What’s your mind state? What kind of songs are you doing?
Banging joints, just like the last album. Just banging joints. I’ll have a couple of ’em on my MySpace page in a couple days.
Okay, you’re on MySpace now?
I been there.
How do you feel about the digital—like, everything going through the Internet as far as…
I don’t even think about it. I don’t even think about it.
The music business is pretty much going in that direction.
I don’t know. That’s just… that’s probably not… People want the actual CDs not no shit that’s disposable.
It’s like the ringtone rappers are the guys that are selling right now.
Good for them, good for them. I’m glad they eating right now.
You don’t feel a certain way about that.
Nah, I don’t even think about it, for real. I mean, it’s a waste of energy to think about what somebody else is doing and how they doing it. I’ma just do what I do. All that shit is a headache.
What do you think about where the rap game is right now? Do you think it’s in a good space? ’Cause rap sales are down.
We’re coming around to a good space. Quietly, a good position.
Sales are down, though.
It goes in cycles.
Right, but do you think there’s a reason that rap isn’t selling like it was in your day?
Yeah ’cause niggas ain’t saying nothing. People ain’t saying nothing. Ain’t but so many people… Some people buy records just to dance to ’em. Some people buy records to listen to the radio. And there’s people that buy records ’cause they listen to every song. They not feeding the people properly.
You mean the artists?
Yeah, the artists. It’s the same ole bullshit. That’s how it get. There has to be some fuckin’ substance.
Do you think it’s a good thing that Southern music is pretty much dominating the game? There’s no cats from New York, you know. It seems like there hasn’t been in awhile. What do you think about that?
What do I think about Southern music?
Yeah.
I really don’t think about it.
You don’t think about it?
I really don’t care for it. To focus on other shit is a fuckin’ headache.
Right. So what artists are you listening to right now?
Same ones I been listening to—Nas and Scarface.
Nas and Scarface?
Yep, Nas and Scarface.
Have you recorded any songs for the new album?
Yeah, half the album is pretty much done, the gospel album.
Can you tell me about some of the songs, a couple of the songs that you did?
Like, what do you wanna know?
What was the first song…
The single is a joint called “All Ready.”
What were you doing in between—from the last album to this one, that whole time? What have you been up to?
Life. I been up to that. It’s been crazy. Fuckin’ police keep on fuckin’ raiding my house and shit for nothing. They took all my fuckin’ guns. All they did is take is take my guns. All they fuckin’ do is fuck my house up and take my guns. That’s all they did. Straight robbed me—that’s what they did.
Are you happy with how your last two albums did as far as sales?
Oh yeah, I’m happy. I’m happy with whatever they do.
Would you ever think about becoming the president of a label, like running your own label?
Yeah, probably.
There was a video on the Internet recently, I don’t know if you saw it, like with you in the studio.
Nah, didn’t see it.
It was like you in the studio and I guess some other producer and you were recording some songs and you were talking about some random stuff. Do you remember that?
Yeah, I think so.
People were really concerned about you or whatever.
That was a while ago. I didn’t see it.
Do you remember when you were in the studio?
Vaguely. I’d just flown in or something. I know I was tired as a muthafucka.
Tired from recording?
I just flew in. I just flew in.
Do you worry about people getting the wrong perception of you?
No, I really don’t. People could say what they want. I don’t really care. I don’t give a fuck.
Clearly, yeah.
Anything that’s not positive, I don’t have the energy to focus on it. Anything that’s not going in the right direction I don’t have the time or the energy. If somebody step to my face, I’ma take care of ’em, that’s something different. What people think, I don’t give a fuck about none of that shit ’cause they ain’t putting money in my pocket. They ain’t taking no money out of my pocket. They all suck dick when they see me so it really doesn’t matter.
Are you following the presidential race?
Not at all.
You’re not? You know there’s a Black guy running, Barack Obama and then there’s Hillary Clinton.
His name is Barack?!
