It's Dark and Hell Is Hot

It's Dark and Hell Is Hot
Studio album by DMX
Released	May 12, 1998
Recorded	September 1996 - August 1997
Studio	New Horizon Sounds Studio (Capitol Heights, Maryland) Power House Studios (New York City) Soundtrack Studios (New York City) Chung King Studios (Manhattan, New York City) Battery Studios (New York City) Sony Music Studios (New York City)
Genre	Hardcore hip hop, East Coast hip hop, Horrorcore, Conscious hip hop
Length	65:10
Label	Ruff Ryders Entertainment / Def Jam Recordings
Producer	Dee and Waah (exec.), Swizz Beatz, Dame Grease, P.K., Irv Gotti (also exec.), Lil Rob, Young Lord

It's Dark and Hell Is Hot is the debut studio album by American rapper DMX. It was released on May 12, 1998 via Ruff Ryders Entertainment, Def Jam Recordings and PolyGram. Recording sessions took place at Power House Studios, Soundtrack Studios, Chung King Studios, Battery Studios and Sony Music Studios in New York City and at New Horizon Sounds Studios in Capitol Heights, Maryland through September 1996 to August 1997. Production was handled by Swizz Beatz, Dame Grease, P.K., Irv Gotti, Lil' Rob and Young Lord. It features guest appearances by Kasino, Big Stan, Loose, Drag-On, The LOX and Ma$e.

The album is widely considered a classic among Hip hop fans and critics. The album debuted at #1 both on the Billboard 200 and on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, with selling 251,000 copies in its first week in the United States. The album was certified 4x Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on December 18, 2000. It's Dark and Hell Is Hot released the four hit singles: "Ruff Ryders Anthem", "Get At Me Dog", "How's It Going Down" and "Stop Being Greedy".

Track Listing

1. "Intro" - 4:10
2. "Ruff Ryders Anthem" - 3:34
3. "Fuckin' wit' D" - 2:18
4. "The Storm (skit)" - 1:01
5. "Look Thru My Eyes" - 3:51
6. "Get At Me Dog" (feat. Sheek Louch) - 4:03
7. "Let Me Fly" - 4:13
8. "X-Is Coming" - 4:19
9. "Damien" - 3:42
10. "How's It Goin' Down" - 4:43
11. "Mickey (skit)" - 0:25
12. "Crime Story" - 3:48
13. "Stop Being Greedy" - 3:37
14. "ATF" - 1:56
15. "For My Dogs" (feat. Big Stan, Loose, Kasino & Drag-On) - 4:11
16. "I Can Feel It" - 4:13
17. "Prayer (skit)" - 2:32
18. "The Convo" - 3:34
19. "N@!#*z Done Started Something" (feat. The LOX and Mase) - 5:14

Notes

• "X-Is Coming" features additional vocals by Jamie, Warren and Randy
• "I Can Feel It" features additional vocals by Nardo

Samples

Intro

• "Beyond Forever" by James Mtume

Fuckin' Wit' D

• "Shifting Gears" by Johnny "Hammond" Smith

Get At Me Dog

• "Everything Good to You (Ain't Always Good to You)" by B.T. Express

Let Me Fly

• "Lo Dudo" by Jose Jose

Damien

• "Slow Dance" by Stanley Clarke
• "Concert for Harpsichord, Strings & Continuo No. 1 in D Minor" by Johann Sebastian Bach

How's It Going Down

• "God Make Me Funky" by The Headhunters feat. The Pointer Sisters

Crime Story

• "Easin' In" by Edwin Starr

Stop Being Greedy

• My Hero Is a Gun" by Michael Masser

I Can Feel It

• In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins

The Convo

• "Nights on Broadway" by The Bee Gees
• "Somebody's Knockin'" by Terri Gibbs

N*!^az Done Started Something

• "Love Potion Cheeba-Cheeba" by Mighty Tom Cats
• "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" by Marvin Gaye

Courtesies

• The LOX and Mase appear courtesy of Bad Boy Records.
• Big Stan, Loose and Drag-On appear courtesy of Ruff Ryders Entertainment.
• Kasino appear courtesy of Jive Records.