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Exodus (DMX album)

Exodus (also known as EXODUS 1:7) is the eighth and final studio album[3][4] by American rapper DMX. It was released on May 28, 2021, through Ruff Ryders Entertainment, Bloodline Records, and Def Jam Recordings. It is DMX's first studio album in nine years since Undisputed (2012), and is also his only posthumous project released.[5][3] The album's track "Bath Salts" featuring Jay-Z and Nas was nominated for Best Rap Song at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.[6]

Exodus
Studio album by
DMX
ReleasedMay 25, 2021 (2021-05-25)
RecordedSeptember 2020–January 2021
Studio
Genre
Length39:43
Label
Producer
DMX chronology
Undisputed
(2012) 		Exodus
(2021)
Singles from Exodus
  1. "Hood Blues"
    Released: May 25, 2021

Background

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Man sitting in front of a brown background. 
DMX was pronounced dead in April 2021.

On April 2, 2021, at approximately 11:00 pm,[7] DMX was rushed to White Plains Hospital, where he was reported to be in critical condition following a heart attack at his home possibly resulting from a drug overdose.[8][9] The next day, his attorney Murray Richman confirmed Simmons was on life support.[10][11][12] That same night, Simmons suffered cerebral hypoxia (oxygen deprivation to his brain) as paramedics attempted to resuscitate him for 30 minutes.[13][14][15] Simmons's former manager, Nakia Walker, said he was in a "vegetative state" with "lung and brain failure and no current brain activity".[16][17] His manager, Steve Rifkind, stated Simmons was comatose and that he was set to undergo tests to determine his brain's functionality and his family would "determine what's best from there".[18][19]

Work had commenced on Exodus prior to the death of DMX.[20] He recorded Exodus in American rapper Snoop Dogg's studio, in Los Angeles, California.[21] Swizz Beatz is the executive producer of the album.[20] During the recording of the album, DMX would only record in the daytime, according to Swizz Beatz.[22]

You need him during the daytime. The nighttime is just — a lot of things are probably on his mind at that time. A lot of people gathered around him. So I liked to catch him before that. It was like a job. We hadn’t done something like this for over 13 years, that type of togetherness in the studio every day.

— Swizz Beatz, The New York Times

Musicians Bono, Griselda, and Lil Wayne, as well as DMX's daughter, Sonovah, appear on the album.[23] Late rapper Pop Smoke was set to appear on the album, but his verse ended up being used in a different song.[22] Following DMX's death, his Instagram account released a post with the caption "5/28 The Legacy continues....#ExodusAlbum".[24] The album shares its title with DMX's son and its cover was shot by photographer Jonathan Mannion.[3] Its track listing was revealed on May 14, 2021, by Swizz Beatz on Instagram.[25]

Release

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On April 9, 2021, the day of DMX's death, the song "X Moves" was released. On April 16, the song "Been to War" by DMX along with Swizz Beatz and French Montana was released as part of the soundtrack for the television series Godfather of Harlem. On May 25, the album's first official single, "Hood Blues" was released, which contains features from New York rappers Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher, and Conway the Machine, credited as Griselda.[26][27] Exodus was released on May 28, 2021.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.5/10[28]
Metacritic71/100[29]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [30]
Clash8/10[31]
The Guardian     [32]
NME     [33]
Pitchfork5.8/10[34]
Rolling Stone     [35]

Exodus received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score out of 100 to ratings from publications, the album received a mean score of 71 based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[29]

Alexis Petridis gave Exodus a positive review, remarking that the album "feels far more like a bold restatement of core values than an attempt to follow trends". However, he criticized certain parts of the album for being "strangely bleak".[32] Will Lavin of NME gave the album another positive review, calling it "a wonderful tribute record loaded with stellar individual moments", although he criticized the album for being "a little unfinished at times".[33] Robin Murray of Clash praised the album, calling it "an unbearably poignant listen at times, with meditations on loss and allegories for death at every corner".[31]

