Music

The Best DMX Songs, Ranked

Getty Image / Uproxx Studios The most menacing presence in rap has a bite every bit as bad as his bark. …

The most menacing presence in rap has a bite every bit as bad as his bark. DMX emerged in the mid-1990s as a force to be reckoned with, distilling the gritty, pugnacious energy of New York City into a flow that snapped off every bar like a Doberman’s grip. His debut album, It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot, changed hip-hop forever, and for much of the late ’90s, DMX held a spot in every King Of New York debate. His chokehold on the game made him a fixture of video countdowns and radio rotation for most of the next decade, until the demons that he exorcised on each release finally caught up with him.

Last year, a rejuvenated DMX signed a new deal with Def Jam, reuniting with the label that helped turn him into a phenomenon and sparking renewed interest in future album releases from the man who once dominated hip-hop. Although the pandemic of 2020 undoubtedly slowed him down, if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Earl Simmons, it’s that nothing can keep him down for too long. While hip-hop awaits his future projects with bated breath, let’s take a look at the classic songs that made him such an icon and show why rap fans will always have a place in their hearts for Dark Man X.

Although this is a “Best Of” list, of course, “taste” is subjective. These are the songs that have made the biggest impact, so feel free to add your personal faves in the comments. Oh, and DMX has far too many amazing guest verses to list here, from “24 Hrs. To Live” with Mase and The LOX to “Money, Cash, Hoes” with Jay-Z and “4, 3, 2, 1” with LL Cool J. So, we’re sticking to DMX jams only.

10. “Where The Hood At?”

The second single from DMX’s fifth album, The Grand Champ doesn’t have quite the cultural pull of some of his other hits, mainly because it’s kind of a retread of his other anthemic moments. One thing it does have going for it though: What is quite possibly the most mind-bending moment in political theater we’ve ever seen.

9. “X Gon’ Give It to Ya”

X’s last big single sent him off with a bang. The lead single from the Cradle 2 The Grave soundtrack was better than the movie itself could have hoped to be (Earl Simmons is no Bobby DeNiro, gang) and with its driving beat, it became a career-defining smash, summing up everything that DMX is in one explosive finale. The song’s impact is as evident as it is ubiquitous; MMA fighters have walked out to it, Rick and Morty jammed out to it in season one of their eponymous show, and Deadpool merrily prepared to murder a pack of goons in his 2016 film.

8. “How’s It Goin’ Down”

DMX’s fourth single found him softening his image just enough that a pretty-sounding duet with Faith Evans wasn’t too out-of-place, proving that even thugs need love. Of course, with the song shot through by X’s usual subliminal paranoia, it’s less romantic than it is a rumination on the disintegration of a toxic relationship. Plus, there’s a bonus Ja Rule cameo in the video, from a time before the two rappers were at each other’s throats.

7. “Get At Me Dog”

DMX’s debut single landed in 1998 and instantly made “where my dawgs at?” a rallying cry for tough guys everywhere. Entering a hip-hop world that had just been stripped of its edge in raw, Thug Life-embracing rappers like Tupac, DMX immediately threw his hat in the ring for the next focal point for rap’s most belligerent impulses.

6. “Stop Being Greedy”

With a beat like a horror movie soundtrack, the second single from Hell Is Hot expands on the conditions that generated his truculent attitude. The draw of “Stop Being Greedy” is that illumination; the hellions of rap aren’t that way because it’s cool or fun, but because their “ribs is touching.” And hey, if anything, the intervening decades have only highlighted the message of the title; as billionaires accept government handouts while their workers starve, don’t be surprised if this one becomes a rallying cry for those who have-not when they start coming for what’s owed.

5. “What These Bitches Want”

Transforming the sinister serial killer to a playboy may have been the best trick this 1999 single pulled. Pairing X with Sisqo at the height of their respective powers (Sisqo had just released his album The Dragon and “Thong Song” was absolutely throttling the charts), the sequence of the song in which DMX lists his conquests resurfaced this year as an internet meme, proving that sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone can pay off in unexpected ways — even if it takes a while. Shout-out to all three Kims.

4. “Who We Be”

By the time The Great Depression rolled out in 2001, DMX had lost a little momentum. Its second single, “Who We Be,” was the only one to chart on the Hot 100. But what a song it is. X may as well have been predicting the events of 2020, highlighting police brutality and mass incarceration, mental health, and poverty conditions, as well as a slick mention of how easily rap stardom can turn toxic for its entertainers, all projected over images of 1960s Civil Rights Movement protests that could very well have been shot this year.

