It's Dark and Hell Is Hot
Intro
DMX
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
20
End
200
Internal
48
Multi
214
Slant
7
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 1]
One-two,✦ one-two,✦ come through, run through
Gun who? Oh, you don't know what the gun do? (What?)
Some do, those that know are real quiet
When you think you wanna✦ try it, fuck around✦ and start a riot (Uh)
Niggas✦ gon' ride regardless
Because I'm the hardest rap artist and I'ma✦ start this
Shit up for real (What?), get up and feel (What?)
My words, I make herbs split up and squeal (Come on)
Ill is all I've been hearing lately✦
Niggas✦ hate me, wanna✦ duct tape me and make me (Ah)
Put their brains on the wall, when I brawl (Uh)
Too late for that 911 call (Come on)
Niggas✦ stay beefing, but a lot of 'em bluff (Uh-huh)✦
But not me 'cause I'm a nigga✦ that can get out of them cuffs (Uh-huh)✦
You think a lot of 'em's tough? That's just a front
When I hit them niggas✦ like, "What you want?" The battle turns into✦ a hunt (Alright)
With the dog right behind niggas✦ chasing 'em down
We all knew that you was pussy✦ (Uh), but I'm tasting it now
And never✦ give a dog blood, 'cause raw blood will have a dog like what? (What?)
Biting✦ whatever, all up in your gut (Come on)
Give it to you raw like that
And ain't no love, I do 'em all like that
Four right up in they back, clack-clack
Close your eyes, baby,✦ it's over,✦ forget✦ it (Uh)
Happened in front of your building, but nobody✦ knows who did it (What?)
[Bridge]
Where my dogs at?
What, what? Where my dogs at?
Uh, where my dogs at?
What, what? Where my dogs at?
Uh, where my dogs at?
What, what? Where my dogs at?
Uh, where my dogs at?
What, what?
[Verse 2]
Niggas✦ is puss, keep on running from the werewolf
Howling at the moon on the roof (Uh-oh)✦
Ooh, ah, no, get 'em
Ten niggas✦ on him, hope God's with him
Give me the bat, let me split him
I'll have 'em where the pillow✦ and the casket✦ won't fit him (Come on)
Only✦ reason✦ I did him, he wouldn't fight back
Tried to strike back, left him like that
Laying up with the white hat
Getting right back at ya when I snatch ya
Up out the grave, nothin'✦ but bones✦ and ashes✦ (Get 'em)
Hittin'✦ niggas✦ with gashes✦ to the head
Straight to the white meat, but the street stay red
Bitches gon' give me head for free 'cause they see (Uh-huh)✦
Who I'ma✦ be by like 2003 (Uh-huh)✦
That nigga✦ D took it there, he thought it was a joke
He ran through like twenty✦ G's, thought that I was broke (What?)
Stupid,✦ that's what you get for thinking✦
And eventually found that's what you get for stinking✦ (Uh-huh)✦
Blowing up the spot when you rot (Uh)
Plus, if it gets hot, they know you dead for four square blocks (Come on)
Hit 'em with the ox to the grill
Ooh, ah, kill, nigga,✦ kill
Yet and still, you don't know I'ma✦ rob 'em
That nigga✦ DMX is a motherfuckin' problem, aight?
Technical Breakdown
7.8
Multisyllabic Rhymes7.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm7.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity6.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.0
Performance and control
Computed Score7.81
Production
— Irv Gotti, Lil RobBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
DMX establishes an aggressive, cadence-driven persona that prioritizes sonic impact and raw physicality over intricate literary devices, leveraging his barking vocal inflection to punctuate rhymes and create a sense of immediate, visceral threat.
B+
7.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Aggressive prosodyInternal mono-rhyme chainsOnomatopoeic vocal punctuationStaccato delivery
Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AAAA/BBBB rhyme blocks using multi-syllabic end-rhymes (come through/run through/gun do) coupled with heavy internal rhyming schemes that anchor the flow to the backbeat.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"tasting it now"
① The literal act of physically assaulting or 'hunting' the opponent.② A sexualized metaphor equating the opponent's weakness and cowardice to femininity or vulnerability.
"get out of them cuffs"
① Literal escape from police or physical restraints.② The ability to extricate himself from dangerous street situations or 'tight' spots through violence.
Exceptional command of rhythmic pocket
Intense and consistent vocal character
High-impact, concise punchline delivery
Effective use of ad-libs as rhythmic percussion
Limited semantic range
Vocabulary choices lean toward genre-standard hyperbole
Lacks complexity in metaphoric density