Last Friday (May 28), DMX’s final album, Exodus, was released. DMX’s reunion with Def Jam Records album was made over years and overseen by Swizz Beatz. Beyond their mutual ties to the Ruff Ryders, X and Swizz shared a brotherhood. From the onset of DMX’s late 1990s skyrocket to fame, he brought Swizz’ sound with him. They worked together on “Ruff Ryders Anthem,” “Money Cash H*oes,” “Party Up,” and “We In Here,” to name a few. In turn, X gave crucial light to a would-be superstar who went on to produce chart-topping songs for Beyoncé as well as hits for Lil Wayne, T.I., Busta Rhymes, Cassidy, and Chris Brown. In the years where DMX did was incarcerated, dealing with personal issues, or amassing a comeback, Swizz became one of his biggest and loudest advocates.

Following his April 9 death, DMX is not able to promote Exodus. However, Swizz is. Appearing on The Breakfast Club, the LP’s producer explained why he does plan on purging Earl Simmons’ vaults of unreleased music. At 23:30, DJ Envy asks Swizz about the quantity of songs that DMX never gave the public. “We got a lot of music; he got a lot of music,” the producer confirmed, adding that many people are asking the question. “He worked so hard on [Exodus]; I don’t really want to tamper with things unless it can be better than this record. I don’t want to just put things out. Even with the footage—we recorded the whole process of the album—we could’ve been putting that footage out right now [to promote] the album, but let’s do something masterful with it. Let’s treat it as art and curate it to where it adds to his legacy and it’s not just a blip of a moment that seems like it works [when] you still don’t understand the whole story. He deserves for [content] to be curated [and] his story [be told]. It should feel like something real. A lot of people got footage on Dog, and [to] everybody out there that got the footage, just curate. Just think about the legacy and not just put something out just to say you have it.” Swizz has previously worked on posthumous albums by Tupac and Biggie Smalls, bringing “Untouchable” and “Spit Your Game” to the charts, respectively.

Swizz Beatz Premieres A Song Featuring DMX, JAY-Z, Nas & Jadakiss (Video)

On this week’s episode of What’s The Headline, the Ambrosia For Heads team unpacks Exodus at length, including a track-by-track analysis. Fans can watch or listen below as we aggregate a bunch of research surrounding DMX’s send-off album, including why some guests changed, why skits are there, and an origin story surrounding the DMX, JAY-Z, and Nas collaboration, “Bath Salts” (embedded below) which previously featured Jadakiss. Notably, at 12 minutes in, What’s The Headline discusses Swizz Beatz’ sentiment about maintaining and protecting the music quality for DMX’s legacy. WTH agrees that Exodus upholds X’s legacy with integrity and quality in our breakdown.

Ambrosia For Heads readers can catch regular discussions about the culture on our What’s The Headline podcast. Additionally, What’s The Headline has recent interviews with Pharoahe Monch, Prince Paul & Don Newkirk, Statik Selektah, Lyric Jones, The LOX, MC Eiht, Mobb Deep’s Havoc, Duckwrth, photographer T. Eric Monroe—who detailed photographing the 1995 Source Awards—and Lord Finesse. All episodes of the show are available wherever you stream your pods.

Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Are Giving Ownership In Verzuz To All Past Participants

#BonusBeat: Ambrosia For Heads’ official playlist, featuring selections from Exodus as well as new music from Eminem, Jack Harlow, Cordae, J. Cole, Sa-Roc, Khrysis, CZARFACE & MF DOOM, Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman, Markis Precise, Mick Jenkins, Sa-Roc, Rapsody, Del The Funky Homosapien, Conway The Machine, De La Soul, Evidence, Vic Mensa, Alchemist & Armand Hammer, Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin, Phife Dawg, Redman, JAY-Z, Nipsey Hussle, The Away Team, Spillage Village, Dom Kennedy, Statik Selektah, Smino, Saba, AZ, Masego, J.I.D., Tobe Nwigwe, Royce 5’9, Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, Hit-Boy, Nana, Lyric Jones, Nas, Oddisee, Benny The Butcher, 2 Chainz, REASON, and others.