Jeff Ihaza of Rolling Stone gave Exodus a mixed response. He gave positive remarks on DMX's rapping and the production by Swizz Beatz, calling the latter the "most dynamic...of his career". On the contrary, he noted that the album "can't escape the reality it exists in" due to the fact that it was completed before the death of DMX. Providing an example, Ihaza said that it was "hard to listen to a song like 'Bath Salts'—featuring Jay-Z and Nas rapping about being successful billionaires" without feeling a tinge of despair over the death of DMX.[35]

Commercial performance

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Exodus debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 with 32,000 album-equivalent units. It marks DMX's eighth top 10 album on the chart. The album received over 22 million on-demand streams in its first week.[36][37]

Track listing

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Exodus track listing[4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) and Engineer(s)Length
1."That's My Dog" (featuring The Lox and Swizz Beatz)
5:06
2."Bath Salts" (featuring Jay-Z and Nas)
  • Swizz Beatz
  • Prime Maximus
3:00
3."Dogs Out" (featuring Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz)
  • Swizz Beatz
  • AraabMuzik
2:45
4."Money Money Money" (featuring Moneybagg Yo)
  • Swizz Beatz
  • Courtney "AyooiNk" Jenkins
2:08
5."Hold Me Down" (featuring Alicia Keys)
Swizz Beatz3:39
6."Skyscrapers" (featuring Bono)
3:25
7."Stick Up Skit" (featuring Cross, Infrared and Icepick)
  • Simmons
  • Dean
 0:47
8."Hood Blues" (featuring Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher and Conway the Machine)
  • Swizz Beatz
  • Avenue Beatz
  • Courtney "AyooiNk" Jenkins
4:36
9."Take Control" (featuring Snoop Dogg)
3:50
10."Walking in the Rain" (featuring Nas, Exodus Simmons and Denaun)
  • Simmons
  • Jones
  • Porter
  • Dean
  • Tim Schoegje
  • Lucky Specht
  • Thomas Forbes
  • Mr. Porter
  • Swizz Beatz[a]
  • Shroom[b]
4:00
11."Exodus Skit"  0:20
12."Letter to My Son (Call Your Father)" (featuring Usher and Brian King Joseph)
  • Swizz Beatz
  • Musicman Ty
4:05
13."Prayer"
2:02

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer

Sample credits

  • "Take Control" contains a sample from "Sexual Healing" performed by Marvin Gaye.
  • "Hood Blues" contains a sample from "Shady Blues" performed by Lee Mason & His Orchestra.
  • "That's My Dog" contains a sample from "Serious" performed by Joe Budden and Joell Ortiz.[38]

Charts

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Chart performance for Exodus
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[39] 76
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[40] 26
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 36
US Billboard 200[42] 8
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[43] 4

