DMX - It's Dark and Hell Is Hot

Just as rap music was reaching its toughest, darkest, grimmest period yet, following the assassinations of 2pac and Biggie in the late '90s, along came Dmx and his fellow Ruff Ryders, who embodied the essence of inner-city machismo to a tee, as showcased throughout the tellingly titled It's Dark And Hell Is Hot. Unlike so many other hardcore rappers who are more rhetorical than physical, Dmx commands an aggressive aura without even speaking a word. He showcases his chiseled physique on the arresting album cover and trumpets his animalistic nature with frequent barking, growling, and snarling throughout the album. Read More