Video After The Jump
In this episode of "People's Party With Talib Kweli," Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with legendary rapper, writer, actor, and one of hip-hop's most respected lyricists and distinctive voices.
The emcee with unmatched intensity --
An "unstoppable force" --
D - M - X
In this interview, X truly doesn't hold anything back -- offering us a rare glimpse into the life of one of the most uncompromising and authentic figures in the culture. Things start off with DMX reflecting on his success, almost a decade in the making. They discuss X's trauma growing up with bronchial asthma, often waking up out of breath, and how that contributed to his signature voice. X speaks his early days of slanging mixtapes, and rap battles while locked up. DMX's pain is palpable as he shares the now-viral story of being tricked into smoking crack by his rap mentor, which segues into talking about blind trust, and emotional honesty.
Later, the trio discusses a decades-old rap battle when X and his Harlem Nights crew were pitted against Jay-Z and Original Flavor, ending in guns being drawn. They discuss X's book 'E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX', as well as X having to audition for Def Jam's Lyor Cohen while his jaw was wired shut.
X shares what happened to the would-be group of Jay-Z, Ja-Rule, and himself that Irv Gotti assembled but never came to fruition after recording six songs collectively. He also talks about why he didn't want to record 'Ruff Ryder's Anthem' at first, claiming it sounded "elementary." They explore X's persona of the conscious emcee packed as a gangster rapper, and X speaks about the iconic clip of his birthday roundtable freestyle session with Big Pun, Canibus, DMX, Mos Def, Mic Geronimo & John Forte. He also touches on his life-long connection with canines, as he tells about stealing his first dog and how he earned its trust. X then goes into the 90 days of solitary confinement he did while incarcerated, some of the craziest things he saw in the pen, X's deep-rooted faith, and how it guides his life decisions. Late in the episode, X talks about witnessing the beautiful, warm spirit of Aaliyah when he worked with her on the movie 'Romeo Must Die'. He then speaks on his upcoming album with contributions from some of the biggest names in the industry, and the interview concludes with X giving us some powerful bars, straight from the heart.
TIME STAMPS:
2:20 -- DMX reflects on how grateful he is for his gradual road to success. Talib speaks on X bringing crabs to cook at their meet up the night before taping the episode. They also discuss why for X breaking bread was so important, and his enjoyment of cooking and sharing with his friends. Talib also brings up X serenading the crew the night before singing to Bobby Caldwell's 'What You Won't Do For Love', as well as 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer'. He's asked if wishes people and fans saw that fun loving side of him more often.
7:46 -- Jasmin asks X about his growing up with bronchial asthma as a child, that being part of the reason for his signature gruff voice. She relates his music to that of someone struggling to breathe literally and figuratively, referencing lyrics from his first album. X goes on to illustrate the trauma he experienced grappling with the condition, waking up not being able choking for air. All this leads into talk about why he wanted to be a firefighter when he grew up.
10:18 -- DMX is asked about his early days of selling mix tapes on the streets, battle rapping while incarcerated, and how these experiences shaped him as an artist. X touches on how for him hip hop truly was a lifestyle, with beat boxing being his point of induction. X then gets raw, as he allows himself to be completely vulnerable talking about getting tricked into smoking crack at age 14 by his rap mentor, Ready Ron. X states that at that point "the monster was born". Then the conversation widens to discuss the importance of emotional honesty, particularly amongst young, Black men.
20:33 -- DMX is asked about a battle in the Bronx he participated in with his Harlem Nights crew versus Jay-Z and Original Flavor, the bout ending with guns being drawn. Talib goes on to speak about the book 'E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX', in his view being one of the first truly authentic hip hop biographies written, as it's from an insider's perspective. He asks X to expand on an excerpt from the book that told how he had to rap for Def Jam executive Lyor Cohen, while his jaw was wired shut. He also gives Snoop some due credit for the title of what would become his breakout single.
30:13 -- Talib brings up a period during the mid-nineties when Irv Gotti was looking to assemble a group, with sights set on DMX, Jay-Z and Ja-Rule. X tells why it never came to fruition even after recording at least 6 songs together. Jas raises a quote from X stating that he didn't want to record 'Ruff Ryders Anthem' at first because the sound was "elementary and not gangster". They also discuss the idea of X being the conscious rapper packaged as a gangster rapper, and X is asked if the depth of his lyrics is often overlooked due to his persona.
35:37 -- DMX speaks on the clip of a legendary roundtable freestyle session on X's birthday in '97 with Big Pun, Canibus, DMX, Mos Def, Mic Geronimo & John Forte. X notes the inescapable competitive nature of an emcee, he's asked for his take on expectations of professionalism as an artist, and X speaks to his life-long connection and affection for dogs. He outlines a story of stealing his first dog, and everything he went through to eventually earn his trust. They also explore people's varying views of dog ownership as property vs. family.
51:04 -- DMX speaks on doing 90 days in solitary confinement during his most recent prison bid. He's asked about one of his quotes stating prison used to be fun on some levels before fame hit. He also notes some of the wildest things he saw while locked up and Talib goes on to ask how X his thoughts on prison failing society, black men in particular. He speaks on profits from prison labor being modern day slavery, rehabiliation not even in the equation. Then X is asked about his ordainment as a Christian Deacon, what faith means to him and how it affects his process.
1:01:43 -- DMX goes into how he navigates positive and negative criticism. Talib then asks X about his time working with singer Aaliyah on the movie 'Romeo Must Die'. X tells how it came together with him being written into an already finished script, and he reflects on Aaliyah's warm personality, her beautiful spirit, as well as the moment she asked him if he wanted to do a song with her. X then speaks on his upcoming album with contributions from some of the biggest names in the industry, and the interview concludes with X giving us some powerful and prayerful bars from the heart.
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