In Y2K, DMX Freestyles Went Down Like Mike Tyson Victims. Here’s One. (Audio)

The barks, the growls, the yelling…DMX brought a totally different kind of anger to Rap music than peers like ONYX, M.O.P., or Tupac Shakur. The Ruff Ryders flagship MC was “rage in the cage,” when he stepped in many studio booths.

Tim Westwood was one DJ/Hip-Hop personality on the map who played host to Earl Simmons in Year 2000. Upon their visit, X wrecked shop over a beat he knew very well. On the “It’s On” instrumental (produced by “Super Engineer” DURO for DJ Clue’s The Professional platinum debut), the then-Def Jam superstar spit bars from “Who’s Next,” a collaboration from The Professional 2 follow-up—a curious mental connection.

Although not off-the-top at all, Dark Man X punctuates the moment with fervor, tenacity, and bigger than life charisma.

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Curiously, another throwback Westwood guest, Raekwon, spit a hybrid of bars from two different (eventual) songs.

Although he’s still involved in works, why don’t we hear DURO’s name more these days? “It’s On” was evidence of his skills of making tracks from scratch. Moreover, what happened to Clue albums?

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