It's Dark and Hell Is Hot

It's Dark and Hell is Hot

Released

May 19, 1998

Recorded

1996-98
New Horizon Sounds Studio, Inc.
Capitol Heights, Maryland
Power House Studios, Soundtrack Studios, Chung King Studios, Quad Recording Studios
New York City, New York

Genre

Hardcore hip hop, East Coast hip hop

Length

65:10

Label

Ruff Ryders, Def Jam

Producer

Dame Grease, Irv Gotti, P.K., Swizz Beatz

DMX chronology

Unleashed & Unreleased
(1998)

It's Dark and Hell Is Hot
(1998)

Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood
(1998)

Singles from It's Dark and Hell Is Hot

"Get at Me Dog"
Released: February 10, 1998
"Stop Being Greedy"
Released: March 7, 1998
"Ruff Ryders' Anthem"
Released: May 5, 1998
"How's It Goin' Down"
Released: June 9, 1998

It's Dark and Hell is Hot is the debut studio album by American rapper DMX. The album was released May 19, 1998, on Ruff Ryders Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings.^[1] The album featured four singles with music videos, "Get at Me Dog", "Stop Being Greedy", "How's It Goin' Down" and the "Ruff Ryders Anthem". The album is widely considered a classic by numerous hip hop fans and critics.^[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[3]
The Daily Vault	A-^[4]
Entertainment Weekly	C^[5]
Q	^[6]
RapReviews	(8/10)^[7]
Rolling Stone	^[8]
The Source	^[6]
Spin	(6/10)^[6]

It's Dark and Hell Is Hot was met with critical acclaim from music critics. AllMusic commented that "Unlike so many other hardcore rappers who are more rhetorical than physical, DMX commands an aggressive aura without even speaking a word."^[3] Leading Hip Hop magazine The Source described the album as "a mind-gripping opus that fully encompasses the appeal of one of rap's newest sensations."^[6]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 1 on The Billboard 200, and sold 251,000 copies in its first week.^[9] It was certified 4x Platinum by RIAA on December 18, 2000.^[10]

Track listing

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro"	Irv Gotti, Lil' Rob	4:09
2.	"Ruff Ryders' Anthem"	Swizz Beatz	3:34
3.	"Fuckin' wit' D"	P.K., Dame Grease	2:18
4.	"The Storm (Skit)"	Dame Grease, P.K.	1:00
5.	"Look Thru My Eyes"	P.K. Dame Grease	3:50
6.	"Get at Me Dog" (featuring Sheek Louch)	Dame Grease, P.K.	4:03
7.	"Let Me Fly"	Dame Grease, Young Lord	4:12
8.	"X-Is Coming"	P.K.	4:18
9.	"Damien"	Dame Grease	3:42
10.	"How's It Goin' Down" (featuring Faith Evans)	P.K.	4:42
11.	"Mickey (Skit)"		0:25
12.	"Crime Story"	Irv Gotti, Lil' Rob	3:47
13.	"Stop Being Greedy"	P.K., Dame Grease	3:37
14.	"ATF"	Dame Grease	1:56
15.	"For My Dogs" (featuring Drag-On, Big Stan, Loose & Kasino)	Dame Grease	4:11
16.	"I Can Feel It" (featuring Nardo)	Dame Grease	4:12
17.	"Prayer (Skit)"	Dame Grease	2:32
18.	"The Convo"	Dame Grease	3:33
19.	"Niggaz Done Started Something" (featuring The Lox & Mase)	Dame Grease	5:09

Charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[11]	1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[12]	1

References

↑ "DMX | Biography, Albums, & Streaming Radio". AllMusic. 1970-12-18. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
↑ "50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987 - 2007)". Rap.about.com. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
1 2 Jason Birchmeier (1998-05-12). "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot - DMX | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
↑ "The Daily Vault Music Reviews :". Dailyvault.com. 2006-12-27. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
↑ Mukherjee, Tiarra. "It's Dark and Hell is Hot | Music Review | Entertainment Weekly". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
1 2 3 4 "Dmx - It's Dark and Hell Is Hot CD Album". Cduniverse.com. 1998-05-19. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
↑ "Feature for January 28, 2003 - DMX's "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot"". Rapreviews.com. 2003-01-28. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
↑ DMX (1998-06-18). "DMX: It's Dark and Hell Is Hot : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
↑ "Now! 22 Ends DMX’s Billboard Winning Streak". MTV. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
↑ "Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - December 18, 2015". RIAA. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
↑ "DMX – Chart history" Billboard 200 for DMX. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
↑ "DMX – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for DMX. Retrieved October 23, 2014.

DMX

Discography Filmography

Studio albums	It's Dark and Hell Is Hot Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood ... And Then There Was X The Great Depression Grand Champ Year of the Dog... Again Undisputed

Compilations	The Definition of X: The Pick of The Litter Playlist Your Way The Best of DMX

Soundtracks	Belly Romeo Must Die Exit Wounds Cradle 2 the Grave

Singles	"Born Loser" "Get at Me Dog" "Stop Being Greedy" "How's It Goin' Down" "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" "Slippin'" "No Love 4 Me" "It's On" "What's My Name?" "What These Bitches Want" "Party Up (Up in Here) "Do You?" "No Sunshine" "We Right Here" "Who We Be" "I Miss You" "X Gon' Give It to Ya" "Where the Hood At?" "Get It on the Floor" "We in Here" "Lord Give Me a Sign" "Come Thru' (Move)" "I Don't Dance" "Head Up"

Featured singles	"4, 3, 2, 1" "Money, Power & Respect" "Shut 'Em Down" "Money, Cash, Hoes" "Come Back in One Piece" "Tear It Up" "Touch It (Remix)"

Other songs	"24 Hrs. to Live"

Related articles	Fontana Distribution Bloodline Records Ruff Ryders Entertainment

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