Barack Obama, yeah.
Barack?!
Barack.
What the fuck is a Barack?! Barack Obama. Where he from, Africa?
Yeah, his dad is from Kenya.
Barack Obama?
Yeah.
What the fuck?! That ain’t no fuckin’ name, yo. That ain’t that nigga’s name. You can’t be serious. Barack Obama. Get the fuck outta here.
You’re telling me you haven’t heard about him before.
I ain’t really paying much attention.
I mean, it’s pretty big if a Black…
Wow, Barack! The nigga’s name is Barack. Barack? Nigga named Barack Obama. What the fuck, man?! Is he serious? That ain’t his fuckin’ name. Ima tell this nigga when I see him, “Stop that bullshit. Stop that bullshit” [laughs] “That ain’t your fuckin’ name.” Your momma ain’t name you no damn Barack.
So you’re not following the race. You can’t vote right?
Nope.
Is that why you’re not following it?
No, because it’s just—it doesn’t matter. They’re gonna do what they’re gonna do. It doesn’t really make a difference. These are the last years.
But it would be pretty big if we had a first Black president. That would be huge.
I mean, I guess…. What, they gon’ give a dog a bone? There you go. Ooh, we have a Black president now. They should’ve done that shit a long time ago, we wouldn’t be in the fuckin’ position we in now. With world war coming up right now. They done fucked this shit up then give it to the Black people, “Here you take it. Take my mess.”
Right, exactly.
It’s all a fuckin’ setup. It’s all a setup. All fuckin’ bullshit. All bullshit. I don’t give a fuck about none of that.
We could have a female president also, Hillary Clinton.
I mean, either way it doesn’t matter. I don’t care. No one person is directly affected by which president, you know, so what does it matter.
Yeah, but the country is.
I guess. The president is a puppet anyway. The president don’t make no damn decisions.
The president…they don’t have that much authority basically?
Nah, never.
But Bush pretty much…
You think Bush is making fuckin’ decisions?
He did, yeah, he fucked up the country.
He act like he making decisions. He could barely speak! He could barely fuckin’ speak!
Can’t be serious. He ain’t making no damn decisions.
Well Barack has a good chance of winning so that might be something.
Good for him, good for him.
How’s your family and your kids?
They’re good. My son is rapping now.
Did he see you? I’m sure he was inspired by you.
Yeah, yeah. all that. Took him to shows and everything.
What does your wife Tashera think about him rapping?
She likes it. She’s the one who told me. She told me.
Did you talk to him? What do you tell him about the industry? Do you give him advice about the industry?
He knows it, he knows all that shit. Ah, man. I give him some advice.
What kind of advice do you give him? Like, watch out for, you know…
Advice about life, advice about girls, whatever a father would tell his son. Everything. Advice about everything. Everything. Advice about everything.
Do you think you’ve been a good father up ’til now?
[Pauses] I don’t know. I’ve done the best that I could.
I guess you never know, right?
They’re all well mannered. I hope I instilled something positive in ’em.
Would you ever do a second—like, your reality show again? ’Cause the first one did pretty well.
Yeah, I will.
After that Snoop had a show and Irv Gotti so it kind of kicked off the reality shows after you did it. Right?
Yeah I guess. Good for them. Everybody’s doing it big.
What do you think about Lil Wayne? People think he’s the hottest rapper.
He is nowhere near the hottest nothing right now. You can’t be serious.
Why do you say that? He’s on like every song.
He has to do that.
Is there anybody that you’re excited about? Are there any new rappers that you’re excited about?
No. No.
What was the last time you got excited about a new rapper? When was the last time that you really liked somebody that was coming out?
I don’t recall being excited about a new rapper ever.
Is it that bad?
No it’s not that bad. I just don’t, I’m real picky about what I fuck with.
Right, you don’t really listen to other people?
Nah, not really.
All right, well is there anything else that I missed? Anything that you’re working on?
