ARTIST: DMX
ALBUM: Undisputed
LABEL: Seven Arts Music
RELEASE DATE: September 12, 2012
Ready For a TKO
Written by Jeremy Weeden
DMX burst on the scene in 1998, taking the world by storm with his raspy voice, gruff speech and aggressive rapping style on his classic debut, It’s Dark and Hell is Hot. Now 14 years, millions of records sold and countless hit singles later, DMX is looking to recapture the magic with his 7th studio album, Undisputed. Undoubtedly a living rap legend, DMX has seen many troubles and faced a lot of adversity since his glory days as a double threat rapper and movie star. From legal problems in multiple states to marriage and baby momma problems, DMX has been through the storm and is back to remind us that his status and place in rap is Undisputed.
The album starts with a soulful intro where DMX sings, “They don’t know what I been going through,” and seems to be putting his troubles of the past few years behind him. After the intro DMX gets things started off right on the album by linking back up with longtime collaborator Swizz Beatz for the horn heavy “What They Don’t Know.” This track will remind many of “Where the Hood At” or other DMX club songs. This is a pattern that repeats itself throughout the album. A lot of the songs might remind one of a past DMX song that was a lot better. DMX is still lyrically proficient and has the aggressive passion he always had, but it just seems as though something is missing on some of the songs that keeps them from reaching the level of excellence shown on past albums. However, DMX is still leaps and bounds above most artists out now, only when compared to his own past albums of a different era does he come up a little short. His skills are still very evident on “What They Don’t Know” as he fires out unforgiving lyrics like, “If we were big as our hearts you’d be half my size/I only fuck with the real, Scarface and Nas.”
“I Don’t Dance,” featuring Machine Gun Kelly, the album’s current single, is another standout track on Undisputed. This JR Rotem produced club banger ironically features DMX and MGK rapping about not dancing on a track meant to get other people to dance. The irony works as the track and chorus go well together and the album’s only featured rapper, MGK, holds his own walking in the large footsteps of DMX. The album does not only have club tracks however, DMX gets introspective on tracks like “Slippin Again” and “I Get Scared.” DMX has always been able to speak from the heart and show you a genuine side of himself and on these tracks; he shows he has not lost that skill. On “Slippin Again” DMX raps about the dark days he has seen with lines like, “If y’all only knew what my life was like/And what I’m going through/Maybe you’d think before you talk/You gotta crawl before you walk/Think having money is the answer/Money ain’t nothing but another form of cancer.”
One area where DMX always shines is the conversations he has with God. DMX always has a heartfelt prayer on his albums that invites the listener to take a walk in his tortured shoes as he asks God for help and forgiveness. DMX is an excellent poet and orator and his true lyrical talent shines through on the song “Prayer.”
Undisputed is a solid album full of good songs and excellent production. Swizz Beatz, Dame Grease, JR Rotem, & Deezle are among the high profile producers who provide worthy beats that go with DMX’s typical fervent style. Instead of trying to fit into the mainstream, DMX wants to roll over the mainstream and attract new fans with his classic style. This results in an album that will please diehard fans, as X’s signature Ruff Ryder’s sound is evident on the album. Undisputed is not DMX’s best work, but it is a definite stepping stone on the way back to the top for one of the living legends of rap.