It's Dark And Hell Is Hot

School of hard knocks graduate DMX cuts an intimidating figure on his explosive major-label debut. But for all the dog-bark rapping and machismo, *It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot* is a concept album about pain, above all else. He imbues manic-depressive fantasies like \"Get at Me Dog\" and conversations with Satan (\"The Convo\") with deep introspection—and the occasional Phil Collins interpretation (the spooky \"I Can Feel It\"). It\'s a masterful balance of control and catharsis; few voices are better suited to channel such heartache.

The debut album from DMX is the Dante’s Inferno of rap. His infamous stage presence and aggression gave a voice to the voiceless in the streets of New York and overnight changed the course of hip-hop.