Working on life.
Working on life.
Yeah, working on life.
Are you happy right now?
I don’t wanna be happy.
Why not?
’Cause when you happy you get locked in sleep. You get sleepy happy. I always wanna be on point. I always wanna be aware.
Right, ’cause when you’re happy you think you’re safe and you don’t…
Yeah, you get sleepy happy.
Damn -
Truth be told. This is no surprise. DMX has been gone, I mean LONG gone for a significant amount of time. I don’t even feel sorry for him because he seems to be complacent with his ignorance. And if ignorance is bliss…I guess DMX is “sleep happy!”
And his total ignorance on the presidential race puts black people back about 1,000 steps! Sad…horribly sad!
J Smith be on that ignorant shit. Black people back 1,000 steps??? Get outta here. When has Barack ever mentioned inner city problems he’s going to fix? What about the high % of blacks/American pop. in jail? So why is DMX going to care about a political system that doesn’t car about him for? Stupid.
Excuse me, hvj, but inner city problems are almost NEVER mentioned in presidential elections. It’s funny that you that Barack Obama is “un-black” since he does not discuss inner-city problems.
Also, the reason for the high percentage of blacks in jail is that such systems as welfare, etc., which are meant to help, only hinder since those people take complete advantage of the system. There is rarely a push to want to better oneself and “get outta da ghetto” or what have you.
One more thing: if the political system doesn’t care about blacks, which is what I’m assuming your getting at when you reference DMX, then guess what, it never will unless he and others like him actually VOTE. Of course, I’m glad he doesn’t vote since he is obviously an idiot who should have stayed in the ghetto or jail or whatever instead of making shit music and marrying Aaliyah when she was 14.
It is obvious that you are a sell out who really does not know the real history of this so called great country and the Mis-education of the black race men women and children, it is also obvious that you speak without doing your research, it was art kelly not DMX who married Aaliyah.
As for X he’ll come around in his own time not yours or mines everyone will have that rude-awakening because we all know that nothing comes to a sleeper but a dream and X is not sleeping he’s just resting. His messages have always been deep, shut up and listen. We still love you and the love has not died X
It’s crazy how some people can sit here and analyze a person that speaks from the heart and don’t care what you or I think and someone on the outside call him stupid or ignorant. They called Einstein crazy but on the flip side he was brilliant. Learn who you are Patrick, J Smith and maybe just maybe you could understand what he means when “you get sleepy happy.”
this isint Directed at anyone its just my two cents. why so excited? has obama done anything for you? i think its Ridiculous that everyone was waiting in line to kiss his ass like he had done something when all he had done up to that point was be Elected and before that even happind he was put on t shirts with MLK malcome x & jessie jackson in the background who all helped change american history and the rights of African Americans. and being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize one of the resons is for reaching out to the Muslim world.a Violent nation who dont forget dont care if your black white or whatever if your not in the muslim religion your are an Infidel and should be killed/die for not praying to there god that is of course the right/only one like every religion clames.is that something you want to support? die or convert to Islam that sounds like Oppression dosint it?. dmx dosint care about obama being black Because he dosint think its gona change anything for you or him and sounds like hes as disgusted with the way this country is being run as i am and is probly right even if obama is “one of the good guys”the fat ritch white men that pull the strings and are running this Country into the ground that are the same color as me will still be in charge when obama is gone and will try there best to prevent him from changeing anything substantial and then bash him for not doing anything. the whole sistem is flawed and this is just one more reason im Embarrassed to be white.
It’s “sleepy happy.” And you think just because there is a black man running for president that every black person has to follow him? If DMX has no interest in politics, why knock him? And I’m not exactly sure what you are getting at when you say it puts blacks back 1,000 steps. I’m sure DMX doesn’t represent the entire black population when he speaks about politics. You must have been raised in the south!