3. “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem”

Handy if you’re ever on fire — or if the block is hot — DMX’s third single from his debut is often considered one of hip-hop’s greatest songs. It helped establish Swizz Beatz as a go-to hitmaker and made just about everyone who watched the music video any of the 411 times it played a day fiend for an ATV. Strangely enough, it’s a song DMX apparently didn’t even want to do because of its “awkward” blend of New York and Atlanta aesthetics — then a no-no for an aggressive New Yorker (remember, this was the year they booed Outkast). Fortunately, he gave it a go and gave us the ultimate rap fight song.

2. “Slippin’”

X addressed his many, many issues often throughout his catalog, but rarely ever as poignantly as he did on “Slippin’.” One of his most relatable songs — in spirit, if not content — the first single from his 1998 second studio album Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood saw DMX rapping over a melancholy sample from Grover Washington Jr.’s “Moonstreams,” laying bare the traumas, losses, and minor victories of his biography. Yet what made the song resonate with audiences was the subtle optimism expressed in the hook: “I got to get up.” That’s something we can all relate to, even if our problems pale in comparison.

1. “Party Up (Up in Here)”

By 2000, DMX had become so big that even my pastor was quoting the second single from his third album … And Then There Was X. “Party Up” would become DMX’s highest-charting single and a pop-culture juggernaut that has featured in dozens of commercials, movies, TV shows, and video games thanks to its instantly recognizable beat by Swizz Beatz and a hook that turns any shindig into a straight-up hootenanny (there’s a difference, trust me). There’s even an indirect reference to the track in Hamilton, meaning even Upper West Side liberal white people will have at least passing familiarity with the guy they would call the cops on instantly.

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Mainstage

‘Wicked: Part One’ Stuns CinemaCon with Exclusive Trailer Reveal

Hey Moviegoers, Universal Pictures stunned us WOW’d the world with a mind-boggling exclusive “Wicked: Part One” trailer at CinemaCon 2025, a modern film for movie and theater lovers alike. Its big-screen adaptation, featuring Renstar, Cynthia Erivo, and Ariana Grande, is one of the most Webby-obsessed, world-famous pieces of the Broadway smash you’ll have the treat to see off-Broadway released in 2025. The first “Wicked: Part One” trailer was released at CinemaCon, the biggest gathering of movie theater owners and insiders. It’s been exciting in the entertainment world. With its dazzling visuals, career-defining songs, and an all-star cast, the trailer teased a movie poised to take over the 2025 holiday box office.

Fans of Wicked and The Wizard of Oz have been anticipating the film version of the smash hit Broadway show that has delighted audiences for over 20 years. Wicked: Part One will be directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights) and promises to bring the magical land of Oz to the big screen through advanced visual effects, awe-inspiring musical moments, and a new perspective on Elphaba and Glinda’s story. The trailer starts with a breathtaking shot of the Emerald City, with an ocean of glowing green lights, teasing the magical wonder it promises to bring. Fans were excited to see glimpses of Cynthia Erivo’s powerful performance as Elphaba, the misunderstood witch whose transformation from pariah to Wicked Witch of the West is the story’s beating heart. Ariana Grande dazzled as her Good Witch, Glinda, a bubbly but ambitious girl who becomes best friends with Elphaba, the misunderstood teenage outcast.

Check out this article: Why Do Some Artists Blow Up Overnight While Others Struggle for Years?

Universal Pictures spared no expense to make “Wicked: Part One” a visual and emotional tour de force. The CinemaCon footage offered quick glimpses of some of the musical’s most treasured songs, including Defying Gravity, which sent chills down attendees’ spines. Erivo’s powerhouse vocals during the climactic scene where Elphaba ascends into the sky sealed the movie as an instant watch for both fans of musical theater and casual moviegoers alike. Another standout from the trailer was Grande’s performance of Popular, which brought to life bright costumes, playful choreography, and trademark vocal flourishes that helped make Glinda feel both new and recognizable. The ensemble of “Wicked: Part One,” including Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, is ready to deliver unforgettable performances.

