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List Price: $13.98 | | Label: Def Jam
Salesrank: 8909
Released: May 19, 1998 |
| Our Price: $7.85 |
| Used Price: $4.79 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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It's Dark and Hell Is Hot Track Listing:
1. Intro
2. Ruff Ryders' Anthem
3. Fuckin' Wit' D
4. Storm (Skit)
5. Look Thru My Eyes
6. Get at Me Dog
7. Let Me Fly
8. X-Is Coming
9. Damien
10. How's It Goin' Down
11. Mickey (Skit)
12. Crime Story
13. Stop Being Greedy
14. ATF
15. For My Dogs
16. I Can Feel It
17. Prayer (Skit)
18. Convo
19. Niggaz Done Started Something
Editorial Review:
Watching DMX--baldheaded and shirtless, tattooed and musclebound--as he simultaneously goes platinum and gets arrested on rape charges (both of which occurred within weeks of this album's release), one can easily see the Yonkers, New York, rapper as a Tupac in training. And he's certainly no stranger to dumb thuggery on his much-anticipated debut. But unlike Tupac, who tempered hard-core beatdowns with party pick-me-ups, DMX is strictly business, part of a street reaction against the Puff Daddy-fueled, late-1990s slew of lightweight pop-rap crossovers. With a name too true for its own good, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot could occasionally use a cool breeze of levity. That said, the record is not without merit; despite the album's largely standard-issue beats and rhymes, both DMX's forceful voice and solid production have moments of greatness. At times DMX even manages to squeeze memorable hooks out of this otherwise claustrophobic release. --Roni Sarig
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot Reviews:
Brings Me Back 
2009-10-02 - I haven't heard this cd for over 10 years; but it was good enough to bring me back for a purchase... As someone said, "an instant classic." This was a great album IMO: great beats, mixes, and flows.
While I don't care for many of DMX's later albums... I really think that this cd/album is a must-buy!
Expensive but Classic
2009-03-03 - It's 2009, this CDs been out there for over a decade, it shouldn't cost more than $10. However, it is a classic and it sounds like X needs all the help he can get these days.
The poor man is suffering. 
2009-02-01 - He's oppressed! Our president oppresses him. So oppressed he abuses defenseless animals.
If you must listen download for free. Don't make this guy an even richer role model.
This album gives chills to my soul... 
2008-01-02 - What can I say about this classic? It's, without a doubt in my mind, one of the greatest albums to ever come out, not just in Rap, but in music, period. Don't let the singles, such as Ruff Ryders' Anthem and Get At Me Dog fool you...not to say that those aren't good songs, just that the rest of the tracks on this album differ from those, greatly.
DMX was a unique and abstruse individual back then, just take a look at the pictures of him made for this album...he has streaks and trails of what would appear to be dirt and soil covering his body...as if he arose from the grave. In the album booklet were pictures of him dressed in bummy attire, in run-down abandoned places, looking miserly. This was in full opposition to the images portrayed by most of the rappers at this time, they looked happy, having fun, dressed in expensive clothing, celebrating...it was palpable that 'X wasn't here for all that, though...
It is apparent that DMX has, very much, dissembled from the style of this album. Unfortunately, he Raps NOTHING like this, these days. Back then, he combined a mixture of what some could call "gangsta Rap" i.e.: content about guns, crime, violence along with some excruciatingly deep and dark POETRY. - "I sold my soul to the Devil and the price was cheap, and it's cold on this level 'cause it's twice as deep". This album has to be as intelligent, intricate, and abyssal as any album to ever be made.
There are a few bacronyms for the word "Rap" itself...one is "Rhythm And Poetry", another is "Rhythmically Applied Poetry", whichever you'd go with, this album would exemplify that meaning.
Each track of this beautiful album illustrates such intense visuals. I could list tracks, (Let Me Fly - prob'ly my favorite song of all time, Look Thru My Eyes, I Can Feel It, Damien, and also the Intro, which has to be the best Intro of all time) but why bother to name tracks when the fact is that the entire album is worth playing from start to finish?
I have a peculiar theory about this album...I think DMX might've actually made a deal with Satan to grant him supreme skills, fame and fortune. Perhaps the track Damien wasn't merely a brilliant piece of art with a message, but a real life encounter? Maybe it's why DMX has now ruined his career and life, via substances...maybe he's currently paying his debt to Satan himself. Or maybe not...? Whatever the case, just don't forget that It's Dark and Hell is Hot...
X Gon Give it To Ya!
2007-09-13 - DMX has the fiercest flow I have ever heard from a rap artist. His growls, barks and snarling make him seem really angry and forceful throughout the album creating one hell of a great sound. His subject matter is deep and his poetic style complete this album perfectly. Well Done.