You cant be serious right now? How can one person’s opinion take the whole black race 1,000 steps back? If anything if you read the darn thing again he makes sense. The president of the united states cant make decisions without the house and the senate. And as far as weezy he is not hot is like on everyones sh*t so that he can keep up his dentist bill. Young people wake up and realize we are in the last days. And if X aint worried about these clown a** ni**as out here then neither should you! think about Bush sent all those troops over seas for what? and why are they still there? And if Barack does get into office what is he going to do?
Maybe yall should think about what Barack did as a senator before you jump on his band wagon cause he is black.
Oh wait he aint done shi* cuz he havent been in office that long to do anything.
Reasearch black people. Read DMX article again before you judge him.
X is right. Obama doesn’t represent me. I never went to no private school, but I sure as shit ain’t dumb. I do know that if I was snorting coke and smoking j, my ass would be in jail. Instead that mother goes to Harvard and bitches about how hard it is to be a black man in this country. He ain’t ever been a black man in this country!!! He’s nothing more than the same thing as the other two. Might as well vote for McCain. At least you know your voting for an old white guy, not a darker white guy pretending to represent the BLACK MAN!!
u can be serious man (black people back about 1,000 steps! ) u fuck u dont even know what r u talkin bout ;no president ever have care about people so how u want that dmx care bout this fuckin race is just bullshit
real shit
u should respect dmx really respect him
he know what he’s talkin bout
Typical, uninformed, exploitive American nigger…doesn’t even know about Barack Obama.
All DMX does is make bad so-called ‘music’ and bad movies. He is living the American dream by exploiting this country…greed greed greed and then whines about it. TYPICAL.
dmx is like us all
fuckt up and human
You call his music bad? What do you listen to? that death-hardcore metal “i wanna jump off a cliff and kill myself music”? his first 3 albums helped alot of young adults get through alot of serious problems going on in their life when they had NOBODY to turn to: one of those people was myself and im truely greatful that i’ve had the opportunity to grow up during his era. You can judge him if you want, but at least he still keeps it real and isnt a sell out. I will always envy the guy and respect him for who he is, X saved my life in alot of ways. I just think thats a real ignorant comment for you to make….im sure you never really LISTENED to his music or else you wouldn’t have made a stupid comment like that
Leave DMX alone, he choose not to follow the politics so what the fuck is yo problem…i dnt follow polilitics, fuck it…
Its mighty funny how you can come on a Black magazine and talk about bLACK FOLKS LIKE THAT. The problem is that you don’t understand what X is saying. The Hip Hop Industry as well as the rest of the music industry is fucked up and has been ever since corporate take over or should I say, given to them. X isn’t whining about it at all. If you done your High School US History better yet, 9th grade then you would know that the president can’t make no decisions without the House and the Senate. He can Veto a bill and they can override it. What the fuck is wrong with you dumb fucks?! Go Kill Yourself Dude!!! Smoke some Meth or something. Sheesh
DMX is an Idiot and I’m not suprised by his comments and ignorance. DMX is definitely a disgrace to the Black Human Race.
I don’t believe there is any hope for him.
dmx iz a sik rappa
the fact that u said “rappa” is disturbing. even more disturbing is DMX’s ignorance. Everyone represents their spirituality in different ways, but it always strikes me as odd when a person pushes it while simultaneously saying n*gga this, oh f*&( that.
and come one…you don’t have to be “into politics” to know who obama is. you just have to not have your head under a rock and brain on drugs
WOW!..This guy is on the good sh**…what the hell was that..talk about a train wreck…its like they pulled this guy out of a cave and asked him questions on world events…he couldn’t even express hisself let alone complete a thought!
X is not on crack -more like – in the world but not of the world. He is aware of what others choose not to be conscious of. More than meets the eye. The album is gonna be ablaze.
He was just keepin it real politics is a bunch of bull, and the president is never really in control anyway.