The trailer, which debuted exclusively at CinemaCon this week, received rapturous applause and excited social media reactions from industry insiders and attendees able to score a sneak peek. Many touted the film as the next great blockbuster, likening its epicness to Les Misérables and The Greatest Showman, while others sang praises of Jon M. Chu’s visionary direction in bringing the land of Oz to the big screen. Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to share their responses, with some calling the trailer “spellbinding” and “everything we dreamed of.” Others lauded the film for maintaining the Broadway production’s faithful adaptation, thereby preserving the magic of Wicked on the big screen.

What lies ahead for ‘Wicked: Part One’?

With the initial entry scheduled for release in November 2025, Universal’s marketing push is likely to kick into high gear after the CinemaCon debut. The studio has teased more trailers, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and interactive fan events ahead of the movie’s release.

Moreover, splitting the film into two parts enables the full depth of Elphaba and Glinda’s journey to receive ample time to fill the screen. “Wicked: Part Two” is currently scheduled for a 2026 release. This two-part format opens up the possibility of a more expansive story, allowing viewers to get a much deeper experience than a singular, tragically told film would reach.

Check out this article: How to Get Your Music Featured on Spotify Playlists in 2025

The “Wicked: Part One” trailer screened at CinemaCon 2025 has laid the groundwork for what could be one of the most popular movie musicals of all time. The movie is a true nostalgic playground with exciting visuals and powerhouse performances that are sure to entice long-time fans as well as newcomers.

As the months continue to dwindle until “Wicked: Part One” hits the theaters, one thing is for sure: this film will take us on a magical ride, and we will all be defying gravity. “Wicked: Part One,” but stay tuned to Honk Magazine for exclusive updates, interviews, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film that you won’t find anywhere else.

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Mainstage

The First Artist to Sell 1 Million Records in a Week

It is extremely rare when you look at the Billion Club, a million records sold in a week, but extremely rare, the Million Club ends up being one of the most exclusive clubs, and the Billion Club for only a select set of acts. Whitney Houston was the first artist to record this chart achievement, which she did with “The Bodyguard” soundtrack in 1993. Since then, only a handful of artists have reached this milestone, each marking the respective pivotal moments in the music industry’s evolution.

Breaking a Barrier With Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston’s “The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album” became the first album ever to sell more than one million copies in one week (according to Nielsen SoundScan, which began tracking sales in 1991), when it sold one million seven hundred seventy-eight thousand eight hundred twenty copies in January 1993. In its sixth week of release, it sold 1.061 million copies, a record for future artists.

NSYNC’s Record-Breaking Sales

P.S. The boy band NSYNC became record breakers when their album “No strings attached” sold 2.4 million copies in the first week in March 2000. The record was not broken for more than a decade.

Eminem, “The Marshall Mathers LP”

Eminem’s “The Marshall Mathers LP” debuted with 1.76 million copies in May 2000. At the time, this meant it was the fastest-selling rap album in history, and it cemented Eminem as a prominent music figure.

Britney Spears’ “Oops!… I Did It Again”

In May 2000, Britney Spears released her second album, “Oops! I Did It Again,” which sold 1.319 million copies in its first week and set the record for most first-week sales by a female artist at the time.

The Wildly Successful Adele Album “25”

Adele’s “25” not only sold 3.38 million copies in its debut week in 2015 but became the first album to sell more than one million copies in two different weeks. That historic feat underscored that the masses loved Adele, and all loved the album.

Taylor Swift’s “1989” and “Reputation”

Taylor Swift sold over a million copies in one week across several albums. Her album “1989” sold 1.287 million copies in its first week in 2014, making it the first album that year to break a million. She equaled that feat with her 2017 album “Reputation,” which sold 1.216 million copies in its first week.

The ability to sell more than a million copies of an album in one week is a growing rarity in the streaming age, in which digital services have fundamentally changed how listeners consume music. Artists who accomplish this feat generally adopt tried-and-true sales strategies combined with an innovative outreach to and connection with their fans. For instance, when Adele’s monstrous album “25” came out, she mostly kept it off streaming services, which would have boosted its sizable physical and digital sales.

Selling a million records in a week is still a fantastic feat, reflecting an artist’s wide-ranging talent and the success of marketing moves. There are milestones in musical history, like Whitney Houston’s crossover success with “The Bodyguard” and Adele’s record-breaking “25.” As the landscape of music consumption continues to shift, these feats speak to the staying power of artists who understand how to enlist their fans’ loyalty and flow with the tides of the marketplace.