DMX broke on to the rap scene in 1998 with a graveyard style of rapping unheard of in the hip-hop world, his debut single being "Get At Me Dog." DMX opened up the doorway for rappers such as Ja Rule to follow suite (but not on the same level), not a rapper alive can match DMX's thought inducing lyrics. From start to finish, this album plays with your mind, and with every listen each track brings a new perspective to what is being said. To sum up DMX in one word - intense. A dark, fiery, aggressive vocal style combined with true to life and conflictious lyrical genius relating to true-to-life issues such as religion, death, love, greed, and many others. DMX takes rap to a new level with his debut album, a true classic.