He is right about Lil’ Wayne, hes not hot to me
I think DMx needs to opay attention to what’s going on around him more because these people control what’s going to happen in this country and be proud that a black man is running ofr president there’s a first time for every thing and he needs to release a hot album cause those other ones were not happening he’s only had two hot albums and for too nice stop hating on Lil Wayne cause he is THE BEST RAPPER ALIVE
well first of all like i said before, it doesnt matter if you pay attention or not this has been white america since day one when they took it from the indians. thats how they get you. trick you into believing you actually have a say in the matter and you hit. did you vote for j. jackson when he ran for pres? and the last thing is lil wayne is ok he aint the best rapper out just because he appears on a bunch of songs. only chicks think he’s hot and if he was another broke nigga you wouldnt give him the time of day.
You people are really idiots. 1) This idiot doesn’t know who’s running for president. Regardless of the color or gender or everything else, he should know, since it DOES affect him. Any of you who are agreeing with DMX are clearly buffoons and need to get some education.
X is fried, he can barely complete a sentence. if he’s the best NY has, the South will keep running it..Weezy F. Baby for President!
your ignorant! My nigga Dee has been real from the start hasn’t changed one bit. what u and the world fail to realize he just don’t give a fuck. he means that. We go back to 96 he has the same attitude now that he had then. I’m glad to see money and fame hasn’t changed him. This is TN nigga. I wish him nuthin but the best, if he don’t neva sell another album he has did things that no other rappers have done! 2 #1 albums in a year. I’m right behind you DMX. Much luv to the realist nigga next to me.
thats the dumbest shit anybody can say! whether hes been gone for along time or a short time it doesnt matter. like X said, the president is only the quarterback and the senate and house is the coach. he can only throw what hes told to throw. how come the blacks didnt jump on J. Jacksons wagon when he was running for president? it dont matter who runs for pres white america puts who they want in office and can be easily controlled. prime example….bush fucked-up every company he ran now you want him to run our country? guess what? we fucked-up aint we? his brother(florida) cheated and got caught…twice!! so why was the deciding vote still left up to florida?
Man how the fuck he don’t know bout Barack?!!! wat ever he might not be the greatest rapper ever but hes one of the best album sellers. but then again people fuck that up by using Limewire and Aquisition.
DMX gives perpetuates racism. This is the most ignorant shit I’ve ever heard. Anyone who listens to this asshole is a horrible person and should feel bad about themselves.
man, you can tell he is out there with some stuff like not knowing or remembering some stuff, but he is by no means ignorant about the political shit he said…. you think the president runs the country…lmao…funny if that is the case… Presidents have a little pull and some big decisions get shifted on them, but that shit goes before others for majority votes… of course there is the veto, but that only works for so much.. they can impeach and whatever… They vote on decisions and bills else we’d have an obama health reform already… come on now…. And i can dig the world war shit… we just keep barking up them desert trees, we are gonna piss others off and we are gonna get shit on we can’t be the strong arm forever we will fall.
CRACK is a hella of a drug
fucking wow. DMX has lost his fucking mind.
yo, X is really a funny dude.
lol @ the comments he made about obama and lil wayne.
u gotta love that nigga.
The interviewer should be fired.
“I was like”, “it’s like”, “you know, like”
Who are you, Captain retard? this interview is as bad as the horrible HipHopGame & HHDX interviews.
what the hell is X on?
thats the funniest reaction to Obama ever!
why didn’t he just bark through the interview?
I lol’d
GOTDAMN!! They made this nigga sound like a straight crackhead!!! LOL fuck.
I still love my nigga X tho. That nigga aint worried about nobody!! hes always at da mall down hera in Arizona, just walkin around. Thats where I met him, & damn near everybody i know met that nigga at da mall!
STOP THE ACT PLZ
Yup…he a true crackhead. But i agree with him on the Lil Wayne comment. Weezy is average @ best.
Damn X what happened tho…you dont even know who Obama is? I wonder if Earl Simmons will still be alive this time next year