DMX Completed New Album Before Death

DMX’s legacy lives on.

The rap legend died Saturday at 50 after suffering a heart attack. While hip-hop mourns the devastating loss, X is leaving behind a timeless catalog as well as new music. He had reportedly completed an album prior to his passing and was planning to release it this year.

Speaking with Lisa Evers of Fox 5 New York on Friday, Darrin “Dee” Dean of Ruff Ryders confirmed that X was working on new music. At the start of the pandemic last year, he and X drove in an RV to Nashville and stayed there for a couple months recording the project.

“It’s sad that he’s not gonna be here, but the music…This album right here is special,” said Dean. “Like you probably never heard no music like you heard on this one that we did right now. This is probably one of his great albums. One of the best. It’s a classic, for sure.”

Craig Brodhead, DMX’s manager, added, “He was excited about it, he couldn’t wait to promote it and get out there with the music.”

DMX signed a new deal with Def Jam in 2019 and had been working on the album with longtime collaborator Swizz Beatz. During one of his final interviews with N.O.R.E.’s “Drink Champs” podcast earlier this year, X revealed some of the featured guests including the late Pop Smoke, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Alicia Keys, and Usher, as well as members of the Griselda crew including Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, and Westside Gunn.