It's Dark and Hell Is Hot
Damien
DMX
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
20
End
248
Internal
68
Multi
253
Slant
7
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog (Uh)
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog? (Uh)
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog (Uh)
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog? (Uh)
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog (Uh)
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog? (Uh)
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog (Uh)
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog?
[Verse 2: DMX]
Ayo, D, what up, D? You's a smooth nigga✦
I seen you when nobody✦ knew who pulled✦ the trigger
Yeah, you know, it's always over✦ dough
You sure? I coulda✦ swore it was over✦ a ho?
Nah, nah, that ain't my style, nigga,✦ you stay frontin'
But you're still my man, and I ain't gonna✦ say nothin'✦
Got some weed? Go 'head, smoke it, (What?) go 'head, drink it (Word?)
Go 'head and fuck shorty,✦ you know I can keep a secret✦ (A'ight)
I'm about✦ to have you drivin',✦ probably a Benz
But we gotta✦ stay friends, blood out, blood in
Sounds good to me, fuck it, what I got to lose?
Hmm, nothin'✦ I can think of, any✦ nigga✦ would choose
Got me pushin'✦ the whips, takin'✦ trips across✦ seas
Pockets stay laced,✦ nigga,✦ I floss G's
For that nigga✦ I would bleed, give him my right hand
Now that I think about✦ it… yo, that's my man
[Chorus]
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog (Uh)
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog? (Uh)
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog (Uh)
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog? (Uh)
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog (Uh)
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog? (Uh)
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog (Uh)
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog?
[Verse 3]
You like how everything✦ is goin'? You like what I gave ya?
You know if you was goin' down I'd be the one to save ya (True)
But yo, I need a favor, these cats across✦ town hate me
Plus their behavior hasn't been too good lately✦
What? Anything✦ for you, dog, where them niggas✦ at?
38th and Broadway, a'ight, let me get the Gat'
Run up on 'em strapped, bust off caps in four niggas✦
Laid low for 'bout a month then killed✦ two more niggas✦
Now I'm ready✦ to chill, but you still want me to kill
Look at what I did for you, dog, come on, keep it real
A'ight, fuck it, I'ma✦ do it, who is it this time?
Hey yo, remember that kid Sean you used✦ to be with in '89?
Naw, that's my man, I thought I was your man?
But yo, that's my nigga,✦ hey, who's your biggest fan?
Either✦ do it or give me your right hand, that's what you said
I see now ain't nothin'✦ but trouble ahead✦ (Uh-huh)
[Chorus]
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog (Uh)
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog? (Uh)
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog (Uh)
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog? (Uh)
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog (Uh)
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog? (Uh)
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog (Uh)
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog?
[Outro]
In the fog, the fog, livin'✦ in the fog
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog?
How you gonna✦ see 'em if you livin'✦ in the fog?
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog
To be continued, mothafuckas
Technical Breakdown
8.0
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm7.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity5.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.5
Performance and control
Computed Score7.99
Production
— Dame GreaseBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
DMX uses the conversational format as a narrative vehicle to execute a pact with the devil, prioritizing psychological tension and character acting over complex lyrical acrobatics.
B+
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
5
Vocabulary
7
Wordplay
9.5
Delivery
Stichomythia-style dialogueCharacter acting (Dual role)Internal rhyme chainsNarrative foreshadowing
Rhyme Architecture: Primarily AABB couplets with consistent end-rhymes (trigger/nigger, dough/ho, frontin'/nothin', drink it/keep a secret), bolstered by dense internal assonance that keeps the conversational rhythm locked to the beat.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"blood out, blood in"
① A reference to gang initiation rituals and loyalty.② A foreshadowing of the violent cost of the pact with Damien (the devil) and the inescapable cycle of bloodshed.
"Pockets stay laced"
① Having money or 'laced' with cash.② Metaphorical poisoning; suggesting the wealth is 'laced' with a destructive element, typical of the deals Damien offers.
Exceptional character distinction through vocal modulation
Pacing creates genuine narrative suspense
The conversational flow feels organic yet rhythmically precise
Effective use of the 'Faustian bargain' trope in street vernacular
Vocabulary relies heavily on vernacular commonalities rather than linguistic expansion
The rhyme schemes are functional rather than structurally complex
Lacks the density of wordplay seen in more technical lyricists of the era