Since going multi-platinum twice in the same year (1997) DMX has been considered one of Hip- Hop’s brightest stars bring energy and the streets with him in songs like “Get At Me Dog”, “Ruff Ryders Anthem” and “No Love 4 Me”.

After a couple of years off, doing movies and after two successful, but less popular albums (And Then There Was X, and Great Depression) X returns to the scene refreshed and aimed to fire in Grand Champ.

His established fan base will be very happy while managing to bring back those who left for a while.

This is DMX back to the basics: inspired lyrics of life, some partying and bull, and his travels with beats by some of the best including Rockwilder, DJ Scratch, Swizz Beatz, No I.D., Dame Grease, and Kanye West. This is not to mention the people featured including names like Cam'ron, 50 Cent, Eve, The Lox, Drag On, Patti Labelle, and Monica. The twenty-three cut album is hot!

“My Life” is a testament song where X lets you know the temperament of the album with the repeated chorus “Cause it’s all going on in my life” sung by Chinky.

“Where The Hood” At is the first single and it’s the usual crazy street track where he ask the streets to holla back at him “Where da hood at!”

“Dog Out” is real hot, Kanye uses a sample of Stacy Lattisaw for the chorus. The beat is hot and you’ll be saying “And the dog is out”.

“Get It On The Floor” is the Swizz club song attempt and it isn’t bad as Beatz tells the ladies to “get it on the floor, you don’t wanna party then yo ass gotta go!”

“Shot Down” brings three of the hardest MC’s out as Styles P and 50 Cent join X to talk trash about what they can do and what you shouldn’t.

“Bring The Noise” is another track X gets gritty on a fast paced beat talking about guns and “cooking n---as like hot wings”!

“Untouchable” brings a heavy Ruff Ryder feel with Sheek, Infa-Red, Cross and Drag with Syleena Johnson singing the hook. All involved let you know that the camp is still strong and despite everyone growing it doesn’t mean they don’t represent.

“F—k Y’all” produced by Ron Browz, takes a guitar section and loops it, while X tells what he hates.

“We’re Back” features Eve and Kiss and of course both kill it. The beat sounds like a triumphant march as Eve represents for Philly letting them know she’s never scared clowning all the haters and Kiss hits you with the monster lines like “I got a wet haze, coke and a p-blow block but ya'll still missing the point like a free-throw shot”!

“Rob All Night” is the worst track on the album but isn’t too bad as X borrows his line from the first album and turns it into a song.

“We Go Hard” brings “Killa” Cam on the scene and both bring that chemistry that started on the underground classic “Bring It”.

“We About The Blow” brings Big Stan back on the scene to help hype up Bloodline and matching band style beat complete with horns and heavy drum work!

“The Rain” starts the wind down of the album as X get retrospective and shows it’s not about all the hard faces. With an early sound like a seventies X talks about his stopping his own problems and helping others see their mistakes.

“Don’t Gotta Go Home” features the lovely Monica and deals with the other woman who take care and are there for the men when wifey turns them away. Sometimes relationships are as simple as being there when someone needs someone.

“A’Yo Kato” is an ode to a fallen soldier Kato featuring a great flute and a tribute by X to a lost friend.

“Thank You” praises Jesus for all the blessings given. Patti gives her vocal cords over an old-school beat as X spills why he is so happy!

And what would an X album be without “The Prayer V”.

Overall this was a great album that showed X still has the juice to be one of the best. The album runs relatively smooth with only two songs that get tired really quickly. The skits could be better too. The beats were different, but familiar and while X does talk about the same stuff sometimes he does it’s with a pitch needed at a time when some are just being convenient.

Always ready to share, X also gives to the needy and includes a DVD with his past videos and more in depth background action with the dog.

X brings a hunger that boils over from years out of the rap limelight. He comes at Ja Rule in particular, questions those who tried to assume they were the leaders of the game after X bounced to do other endeavors and asks certain people in the game to “stop being greedy! When was the last time you gave to the needy!” His success is a flashlight in some of the bigger rappers’ faces cause he has consistently sold albums (no less than platinum status for each of his albums) and hasn’t changed his style. He still barks and bites.

I’ll give the album 4 Globes: a very solid album with a majority of the tracks containing blue flame heat and beats to keep us captivated. The album will make you remember why X was so hot to close the century. You don’t have to keep acting X. Your rap pass is still valid!