DMX (Year of the Dog...Again)

[Slim Zaddy]

Released July 31, 2006 (UK)
August 1, 2006 (U.S.)
Recorded 2006
Genre East Coast rap, hardcore rap, gangsta rap
Length 54:26
Label Sony Entertainment
Columbia Records
Ruff Ryders
Producer Darrin Dean, Joaquin Dean (Executive Producers) Swizz Beatz, Eddie Timmons, Dame Grease, Scott Storch, Shok, Teflon, Elite , Sean Garrett


Background:
Year of the Dog... Again is a hip hop album released on August 1, 2006. It is the sixth studio album released by New York rap artist DMX. The first singles released from the album were "We in Here" and "Lord Give Me a Sign".The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and number one on the Rap Charts with 125,000 copies sold in the first week just 1,500 copies short of surpassing Now 22 and achieving number-one status, breaking an unprecedented run for any artist in any genre: DMX's first five albums debuted at number one. It is the first of three scheduled LP releases on DMX's new label Sony, after he left Def Jam because of creative differences, however, after switching labels, Def Jam still permitted him access to the many songs he recorded whilst still under the label. A portion of these songs appear on the final cut, mostly with updated production. The album was also released in an edited/clean edition which removes profanity and drug/violent lyrics The title of the album is related to the Chinese calendar, in which the album was released in the year of the dog.

Track listing
1 "Intro" Dame Grease 1:32
2 "We in Here" Swizz Beatz Swizz Beatz 3:54
3 "I Run Shit" Swizz Beatz Big Stan 3:56
4 "Come Thru' (Move)" Swizz Beatz Busta Rhymes, Swizz Beatz 3:42
5 "It's Personal" The Tuneheadz Styles P, Jadakiss 3:44
6 "Baby Motha" Swizz Beatz Janyce 4:41
7 "Dog Love" Chad Elliot & Eddie Timmons Amerie, Janyce 3:42
8 "Wrong or Right? (I'm Tired)" Elite Bazaar Royale 5:24
9 "Give 'Em What They Want" Scott Storch 2:46
10 "Walk These Dogs" Dame Grease Kashmir 2:56
11 "Blown Away" Devine Bars Janyce, Jinx 4:02
12 "Goodbye" Da Gutta Fam 4:50
13 "Life Be My Song" Dame Grease 4:02
14 "The Prayer VI" 1:30
15 "Lord Give Me a Sign" Scott Storch 3:28

Bonus material
[Bonus Material] [DVD]
"Who Dat" (UK. Bonus)

Music Video:
1 "We in Here" Swizz Beatz Swizz Beatz 3:54



Credits:
Wayne Allison Engineer
David Bars Producer
John Bilberry Engineer
Craig Brodhead A&R
Dragan "Chach" Cacinovic Mixing
James Cruz Mastering
Sammy DAmbruoso Engineer
Darrin "Dee" Dean Executive Producer, A&R
Joaquin "Waah" Dean Executive Producer
Alimah Shamsid Deen A&R
DMX Executive Producer
Jaime Duncan Mixing Assistant
Elite Producer
Chad Elliot A&R
Chad "Dr. Seuss" Elliott Producer
Chris Feldmann Art Direction, Design
Flobewon Drums
Conrad Golding Engineer
Gutta Fam Producer
Johnny Hirsch Saxophone
Jay "Icepick" Jackson Executive Producer, A&R
Rich Keller Guitar, Mixing
David Kutch Mastering
Dan Mandell Photography
Mark Mann Photography
Deborah Mannis-Gardner Sample Clearance
Hanan Rubinstein Guitar
Ali "Cuzzo" Sami A&R
Jennifer Showalter Assistant
Alvin "Pop" Singleton Engineer
Scott Storch Producer
Swizz Beatz Producer
David Swope Vocal Engineer
Eddie "Shyboogs" Timmons Producer, Engineer
Tuneheadz Productions Producer
Javier Valverde Engineer
Alonzo Vargas Engineer, Mixing Assistant
Eric "Erk" Vargas Engineer
Adolfo Velásquez Project Coordinator
Randy "Okre Boy" Williams Engineer


Charts
Australian Albums Chart 32
Austrian Albums Chart [3] 23
Belgium Albums Chart 39
Canadian Albums Chart 4
French Albums Chart [3] 43
German Albums Chart [3] 7
Netherland Albums Chart [3] 70
New Zealand Albums Chart [3] 37
Swiss Albums Chart [3] 7
UK Albums Chart 22
U.S. Billboard 200 2
U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 1


Review:
Like so many of DMX’s previous albums, The Year of the Dog…Again sounds more conflicted than confiden.Most of the album is fraught with contradictory content. DMX also does a good job at effortlessly switching between his trademark bark/ growl to a calm, somber style, which fits the characteristically dark beats.The album fairly consistent of what DMX has become. Let me put it like this If you’ve ever gone to the club, gotten drunk,started a fight,took something home, then you’ll love this album.it's rough and dope . for me i love DMX style . his songs make's me full of energy , i love this album i think it's great and for anyone who had never heard it b4 , give it a try