References

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  1. ^ Moorwood, Victoria (April 23, 2021). "DMX recorded his album at Snoop Dogg's studio after their Verzuz battle". REVOLT.
  2. ^ Corradetti, Alex (April 9, 2021). "'DMX really loved Nashville,' Tennessee music producer speaks to rapper's legacy". WKRN News 2. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Schube, Will (May 10, 2021). "Swizz Beatz And Ruff Ryders Announce New DMX Studio Album, 'Exodus'". uDiscoverMusic. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Amorosi, A. D. (May 14, 2021). "DMX's Posthumous Album, 'Exodus,' Features Guests Jay-Z, Nas, Bono, More". Variety. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "DMX's 'Exodus 1:7 Album Tracklist Revealed". Rap-Up. May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "Nas, DMX & J. Cole Are 2022 Hip-Hop Grammy Nominees". November 23, 2021.
  7. ^ Ly, Laura (April 3, 2021). "Rapper DMX is hospitalized and on life support following heart attack, longtime lawyer says". CNN. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  8. ^ Treisman, Rachel (April 4, 2021). "Rapper DMX On Life Support Following Heart Attack". NPR. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  9. ^ "Rapper DMX in hospital after heart attack". BBC News. April 3, 2021. Archived from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  10. ^ Collins, Dave; Landrum, Jonathan Jr. (April 3, 2021). "Rapper DMX on life support after heart attack, lawyer says". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  11. ^ Kreps, Daniel (April 3, 2021). "DMX on Life Support Following Heart Attack". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  12. ^ Hoell, Rob; Cook, Lauren; Pittman, Ava; Lepore, Stephen M. (April 3, 2021). "DMX hospitalized after heart attack amid reports of overdose: lawyer". WPIX. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  13. ^ Shafer, Ellise; Aswad, Jem (April 3, 2021). "DMX Hospitalized After Suffering Heart Attack". Variety. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  14. ^ Alter, Rebecca (April 3, 2021). "DMX Remains On Life Support Following Overdose". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  15. ^ "Prognosis 'Not Looking Good' after OD". TMZ. April 3, 2021. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  16. ^ Jiménez, Jesus (April 4, 2021). "DMX on Life Support in 'Vegetative State,' Manager Says". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  17. ^ Dahir, Ikran (April 4, 2021). "DMX Has Been Hospitalized And Is Unresponsive, His Former Manager Says". BuzzFeed News. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  18. ^ Burke, Minyvonne; Dasrath, Diana (April 7, 2021). "DMX Remains in Coma, Will Undergo Brain Function Tests: Manager". NBC News. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  19. ^ Cramer, Maria (April 7, 2021). "DMX, in a Coma, Is Set to Undergo Brain Function Tests". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "DMX's posthumous album Exodus is out this month". The FADER. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  21. ^ "Snoop Dogg Recalls Memorable DMX Moment, Says Late Rapper Recorded New Album at His Studio in L.A." Complex. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  22. ^ a b Coscarelli, Joe (May 28, 2021). "DMX Wanted a New Beginning. Swizz Beatz Is Seeing It Through". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  23. ^ Harris, Christopher (May 9, 2021). "DMX's daughter to be featured on rapper's posthumous album". Revolt.
  24. ^ Saint-Vil, Sweenie (May 10, 2021). "Release date for DMX's posthumous album has been announced". REVOLT. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  25. ^ Peters, Mitchell (May 15, 2021). "DMX's Posthumous Album 'Exodus' to Feature Jay-Z, Nas & Bono: Full Tracklist Revealed". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  26. ^ Blistein, Jon (May 25, 2021). "Hear DMX's Posthumous 'Hood Blues' With Buffalo Rap Crew Griselda". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  27. ^ "Listen to DMX's new posthumous single 'Hood Blues'". NME. May 25, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  28. ^ "Exodus by DMX reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  29. ^ a b Exodus 1:7 by DMX, retrieved May 29, 2021
  30. ^ Thomas, Fred. "Exodus – DMX | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  31. ^ a b "DMX - Exodus". Clash. May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  32. ^ a b "DMX: Exodus review – a bold and bleak posthumous finale". The Guardian. May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  33. ^ a b "DMX - 'Exodus' album review: a reminder of the late rapper's impact". NME. May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  34. ^ Green, Dylan (June 1, 2021). "DMX: Exodus Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  35. ^ a b Ihaza, Jeff (May 28, 2021). "DMX Becomes Posthumous Product With 'Exodus'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  36. ^ "Taylor Swift's 'Evermore' Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  37. ^ "DMX's 1st Posthumous Album 'Exodus' Makes Billboard 200 Debut". HipHopDX. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  38. ^ "DMX feat. The Lox and Swizz Beatz's 'That's My Dog' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  39. ^ "Ultratop.be – DMX – Exodus" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  40. ^ "DMX Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  41. ^ "Swisscharts.com – DMX – Exodus". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  42. ^ "DMX Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  43. ^ "DMX Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
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