The Dark Man X, better known as DMX, came back with a vengeance in a rare award show performance at The 2001 Source Awards airing on UPN.
DMX opened the show to the ominous thumping baseline of the track “Who We Be,” from his highly anticipated fourth album The Great Depression hitting stores October 23rd.
Once the audience heard DMX’s now world-famous growl reverberate through the Jackie Gleason Theater, they knew they were witnessing the return of a hip-hop icon. DMX didn’t disappoint. Having not performed in front of a live audience in over a year, it was evident the moment X hit the stage that he had not lost the passion, intensity, and genius that we have come to expect. Deftly navigating through the powerful track “Who We Be,” which will undoubtedly become a coveted anthem addressing the pain and ills of the urban landscape, the audience enthralled themselves in his performance and were immediately taken over. DMX, with his raw and gritty staccato, blessed us with yet another immense performance.
The Great Depression is perhaps the Dark Man’s finest work to date. The album is filled with vivid stories of struggle and survival, pain and perseverance that have signified X’s career. Currently blowing up airwaves, is the album’s first single, the gritty anthem “We Right Here.” The Great Depression features songstress Faith Evans who eloquently lends her vocals to “I Miss You” dedicated to X’s deceased grandmother. Other featured artists include R&B legend Stephanie Mills who re-recorded vocals from her original dance classic “Watcha Gonna Do,” and controversial rocker Marilyn Manson on the dark track “The Omen.” Also, the album features producers Swizz Beatz and Grease, and X’s Bloodline family.
With close to 15 million albums sold worldwide, DMX has made an indelible mark in popular culture. In 1998, DMX released his first album, It’s Dark and Hell is Hot which debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts heralding the return of an unflinching, unfiltered brand of hip hop. Selling over 4 million records, It’s Dark was soon followed by Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood in the same year, which debuted at #1 on the charts as well. The release of Flesh marked the first time in over twenty years that an artist had two records debut at number one within the same year. In 1999, DMX released And Then There Was…X which sold over 600,000 units in its first week, further solidifying DMX as a major force in popular culture. DMX has had success on the big screen as well starring in films Belly, Romeo Must Die, and the blockbuster hit Exit Wounds.
