Rating:
Genre:
Soundtrack
Release Date: 02/18/2003
No matter his acting abilities,
DMX is a natural for the silver screen. Ever since his album debut,
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, the former
Earl Simmons has flaunted a flair for the dramatic, and his work ethic is one of the toughest in
hip-hop. He must have been especially busy filming, since the
soundtrack for
Cradle 2 the Grave, his first starring turn (with
Jet Li), has only three features for
DMX himself. Taking up the slack, fortunately, are some of the hottest rappers circa 2003:
Eminem, with a track featuring
DMX as well, plus
50 Cent,
Foxy Brown,
Clipse, and
Drag-On. The leadoff track is
DMX's own
"X Gon' Give It to Ya," a typically grandiose contribution that compares pretty well to the rest of his work but doesn't sound too special.
Eminem's self-produced
"Go to Sleep" is an extremist (even for him) murder fantasy that goes down in a hail of screams and bullets, while
"My Life (Cradle 2 the Grave)" finds
Foxy Brown turning curiously reflective (and more than just a bit poignant). Surprisingly, amidst the raft of big names,
DMX affiliate
Drag-On steals one of the best tracks,
"Fireman," an off-kilter track that blows through a pair of contrasting percussion lines, borrowing from
"Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and
"Pusherman," but sounds completely original nevertheless.
~John Bush, All Music Guide
;)
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